Vinyl pressings
by Cat Stevens · 1972
Catch Bull At Four was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
50 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 24 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
ILPS 9206 A-4U STERLING LHRunout side A, variant 1
ILPS 9206 B-3U STERLING LHRunout side B, variant 1
ILPS 9206 A-3U STERLING LHRunout side A, variant 2
ILPS 9206 B-3U STERLING LHRunout side B, variant 2
ILPS-9206-ARunout side A
ILPS-9206-BRunout side B
7DS 7373 ARunout side A, Etched
7DS 7373 BRunout side B, Etched
SP 4629 P-1 2 LH STERLINGSide A, var. 1
SP 4630 P6 3 LH STERLINGSide B, var. 1
SP 4629 P-1 2 LH STERLINGSide A, var. 2
SP 4630 P-4 2 LH STERLINGSide B, var. 2
SP 4629 T1 C STERLING 3 LH T2Side A runout, var 1
SP 4630 T1 STERLING 2 LH T2Side B runout, var 1
SP 4629 T1 C STERLING 3 LH T2Side A runout, var 2
SP 4630 T3 STERLING 2 C LH T1Side B runout, var 2
SP 4629 S-2 STERLING 3 LH Ƨ 1Runout A variant 1
SP 4630 S3 STERLING 3 LH 1SRunout B variant 1
SP 4629 S-1 STERLING 2 LH ƧRunout A variant 2
SP 4630 S3 STERLING 3 LH S1Runout B variant 2
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Unknown | Island Records ILPS 9206 / Island Records ILPS-9206First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Brazil | Island Records 410.017First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4365First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4365First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4365First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4365First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4365 / A&M Records SP-4365LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | Colombia | Island Records 18(0831)00199First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | France | Island Records 6396 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Island Records 86 372 IT / Island Records 86372 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Island Records ILPS 9206 / Island Records 86 372 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Island Records ILPS 9206 / Island Records 86 372 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Island Records ILPS 9206First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Island Records 86 372 IT / Island Records 86372 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Island Records 86 372 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Island Records SUP-2522-80.132LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | Glasser Records AG3330LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Brazil | Island Records 203 683LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Italy | Lotus LOP 14003LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Island Records 86.372-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Germany | Platinum PLP 44 / Platinum 24006LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1986 | Brazil | Island Records 604.7185LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Germany | Island Records 86 372 / Island Records 86 372 ITLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1989 | Brazil | Island Records 670.8113LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Germany | Island Records 00602448053213LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | UK & Europe | Island Records 602508160998 / Universal Music 602508160998LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2022 | Worldwide | Island Records 00602508160998 / Cat-O-Log Records 00602508160998LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Austria | Island Records 86 372 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 410.017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-69860LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP 4365LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP 4365 / A&M Records SP-4365LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-69860LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Island Records 9101 659LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Island Records ILPS 9206 / Island Records 9101 659LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 86 372 XOT / Island Records 86372 ITLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records ILPS 9206 / Island Records 86 372 XOTLP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Island Records VG 71443LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19206LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | South Korea | Oscar EU 489LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | Island Records 86372-5BLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | Island Records 86372 I / Island Records 86.372-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
105 vinyl pressings of Catch Bull At Four are listed here, from 34 countries, released between 1972 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in UK, US, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9206, released September 27, 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9206, SP 4365, IL 34663, 410.017) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9206 A-4U STERLING LH and ILPS 9206 B-3U STERLING LH. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
