Vinyl pressings
by Cat Stevens · 1973
Foreigner was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
43 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 22 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 9240 A-6U STERLING S̶P̶ ̶4̶6̶8̶2̶ ̶R̶E̶-̶1̶ P2 LH 3Runout side A, variant 1
ILPS 9240 B-2̶ LH 3 8 U STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
ILPS 9240 A 1̶ ̶7̶ LH 2 7U STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
ILPS 9240 B-2̶ LH 3 8 U STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
ILPS 9240 ARunout side A, variant 1, stamped
ILPS 9240 BRunout side B, variant 1, etched
ILPS 9240 A3Runout side A, variant 2, stamped
ILPS 9240 B2Runout side B, variant 2, stamped
ILPS 9240-A HenkLabel side A
ILPS 9240-B HenkLabel side B
ILPS 9240 A HenkRunout Side 1 (etched)
ILPS 9240 B HenkRunout Side 2 (etched)
ILPS 9240-A 7U 79matrix side A (etched)
STERLINGmatrix side A (stamped)
ILPS 9240-B 8U CDCmatrix side B (etched)
STERLINGmatrix side B (stamped)
ILPS 9240 ARunout side A, variant 1, stamped
ILPS 9240 BRunout side B, variant 1, etched
ILPS 9240-ALabel side A
ILPS 9240-BLabel side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Argentina | Island Records 5782First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Argentina | Island Records 5782First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | Australia | Island Records IL 34884 / Island Records IL-34884First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Brazil | Island Records 410 029 / Island Records 410.029First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4391First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4391LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1973 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4391 / A&M Records SP4391First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Colombia | Island Records 10297First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Island Records 6499.446 / Island Records 6499 446First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Island Records 6499.446 / Island Records 6499 446First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Island Records 6499 446First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Island Records 86 934 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | India | Island Records ILPS 9240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Israel | Island Records ILPS 9240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | A&M Records AMP 4027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-4027LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1981 | Argentina | Island Records SUP 80134LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Island Records 00602458317343 / Cat-O-Log Records 00602458317343LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2024 | Europe | Island Records 00602458317336LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Europe | Island Records 00602508161001 / Cat-O-Log Records 00602508161001LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited |
| 2024 | US | Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records 1000140812LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Island Records 86 934 ITLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Island Records IL 34884 / Island Records IL-34884LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Bolivia | A&M Records 10-SAMB-13LP, Album, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 86 934 / Island Records 86 934 XOTLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 86 934 XOT / Island Records 86 934 ITLP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 86 934 XOTLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 86 934 / Island Records 86 934 XOTLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 86 934 ITLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Portugal | Island Records 10.286934.42LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Scandinavia | Island Records ILPS 9240LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | Island Records 5B 86934 / Island Records 86934-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Island Records 86 934·I / Island Records 5B 86934LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9240 / Island Records 6499 466YLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP4391 / A&M Records SP-4391LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-4391LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
81 vinyl pressings of Foreigner are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1973 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9240.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9240, SP4391, SP-4391, SP 4391) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9240 A-6U STERLING S̶P̶ ̶4̶6̶8̶2̶ ̶R̶E̶-̶1̶ P2 LH 3 and ILPS 9240 B-2̶ LH 3 8 U STERLING. 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.
