US
1980- Label and catalog number
- Chalfont Records SDG-113
- Format
- LP, Album
Charles GerhardtThe Empire Strikes Back (Symphonic Suite From The Original Motion Picture Score)
Vinyl pressings
The Empire Strikes Back (Symphonic Suite From The Original Motion Picture Score)
by Charles Gerhardt · 1980
15 pressings5 countriesSoundtrackThemeScoreStage & Screen
The Empire Strikes Back was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of The Empire Strikes Back
4 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 2 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.
US
1980- Label and catalog number
- Chalfont Records SDG 313
- Format
- LP, Album · DBX Encoded
- Runout / matrix
SDG-313-A-1-DBXSide 1 Etching
SDG-313-B-1-DBXSide 2 Etching
US
1980- Label and catalog number
- Chalfont Records SDG 313
- Format
- LP, Album
Japan
1980- Label and catalog number
- JVC JVDM-1004
- Format
- LP, Album
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 15 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s5 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | JVC JVDM-1004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Chalfont Records SDG-113First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Chalfont Records SDG 313First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Chalfont Records SDG 313First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Chalfont Records SDG 313LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
2020s10 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Unknown | Varèse Sarabande Records, Inc. VSD0035LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2021 | Canada | Varèse Sarabande VSD00357LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2021 | US | Varèse Sarabande VSD00357LP, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2021 | USA & Europe | Varèse Sarabande VSD00357LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 2021 | US | Varèse Sarabande VSD00357LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | Varèse Sarabande VSD00357LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Varèse Sarabande VSD00357LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Varèse Sarabande VSD00357LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Varèse Sarabande Vsd00357LP | LP |
| 2025 | Europe | Varèse Sarabande 00888072691032LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
Tracklist
- A1a20th Cenury-Fox Fanfare0:20
- A1bMain Title, The Imperial Probe5:25
- A2Luke's First Crash2:29
- A3Han Solo And The Princess4:24
- A4The Asteriod Field4:12
- A5The Training Of A Jedi1:55
- A6The Battle In The Snow3:02
- B1Imperial March3:20
- B2The Magic Tree3:37
- B3Yoda's Theme3:33
- B4The Rebels Escape Again3:01
- B5Lando's Palace, The Duel (Through The Window)5:02
- B6Finale4:35
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Empire Strikes Back are there?
15 vinyl pressings of The Empire Strikes Back are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1980 and 2025.
When was The Empire Strikes Back first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, Japan. One of them is Chalfont Records SDG-113.
How do I tell if my copy of The Empire Strikes Back is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SDG-113, SDG 313, JVDM-1004) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Empire Strikes Back on vinyl worth?
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.
