Vinyl pressings
by Chick Corea · 1972
Return To Forever 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.
5 pressings came out in 1972, 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.
ST-ECM 1022-A¹Stamped Side A variant 1
ST-ECM 1022-B¹Stamped Side B variant 1
ST-ECM 1022-A¹Stamped Side A variant 2
ST-ECM 1022-B¹ DStamped Side B variant 2
ST-ECM 1022-A¹Stamped Side A
ST-ECM 1022-B¹Stamped Side B
〄MP–2273A A–6–7 F7L6A runout, stamped
MP–2273B B–4–10B runout, stamped
〄 MP-2273A A-1-27 K2Runout Side A, stamped
MP-2273B A-1-19Runout Side B, stamped
〄MP–2273A A–1–3 1/2A runout, stamped
MP–2273B A–1–1B runout, stamped
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 | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 STFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 STFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Japan | Polydor MP 2273First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Polydor MP 2273 / Polydor MP2273First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Polydor MP 2273First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Canada | ECM Records ECM-1-1022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1975 | US | ECM Records ECM 1022 / ECM Records 2310 404LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 STLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Polydor MPF 1136LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1978 | Japan | Polydor MPF 1136LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | Spain | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records ECM 1022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | Spain | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records ECM 1022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Austria | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records 38521LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 1980 | Brazil | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records 58.006LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | USSR | Мелодия С60-18235-6LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Yugoslavia | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / PGP RTB ECM 1022 STLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Brazil | ECM Records 2301 022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Japan | Polydor 25MJ 3220LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | USSR | Мелодия С60-18235-6LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 1983 | Japan | Polydor 25MJ 3220LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records ECM 1022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Brazil | ECM Records 2301 022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | USSR | Мелодия С60-18235-6LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 1986 | South Korea | Polydor SEL-RG856LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / Nuevos Medios 73.096 LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records ECM 1022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | US | ECM Records ECM 1022 STLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | ECM Records 818 911 - 1 / ECM Records ECM 1022 STLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records 811 911LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records 2301 022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | ECM Records 34 707 0LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 STLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 STLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records 2301 022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | ECM Records ECM 1022 ST / ECM Records ECM 1022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Polydor MP 2273LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Polydor MP 2273 / Polydor MP2273LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Japan | Polydor MP 2273 / Polydor MP2273LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | ECM Records ECM-1-1022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | ECM Records ECM 1022LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | ECM Records ECM 1-1022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | ECM Records ECM 1022 / ECM Records 2310 404LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
43 vinyl pressings of Return To Forever are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1972 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in Germany, Japan. One of them is ECM Records ECM 1022 ST, released July 1, 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ECM 1022 ST, MP 2273) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-ECM 1022-A¹ and ST-ECM 1022-B¹. 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.
