Vinyl pressings
by Deep Purple · 1972
Smoke On The Water 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.
4 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.
6C 006-94583-ARunout A side, Stamped
6C 006-94583-BRunout B side, Stamped
006-94583-ALabel A side
006-94583-BLabel B side
PERU 130306Side A
PERU 130307Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Denmark | Purple Records 6C 006-94 583 / Purple Records 6C 006 94583First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1972 | Peru | Odeon Del Peru 01.01.242First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1972 | Peru | Odeon Del Peru 01.01.242First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1972 | Peru | Odeon Del Peru 01.01.242First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Australia | Purple Records PUR-103107", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Australia | Purple Records PUR-103107" | 7" |
| 1973 | Australia | Purple Records PUR-103107", Promo · Promo | 7", Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WB 77107", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WB 77107", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Europe | Purple Records 1C 006-94 583 / EMI Electrola 1C 006-94 5837", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | Purple Records 2C 006-94583 / Purple Records 2C 006 - 94.5837", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | Germany | Purple Records 1 C 006-94 583 / EMI Electrola 1 C 006-94 5837", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Purple Records 1 C 006-94 583 / EMI Electrola 1 C 006-94 5837", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Purple Records 1C 006-94 583 / EMI Electrola 1C 006-94 5837", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-1229W7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Netherlands | EMI 20424577" | 7" |
| 1991 | Netherlands | EMI 006 20424577", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | EMI PURRSD 138 / Purple Records PURRSD 1387", Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Harvest HARG 15177", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Mexico | EMI 74047", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Mexico | EMI 74047", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Peru | Odeon Del Peru 01.01.2427", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| ? | Portugal | EMI Promo 7/917", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records GPR 03027", Reissue, Stereo | 7", Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records GPR 03027", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records GPR 03027", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records GPR 03027", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Styrene |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records GPR 03027", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
55 vinyl pressings of Smoke On The Water are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1972 and 2012.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in Denmark, Peru. One of them is Purple Records 6C 006-94 583.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6C 006-94 583, 01.01.242) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6C 006-94583-A and 6C 006-94583-B. 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.
