Vinyl pressings
by Earth, Wind & Fire · 1973
Head To The Sky 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.
18 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 9 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.
PAL 32194-1H 1TSide A runout etched, Var. 1
PBL 32194-1E T1Side B runout etched, Var. 1
PAL 32194 1ESide A runout etched, Var. 2
PBL 32194-1J DISide B runout etched, Var. 2
PAL 32194-1A o T SX B 3 8 IRunout A
PBL 32194-1E A 23 T1Runout B
AL 32194Label A
BL 32194Label A
PAL 32194-1A oRunout side A, variant 1
P PBL 32194 1DRunout side B, variant 1
P PAL 32194-1DRunout side A, variant 2
P PBL 32194 1DRunout side B, variant 2
I PBL 32194-1A HSide A runout, etched, variant 1
I S 0 PBL 32194-1B DSide B runout, etched, variant 1
S2 PAL 32194-1A oSide A runout, etched, variant 2
S2 PAL 32194-1A o E6Side B runout, etched, variant 2
P PAL 32194 1DSide 1 runout etched, 'P' stamped
2 PBL 32194-1B 0 SXSide 2 runout etched, '0' stamped
AL 32194Side1 Label
BL 32194Side 2 Label
P T2 PAL 32194-1H o 1DSide 1 runout etched, 'P' stamped
2 PBL 32194-1B 0 SXSide 2 runout etched, '0' stamped
AL 32194Side1 Label
BL 32194Side 2 Label
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 | Australia | CBS SBP234336First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32194First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32194First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Israel | CBS 65604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | CBS 65604 / CBS S 65604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | CBS S 65604 / CBS KC 32194First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Spain | CBS S 65604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | CBS 65604 / CBS S 65604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | UK | CBS 65604 / CBS S 65604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia CQ 32194First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | US | CBS CQ32194First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32194First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia PC 32194LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32194First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32194First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Europe | CBS CBS 32017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Spain | CBS CBS 32017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Italy | ColumbiaLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | CBS S 65604LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS CBS 32017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS CBS 32017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Yegrin G 1005LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 32017 / CBS S CBS 32017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32194LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia KC 32194LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | CBS PC 32194LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32194LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32194LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | USA & Canada | Columbia PC 32194LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
36 vinyl pressings of Head To The Sky are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1973 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia KC 32194, released May 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 32194, CQ 32194, CQ32194, 65604) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PAL 32194-1H 1T and PBL 32194-1E T1. 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.
