Vinyl pressings
by Earth, Wind & Fire · 1979
I Am was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
53 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 25 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-35730-1H TML-M-XRunout side A, variant 1
PBL-35730-1F TML-MRunout side B, variant 1
PAL-35730-1F TML-MRunout side A, variant 2
PBL-35730-1G TML-SRunout side B, variant 2
PAL 35730 IAC TML-M BI PRunout A-side, hand-etched, Variant 1
BL-35730 GIA A5 IIIFC 0 GIRunout B-side, hand-etched, Variant 1
P PAL 35730 IAC TML-MRunout A-side, hand-etched, Variant 2
(HXAP) Po BL-35730 -GIBRunout B-side, hand-etched, Variant 2
T1 PAL-35730- IM F8Side 1 runout etch
T1 PBL-35730-IJ 0Side 2 runout etch
TML-SSide 1, 2 runout stamp
AL 35730Side 1 Label
T1 PAL-35730-IM TML-M oRunout side A, variant 1
T1 PBL-35730-IL TML-M oRunout side B, variant 1
T1 PAL-35730-IK TML-M-X A10Runout side A, variant 2
T1 PBL-35730-1L TML-M A10Runout side B, variant 2
S PAL-35730-1AA TML-MRunout A, variant 1
S1 PBL-35730-1AA TML-MRunout B, variant 1
S PAL-35730-1AB P̶A̶L̶-̶3̶5̶7̶3̶0̶-̶1̶B̶ TML-MRunout A, variant 2
S PBL-35730-1AB TML-MRunout B, variant 2
1 S PAL-35730-1A TML-M A I 3A side runout, variant 1
Ƨ 5 PBL-35730-1A TML-M-X B 3B side runout, variant 1
2 S PAL-35730-1D TML-M-X A18A side runout, variant 2
2 S PBL-35730-1B TML-M B3B side runout, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Argentina | Columbia 120.002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | CBS SBP 237293First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Rainbow RSVLP 046 / CBS RSVLP 046First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Brazil | CBS 230030 / Discos CBS 230030First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Brazil | CBS 230030 / Discos CBS 230030First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Chile | ARC FC 35730 / Columbia FC 35730First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Colombia | CBS 14-1271First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Costa Rica | Columbia 100.473First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86084 / CBS 86084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86084 / CBS 86084First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86084 / CBS 86084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | CBS CBS 86084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Hong Kong | CBS/Sony 25AP 1400First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | CBS S CBS 86084 / CBS JC 35730First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Israel | CBS 86084First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | South Korea | CBS/Sony KJPL-0219 (25AP-1400)LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | ARC HC 45730 / Columbia HC 45730LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1986 | Spain | CBS S 32656 / ARC S 32656LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | UK | Columbia 0326561 / Simply Vinyl S160020LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP092 / Columbia 88697699431LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2016 | US | Columbia FRM-35730 / Friday Music FRM-35730LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP092 / Columbia MOVLP092LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Europe | Columbia Records 19958449491 / Legacy 19958449491LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2026 | US | Columbia Records 19958449491 / Legacy 19958449491LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32656LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 86084 / CBS 86084LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | CBS 32656 / CBS CBS 86084LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | CBS CBS 86084 / CBS 86084LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Portugal | CBS CBS 86084LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | CBS S 86084 / ARC S 86084LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Liming Record LM-2994LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 32656LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 11-86084 / CBS S CBS 86084LP, Album, Picture Disc, Stereo, LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Stereo, LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Picture disc |
72 vinyl pressings of I Am are listed here, from 28 countries, released between 1979 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Canada, Argentina and more. One of them is ARC FC 35730.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FC 35730, PC 35730, CBS 86084, CBS 11-86084) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PAL-35730-1H TML-M-X and PBL-35730-1F TML-M. 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.
