Vinyl pressings
by Electric Light Orchestra · 1973
On The Third Day 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.
22 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 12 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.
K 56021 A1Runout side A, variant 1
K 56021 B2Runout side B, variant 1
K 56021 A2 ∴ CRunout side A, variant 2
K 56021 B2 D ∴Runout side B, variant 2
UALA-188-F1 SET-2 STERLINGA side runout, variation 1
UALA-188-F2 SET-2B side runout, variation 1
UA-LA-188-F1 SET 3 STERLINGA side runout, variation 2
UALA-188-F2 SET 2B side runout, variation 2
1T UALA-188-F1-2 STERLINGSide 1 Etched Sterling Stamped, Variant 1
T1 UALA-188-F2-2Side 2 Etched, Variant 1
1T UALA-188-F1-2 STERLING Λ5Side 1 Etched Sterling and Λ Stamped, Variant 2
T1 UALA-188-F2-2 Λ10Side 2 Etched Λ Stamped, Variant 2
UAL-188-F1 A STERLING 22Side A runout, variant 1
UAL-188-F2 A 22Side B runout, variant 1
UALA-188-F1 SET 2 STERLING 22Side A runout, variant 2
UALA-188-F2 A 22Side B runout, variant 2
P UALA-188-F1-RE1 STERLINGSide 1 etched (P and STERLING stamped)
P UALA-188-F2-RE1 STERLINGSide 2 etched (P and STERLING stamped)
P UALA-188-F1 STERLINGSide 1 etched (P and STERLING stamped)
P UALA-188-F2Side 2 etched (P 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA188-F, PZ-35462LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1973 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA188-FFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA188-FFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Colombia | United Artists Records 21(0831)00036First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56 021First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 021First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 021LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | Ireland | United Artists Records UAG 30091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8422WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8422WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 021First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 021First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS-4510First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1226First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | Jet Records PZ 35525LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Jet Records JZ 35525LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Jet Records PZ 35525LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Jet Records PZ 35525LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Jet Records PZ 35525LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Europe | Jet Records JETNP 1202 / Jet Records 1202LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Europe | Jet Records JETNP 1202 / Jet Records 1202LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Jet Records JT 6008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | United Artists Records L 36242 / United Artists Records L-36,242LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | United Artists Records UALP12172 / United Artists Records UALP-12172LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Jet Records PZ 35462LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Jet Records PZ 35462LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 460728-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Jet Records JET LP 202LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | United Artists Records UAS 30091 / Jet Records UAS 30091LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | United Artists Records UAS 30.091 / Jet Records UAS 30.091LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue | LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 021LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 021LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | United Artists Records UA-LA 188-F / United Artists Records UA-LA188-F-0598LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Warner Bros. Records WS 0702LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Israel | United Artists Records UA LA 188 / Jet Records UALA 188LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Mexico | Epic NJS 17229 / Epic MEXL-17229LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
98 vinyl pressings of On The Third Day are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1973 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, Canada, Colombia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records K 56021, released December 14, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use K 56021, UA-LA188-F, JZ 35462, 21(0831)00036) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, K 56021 A1 and K 56021 B2. 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.
