Vinyl pressings
by Elton John · 1969
Empty Sky was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1969, 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.
DJLPS 403A2-♢ H CSide A runout stamped, C etched, variant 1
DJLPS 403B3-♢ H KT BJSide B runout stamped, KT BJ etched, variant 1
DJLPS 403A2-♢ H 6 A MSide A runout stamped, A M etched, variant 2
DJLPS 403B3-♢ H 4 B HSide B runout stamped, 4 BH etched, variant 2
DJLP 403A 1 -⬦ HSide 1, stamped
DJLP 403B 1 -⬦ HSide 2, stamped
DJLPS 403 A2 - <> HA-side stamped, variant 1
DJLPS 403 B3 - <> HB-Side stamped, variant 1
DJLPS 403 A2 - <> H, KT(etched)A-side, stamped, variant 2
DJLPS 403 B3 - <> H, KT (etched)B-side, stamped, variant 2
DJLPS 403A2-♢ H KT AGSide A runout
DJLPS 403B3-♢ H KT AQSide B runout
DJLPS.403-ASide A label
DJLPS.403-BSide B label
DJLPS 403A2-♢ H 5 WStamped A side (5 W etched)
DJLPS 403B3-♢ H 4 EStamped B side (4 E etched)
DJLPS.403-ALabel A side
DJLPS.403-BLabel B side
DJLPS 403A2-♢ H a AYSide A runout, stamped except "a" and "AY" etched
DJLPS 403B3-♢ H F BSSide B runout, stamped except "F" and "BS" etched
DJLPS 403A2-♢ H 6 BBSide A runout, stamped except "6" and "BB" etched, variant 2
DJLPS 403A2-♢ H 4 BXSide B runout, stamped except "4" and "BX" etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | South Africa | World Record Co. ORC 6049First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLP 403First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS.403 / DJM Records DJLP 403First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS.403 / DJM Records DJLPS.403First yearLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Japan | DJM Records FP-80051LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1970 | Japan | DJM Records FP-80051LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Colored vinyl |
| 1970 | Japan | DJM Records FP-80051LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Japan | DJM Records FP-80051LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Australia | DJM Records L 34074 / DJM Records SDJL-934,074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1972 | Australia | DJM Records SDJL-934074 / DJM Records SDJL-934,074LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Australia | DJM Records SDJL-934074 / DJM Records SDJL 9 34074LP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1972 | Italy | DJM Records SNIR-DJ 25034 / DJM Records (S/25034/1-/2)LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | New Zealand | DJM Records SDJL 934074LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | South Africa | DJM Records DJC 3013LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Hansa 85 537 IT / DJM Records 85 537 ITLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Mexico | Musart EDI 60046LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | UK | DJM Records DJF 20403LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | Taiwan | Giant TD-1369LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 1975 | Australia | DJM Records L 34074 / DJM Records DJLPS-403LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-620LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | France | DJM Records 503002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Netherlands | DJM Records 1A 062-63787 / DJM Records 1A 062-63787LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-3008LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-620LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | DJM Records K22P-201 / Seven Seas K22P-201LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | UK | DJM Records DJLPS 403LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Scandinavia | DJM Records DJM 22086LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Epic EPC 32454 / DJM Records EPC 32454LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Spain | DJM Records 826 938-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | USA & Europe | Mercury 5738305 / UMC 5738305LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | John Records 505LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | DJM Records DJLPS.403 / Solo Ediciones DJLPS.403LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Europe | DJM Records 832 017-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | DJM Records 0064 211LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | DJM Records 87 825 ET / Hansa Record 87 825 ETLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Guatemala | EMI 3315 / EMI DJLPS 403LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Israel | DJM Records DD30892 / DJM Records DJLPS.403LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 1551LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | New Zealand | DJM Records L 34074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Philippines | Parlophone DJLPS-403LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | DJM Records DJLPS 403LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | DJM Records DJLPS 403LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Taiwan | Giant TD-1369LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | DJM Records DJM 22086LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | DJM Records DJLPS.403 / DJM Records DJLPS 403LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
94 vinyl pressings of Empty Sky are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1969 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in UK, South Africa. One of them is DJM Records DJLPS 403.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DJLPS 403, DJLP 403, DJLPS.403, ORC 6049) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DJLPS 403A2-♢ H C and DJLPS 403B3-♢ H KT BJ. 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.
