Vinyl pressings
by Emerson, Lake & Palmer · 1971
Tarkus was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
41 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 18 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.
ILPS 9155 A-1U PORKYRunout, Side A, Variant 1
ILPS 9155 B-1U PECKORunout, Side B, Variant 1
1LPS 9155 A-1U GG PORKY 1Runout, Side A, Variant 2
1LPS 9155 B-1U RG 2 PECKORunout, Side B, Variant 2
ILPS 9155 A-1U PORKYA-side runout stamped, PORKY etched - variant 1
ILPS 9155 B-1U PECKOB-side runout stamped, PECKO etched - variant 1
ILPS 9155 A-1U PH 1 PORKYA-side runout stamped, PORKY etched - variant 2
ILPS 9155 B-1U HP 1 PECKOB-side runout stamped, PECKO etched - variant 2
ST-CTN-712253-E AT/GP PR[Variant 1] Runout side A, etched
ST-CTN-71225-4E AT/GP PR[Variant 1] Runout side B, etched
ST-CTN-712253-E AT/GP PR-P[Variant 2] Runout side A, etched
ST-CTN-71225-4E AT/GP PRP[Variant 2] Runout side B, etched
ST-CTN-712253A 5-26-71 AT/GP △16105Side A, variant 1
ST-CTN-712254A AT/GP 5-26-71 △16105-XSide B, variant 1
ST-CTN-712253A 5-26-71 MR AT/GP △16105 (1)Side A, variant 2
ST-CTN-712254A MR AT/GP △16105-X 5-26-71 (2)Side B, variant 2
ST-CTN-712253A 5.26.71 AT/GP [SRC logo]Runout side A, variant 1
ST-CTN-712254A AT/GP 5-26-71Runout side B, variant 1
ST-CTN-712253-C AT/GP 6•7•71Runout side A, variant 2
ST-CTN-712254-C 6•7•71 [SRC logo] AT/GPRunout side B, variant 2
ST-CTN-712253-B 11-111 AT/gp PRSide A Variant 1
ST-CTN-712254D-1-1 AT/gp D P.R.Side B Variant 1
ST-CTN-712253-B 11-111 AT/GP PRSide A Variant 2
ST-CTN-712254-B-11-1 AT/GP D PRSide B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | Atlantic SD 9900First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Australia | Atlantic SD 9900First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Australia | Atlantic SD 9900First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Brazil | ATCO Records 2401 016 / ATCO Records 2401.016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Brazil | ATCO Records 2401.016 / ATCO Records 2401 016First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | France | Island Records 6396 005 / Island Records ILPS 9155First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Island Records 6396 005 / Island Records ILPS 9155First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Island Records 85 527 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9155First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19155First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | Atlantic P-8133AFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | Atlantic P-8133AFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Japan | Atlantic P-8133AFirst yearLP, Album, Special Edition | LP, Album, Special Edition |
| 1971 | Mexico | Atlantic GX 01-603First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Island Records ILPS 9155 / Island Records 85 525 XTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Atlantic P-6400ALP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1981 | Mexico | Atlantic LWA-5026LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Manticore 87225-I / Manticore 87.225-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Brazil | Atlantic BR 80.009 / Atlantic 80.009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | Europe | Atlantic 781520-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Brazil | Atlantic 670.9337 / Atlantic 01290LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | AnTrop П93-00687/8LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1993 | UK | Manticore K 43504 / Manticore K43504 XLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1994 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-203 / Victory MFSL 1-203LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Italy | Earmark 42055LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP268LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2012 | US | Razor & Tie 79301833481LP, Album, Remastered, Reissue | LP, Album, Remastered, Reissue |
| 2012 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP591 / Sony Music MOVLP591LP, Album, Repress, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Repress, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2013 | US | Razor & Tie 793018340212LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Picture disc |
| 2014 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP591 / Sony Music MOVLP591LP, Album, Repress, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | UK, Europe & US | BMG BMGCATLP2 / Manticore BMGCATLP2LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2016 | UK, Europe & US | BMG BMGCATLP2LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | USA, Canada & Europe | BMG BMGCAT470LP / Manticore 4050538652963LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2021 | USA, Canada & Europe | BMG BMGCAT470LPLP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2025 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-577 / BMG MFSL 1-577LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Atlantic 781 520-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Unknown | Manticore 43504 / Manticore 43 504LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Argentina | Atlantic 208646LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Atlantic SD 9900LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Atlantic SD 9900LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Austria | Manticore 87 225 ITLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Austria | Manticore 87 225 ITLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Austria | Manticore 87 225 IT / Manticore 87 225 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Cotillion SD 9900LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Cotillion SD 9900LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Cotillion SD 9900LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Cotillion SD 9900LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Cotillion SD 9900LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Cotillion SD 9900LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Cotillion SD 9900 / Cotillion SC 9900LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
160 vinyl pressings of Tarkus are listed here, from 33 countries, released between 1971 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in UK, US, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9155, released June 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9155, SD 9900, 85 527 IT, SD9900) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9155 A-1U PORKY and ILPS 9155 B-1U PECKO. 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.
