Vinyl pressings
by Eric Clapton · 1973
Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert 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.
44 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 21 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.
ST-SO-732927 - A ATA Side etched
ST-SO-732928 -AB Side etched
ST-SO-732927RIA Side Center Label
ST-SO-732928RIB Side Center Label
ST-SO-732927-A [MR logo] [SRC logo] △18228 (2) ATA side runout - variant 1
ST-SO-732928-A [SRC logo] [MR logo] AT △18228 -X(1) ATB side runout - variant 1
ST-SO-732927-A 1- [MR logo] [SRC logo] △18228 (1) ATA side runout - variant 2
ST-SO-732928-A 1 [SRC logo] [MR logo] AT △18228-X (3)B side runout - variant 2
ST-SO - 732927 - A ATRunout, side A, etched, variant 1
ST-SO - 732928 - A ATRunout, side B, etched, variant 1
ST-SO - 732927 - A .|-| SRC ATRunout, side A, etched, except SRC logo stamped, variant 2
ST-SO - 732928 - A-| .|.| | SRC ATRunout, side B, etched, except SRC logo stamped, variant 2
ST-SO-732927 - A [SRC logo] ATRunout A, etched [exc. SRC, stamped]
ST-SO-732928 - A - I ///// [SRC logo] ATRunout B, etched [exc. SRC, stamped]
ST-SO-732927RIA Side Center Label
ST-SO-732928RIB Side Center Label
ST-SO-732927-A 1-11111 [SRC Logo] AT DEtched Side A; Stamped [SRC Logo]
ST-SO-732928-A ̷1̷-̷1̷1̷1̷1̷ 1 1 [SRC Logo] AT DEtched Side B; Stamped [SRC Logo]
ST-SO-732927RILabel Side A
ST-SO-732928RILabel Side B
ST - SO - 732927 - A I SRC ATRunout, side A
ST - SO - 732928 - A I - I Sm I - I SRC ATRunout, side B
ST-SO-732927 SPLabel, side A
ST-SO-732928 SPLabel, side B
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 | Argentina | RSO 2394116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | RSO 2394116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Austria | RSO 2479 274 AFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | RSO 2394 116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | RSO 2394-116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | RSO 2394 116First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | RSO 2479 116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | RSO 2479 116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | RSO 2394 116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | RSO 2394116First yearLP, Advance, Album, Stereo | LP, Advance, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | RSO 2394 116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | RSO 2394 116First yearLP, Advance, Album | LP, Advance, Album |
| 1973 | Greece | RSO 2394 116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Greece | RSO 2394116First yearLP, Album, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, White Label, Stereo |
| 1973 | Israel | RSO 2394116 / Litratone 2394116First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | RSO 24 75 213LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Germany | RSO 2479 274LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | RSO 23MW 0014LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | RSO 23 94 116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | RSO SPELP 23 / RSO 2394 116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Polydor 831 320-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Japan | RSO 18MW 0048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Audio Fidelity AFZLP 071 / RSO B0021958-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2016 | UK | Polydor Super 474 236-3LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | RSO 2479 116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | RSO 2479 116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RSO 2394 116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RSO 2394 116LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | RSO 2394 116 ALP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | RSO MWX 4032LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | RSO MWX 4032LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo |
| ? | Scandinavia | RSO 2394 116 / RSO 2394.116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | ECHOES DOORS 40LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Polydor SPELP 23 / Polydor 2394 116LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Polydor 831 320-1 Y 1 / Polydor 831 320-1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | RSO SO 877LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
70 vinyl pressings of Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1973 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is RSO SO 877, released September 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SO 877, 2394 116, 2394-116, 2394116) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-SO-732927 - A AT and ST-SO-732928 -A. 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.
