Vinyl pressings
by Fleetwood Mac · 1974
Heroes Are Hard To Find was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 8 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-54026-A1 KENDUN MS-2196-31763-EXPORT-1Runout side A variant 1
K-54026-B1 KENDUN MS-2196-31764-EXPORT-1Runout side B variant 1
K·54026·A1 3 B KENDUN MS-2196-31763-EXPORT-1 ARunout side A variant 2
K·54026·B1 2 A KENDUN MS-2196-31764-EXPORT-1 BRunout side B variant 2
MS-2196-31763-1 KENDUN CPSide A runout, variant 1
MS-2196-31763-2 KENDUN CPSide B runout, variant 1
MS-2196-31763-1 X CP KENDUN A 0Side A runout, variant 2
MS-2196-31764-2 B KENDUNSide B runout, variant 2
MS-2196-31763-1A KENDUN CSMRunout Side A
MS-2196-31764-1B KENDUN CSMRunout Side B
31,763Label Side A
31,764Label Side B
T1 MS-2196-31763-1-1 KENDUN CTHVariant 1, Side 1 Etching exc "KENDUN" stamp
T1 MS-2194-31764-2-1 KENDUN BVariant 1, Side 2 Etching exc "KENDUN" stamp
T1 MS-2196-31763-1-2 KENDUN CTH A15 BVariant 2, Side 1 Etching exc "KENDUN" stamp
T1 MS-2194-31764-2-1 KENDUN B BVariant 2, Side 2 Etching exc "KENDUN" stamp
31,763Side A Label
31,764Side B Label
MS-1-2196 JW2 #1 AA 0Runout side A
SIDE 2 MS-2196 31764- #1 SUB 0Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | Reprise Records MS 2196First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2196First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2196First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2196First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Reprise Records 54026 / Reprise Records 54.026First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Reprise Records 54 026First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 026 / Reprise Records MS 2196First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 026First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Reprise Records RS 2196First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Spain | Reprise Records HRES 291-62First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Taiwan | New Jen Sheng JS-5198LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1974 | UK | Reprise Records K 54026 / Reprise Records MS 2196LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1974 | US | Reprise Records MS 2196First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Reprise Records MS 2196LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1974 | US | Reprise Records MS 2196First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Reprise Records P-6378RLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Worldwide | Reprise Records 603497821013 / Rhino Records RCV5 2196LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Reprise Records 603497824755 / Rhino Records RCV1 2196LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Reprise Records 603497824755 / Rhino Records RCV1 2196LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Reprise Records R1 2196 / Reprise Records 603497823215LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2196LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54 026LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 026LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 026LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 026LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 026 / Reprise Records MS 2196LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 026LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Reprise Records 54026LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Reprise Records 54026LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | US | Reprise Records MS 2196LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Reprise Records MS 2196LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
50 vinyl pressings of Heroes Are Hard To Find are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1974 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Reprise Records K54026, released September 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use K54026, MS 2196, K 54026, 54026) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, K-54026-A1 KENDUN MS-2196-31763-EXPORT-1 and K-54026-B1 KENDUN MS-2196-31764-EXPORT-1. 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.
