Vinyl pressings
by Focus · 1973
Focus At The Rainbow 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.
31 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 14 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.
5C 054 -24939-A // HD 20461-2-Y-8 26 1 1Runout side A, variant 1
5C 054 24939 B // HM 20.462-1-Y-8 25 1 H 1Runout side B, variant 1
5C 054 -24939-A // HD 20461-2-Y-8. 5 1 1Runout side A, variant 2
5C 054 24939 B // HM 20.462-1-Y-8. 2 1 H 1Runout side B, variant 2
2442118 - ASide A runout
2442118 - BSide B runout
2442 118 S1Side A label
2442 118 S2Side B label
2442118 A//2∇420 14 3
2442118 B//4∇420 13 2
(Side A etched): 2442 - 118 A-1
(Side B etched): 2442 - 118 B-1
2442 - 118 A-1 I STERLING ΛISide A runout
2442 - 118 B-1 STERLING I ΛISide B runout
2442118 A//2∇420 14 6Side A - Variant 1
2442118 B//4∇420 13 8Side B - Variant 1
2442118 A//2∇420 14 7Side A - Variant 2
2442118 B//4∇420 13 1 4 1Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Unknown | Polydor 2442 118First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Austria | Polydor 2383 229First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Belgium | Imperial 4C 038-24 939First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Belgium | Imperial 4C054-24939 / Imperial 4 C 054-24939First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Belgium | Imperial 4C054-24939 / Imperial 4 C 054-24939First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Sire SAS 7408First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Disc'Az STEC 156First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Polydor 2383 229First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Polydor 2383 229First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Greece | International Polydor Production 2383 229First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Polydor 2383 229 AFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Malaysia | Polydor 2442 118First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Imperial 5C 054-24939 / Imperial 5C 054-24 939First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | EMI 24939LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Polydor 2442 118First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Venezuela | Harvest SHLP-9533LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 24939DLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Netherlands | Music On Vinyl MOVLP324LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 2019 | Netherlands | Music On Vinyl MOVLP324 / Red Bullet RB33.190LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 24939DLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1A 038-24939LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1C 038-12 4939 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | EMI 1C 072-24 939 / EMI Electrola 1C 072-24 939LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | EMI 1 C 072-24 939 / EMI Electrola 1C 072-24 939LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Polydor MP 2348LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | EMI 5C 054-24939LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Scandinavia | Polydor 2442 118LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Scandinavia | Polydor 2442 118LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
67 vinyl pressings of Focus At The Rainbow are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1973 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in Netherlands, UK, US, Austria and more. One of them is Imperial 5C 054-24939.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 5C 054-24939, 2442 118, 2442118, SAS-7408) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 5C 054 -24939-A // HD 20461-2-Y-8 26 1 1 and 5C 054 24939 B // HM 20.462-1-Y-8 25 1 H 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.
