Vinyl pressings
by Free · 1971
Free Live 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.
27 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 12 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 9160 A - 1u STERLING LHA-side runout etched + stamped
ILPS 9160 B - 1u STERLING LHB-side runout etched + stamped
ILPS 9160 A - 1 u [CH] [STERLING] LH [1]Etched, A, [ ] stamped, variant 2
ILPS 9160 B - 1 u [CII] [STERLING] LH [2]Etched, B, [ ] stamped, variant 2
ILPS 9160 A-1 U STERLING LHRunout Side A
ILPS 9160 B-1 U STERLING LHRunout Side B
Side 1: ILPS 9160 A-1 u Side 2: ILPS 9160 B- 1 u
ILPS 9160 A - 1 U O STERLING LH 1Side A runout
ILPS 9160 B - 1 U RA STERLING LH 1Side B runout
A+M SP 4511 (RE-II-P2) AIRunout Side 1
SP 4306 SP 4512 SIDE 2 PI STERLINGRunout Side 2
SP-4511On Label Side 1
SP-4512On Label Side 2
A&M SP 4511 (RE-1)- P2 PA Side runout, variant 1
SP 4306 SP 4512 SIDE 2 STERLING PB Side runout, variant 1
P A&M SP 4511 (RE-1)-P2 1 A1A Side runout, variant 2
P SP 4306 SP 4512 SIDE 2 1 ⊞ P1 STERLING A 3.B Side runout, 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 | Island Records SIL-934285 / Festival Records Pty. Ltd. SIL-934285First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Australia | Island Records SIL-934285 / Festival Records Pty. Ltd. SIL-934285LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | Australia | Island Records SIL-934,285 / Festival Records Pty. Ltd. SIL-934285First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Canada | Polydor 2310 126LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1971 | Canada | Polydor 2310 126First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Island Records 85 535 IT / Island Records 85 535 XTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | Island Records 85 535 IT / Island Records 85 535 XTLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1971 | Germany | Island Records 85 535 IT / Island Records 85 535 XTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | Island Records 85 535 IT / Island Records 85 535 XTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19160First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | Island Records AML(i)-1001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | Island Records AML(i)-1001First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Island Records 85 535 XT / Island Records 85535 ILPSFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Island Records SIL 934285LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Island Records SIL 934285First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Italy | Island Records ORL 8393LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | A&M Records SP 4306 / A&M Records SP-4036LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | A&M Records SP 4306LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Japan | Island Records 20SI-229 / Polystar 20SI-229LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Japan | Island Records 20SI-229 / Polystar 20SI-229LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1989 | Italy | DeAgostini IGDA 1071/72 / Island Records IGDA 1071/72LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | Island Records 5B 85535LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | South Korea | Island Records SEL-RI-2220 842 359-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Europe | Island Records 842 359-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Island Records 473 187-7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Island Records L-34,285 / Island Records SIL-934285LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Island Records SIL-934285 / Island Records ILPS 9160LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 535 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 535 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 535 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 535 ET / Island Records 85 535 270LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 535 270 / Island Records 85 535 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 535 ET / Island Records ILPS 9160LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9160LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Island Records ORL 19160 / Island Records ORL 8393LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Island Records ILPS 9160LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | Island Records ORL 8393LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Island Records ORL 19160LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Singapore | Island Records ILPS 9160LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9160LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
80 vinyl pressings of Free Live are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1971 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9160.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9160, SP 4306, SP-4306, SIL-934285) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9160 A - 1u STERLING LH and ILPS 9160 B - 1u STERLING LH. 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.
