Vinyl pressings
by Gentle Giant · 1975
Free Hand was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 13 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.
CHR 1093 A-1U R 1A-side runout stamped variant 1
CHR 1093 B-1U H 1B-side runout stamped variant 1
CHR 1093 A-1U H 1A-side runout stamped variant 2
CHR 1093 B-1U H 1B-side runout stamped variant 2
CHR 1093 A-1UVariant 1, Side A runout, stamped
CHR 1093 B-1UVariant 1, Side B runout, stamped
CHR 1093 A-1U 2 1Variant 2, Side A runout, stamped
CHR 1093 B-1U 2 2Variant 2, Side B runout, stamped
ST-1-11428-F2 —◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout, variant 1
ST-2-11428-F2 —◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout, variant 1
ST-1-11428-F2 KP —◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout, variant 2
ST-2-11428-F2 KP —◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout, variant 2
1-11428-F3. 1[stamped sideways] ✶Side 1 Runout, Hand-etched - Variant 1
2-11427-F3 . C◁ ✶Side 2 Runout, Hand-etched - Variant 1
1-11428-F3. 2[stamped sideways] ✶ RPSide 1 Runout, Hand-etched - Variant 2
2-11428-F-3. 1[stamped sideways] ✶Side 2 Runout, Hand-etched - Variant 2
ST1 11428 F1 #1 KP MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side A runout - variant 1
ST2 11428 F1 #5 KP MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side B runout - variant 1
ST1 11428 F1 #1 KP MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side A runout - variant 2
ST2 11428 F1 #4 KP MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side B runout - variant 2
SMX 47815 2ASide A runout, hand-etched
SMX 47816 2ASide B runout, hand-etched
SMX47815Side A label
SMX47816Side B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | Chrysalis L 35636 / Chrysalis L-35,636First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Brazil | Chrysalis 6307 556First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Capitol Records ST-11428First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | Capitol Records ST-11428First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | France | Chrysalis CHR 1093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | Chrysalis 6307 556First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | Chrysalis 6307 556First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Israel | Chrysalis CHR.1093 / Chrysalis 30932First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Italy | Chrysalis 6307 556First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Italy | Chrysalis CHR 1093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Chrysalis CHR 1093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Chrysalis CHR 1093First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | New Zealand | Chrysalis L35636First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Portugal | Chrysalis 6307 556First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Spain | Chrysalis 89.565-IFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Capitol Records SN-16048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records SN-16048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records SN-16048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records SN-16048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Argentina | Chrysalis TLP-60005LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Portugal | Chrysalis 620315LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Alucard ALUGGV03 / Alucard 804471000213LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2012 | Europe | Chrysalis CHRX 1093LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US | Alucard ALUGGV062LP | LP |
| 2021 | Europe | Alucard ALUGGV066 / Alucard ALUGGV66LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2021 | Europe | Alucard ALUGGRV065 / Alucard ALUGGV066LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | Europe | Alucard ALUGGWV065 / Alucard ALUGGV066LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Alucard ALUGGV062LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Chrysalis 202 650 / Chrysalis 202 650-320LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Chrysalis 6307 556LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Chrysalis CHR 1093LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
39 vinyl pressings of Free Hand are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1975 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in UK, US, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Chrysalis CHR 1093✳, released August 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CHR 1093✳, CHR 1093, ST-11428, L 35636) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CHR 1093 A-1U R 1 and CHR 1093 B-1U 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.
