Vinyl pressings
by Gentle Giant · 1977
Playing The Fool was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
29 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 10 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.
CTY 1133A .. EG 2Side A scratched (except 2, stamped)
CT♥ 1133 B//2 P 12 5Side B stamped with defective Y
5 CTY 1133C EG ..Side C scratched (except 5, stamped)
5 CTY 1133D EG ..Side D scratched (except 5, stamped)
CTY 1133A .. EG 9Side A etched (except 9, stamped)
CT♥ 1133 B//2 12 1Side B stamped
2 CTY 1133C EG ..Side C etched (except 2, stamped)
2 CTY 1133D EG ..Side D etched (except 2, stamped)
CTY 1133A [1] EG I-14Side A, etched, [] stamped & set horizontally
CTY 1133B [1] EG I-13Side B, etched, stamped & set horizontally
CTY 1133C EG [1] I-13Side C, etched, stamped & set horizontally
CTY 1133D EG [1] I-9Side D, etched, stamped & set horizontally
SKBB-1-11592 F1 #1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side A runout etched, stamped
SKBB-2-11592 F1 #1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side B runout etched, stamped
SKBB-3-11592 F1 #1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side C runout etched, stamped
SKBB-4-11592 F1 #2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side D runout etched, stamped
SKBB-1-11592-F-3 KPSide 1 Runout Etched
[sideways 1][6-pointed star]Side 1 Runout Stamped
SKBB-2-11592-F-3 KPSide 2 Runout Etched
[sideways 1][6-pointed star]Side 2 Runout Stamped
SKBB-1-11592 F2 #2 ---< MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout, var 1
SKBB-2-11592 F2 #2 ---< MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout, var 1
SKBB-3-11592-F2 ---< MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide C runout, var 1
SKBB-4-11592 F2 #2 ---< MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide D runout, var 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | Chrysalis L 45707/8 / Chrysalis CTY 1133First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Australia | Chrysalis L 45707/8 / Chrysalis CTY 1133First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Brazil | Chrysalis 6641 621First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Brazil | Chrysalis 6307 595 / Chrysalis 6307 596First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBB-11592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBB-11592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBB-11592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBB-11592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBB-11592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBB-11592First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1977 | France | Chrysalis CTY 1133First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Chrysalis CTY 1133First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Chrysalis 6641579 / Chrysalis 6641 579First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Chrysalis 928 6676First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Germany | Chrysalis 6641579 / Chrysalis 6641 579LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Germany | Chrysalis 301 281-406LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Essential! Records ESSLP 006LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Europe | Alucard ALUGG 089LP, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2025 | Europe | Chrysalis Catalogue CHRV1133 / Alucard CHRV1133LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2025 | US | Alucard ALUGG089LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Chrysalis 301 281-406LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
42 vinyl pressings of Playing The Fool are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1977 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK, US, Italy, Australia and more. One of them is Chrysalis CTY 1133, released January 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CTY 1133, SKBB-11592, SPRO-8558, CTY 21133) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CTY 1133A .. EG 2 and CT♥ 1133 B//2 P 12 5. 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.
