Vinyl pressings
by Gil Scott-Heron · 1981
Reflections was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
p AL 9566-SA-X BA-Side Runout Etching
p BL 9566-SB AB-Side Runout Etching
p AL 9566-SA-XA-Side Runout Etching, Variant 2
AL 9566-SB XX 2B-Side Runout Etching, Variant 2
AL 9566-SA HUBRunout Side A
AL 9566-SB HUBRunout Side B
AL 9566 SALabel Side A
AL 9566 SBLabel Side B
AL 9566-SA (2) MR △25387 A \SRunout A, variant 1
AL 9566-SB (1) MR △25387X A \SRunout B, variant 1
AL 9566-SA (1) MR △25387 A B \SRunout A, variant 2
AL 9566-SB ̷(̷1̷)̷ (4) MR △25387X A \SRunout B, variant 2
1 T AL 9566-SA CT4A-Side Runout Etching
T 1 AL 9566-SB-CT1B-Side Runout Etching
1 T AL 9566-SA CT8Side A, Variant 2
T 1 AL 9566-SB-CT1Side B, Variant 2
\S AL 9566-SA-② A5Runout A, etched, variant 1
\S AL 9566-SB-② A4Runout B, etched, variant 1
\S AL 9566-SA-(2) A8Runout A, etched, variant 2
\S AL 9566-SB (1) A2Runout B, etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Arista L 37831First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Europe | Arista SPART 1180First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Arista 204 094First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Arista 204 094First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Arista 204 094First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Arista AL 9566First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Arista SPART 1180First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Arista AL 9566First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Arista AL 9566LP, Test Pressing, Promo, White Label · Test pressing, Promo | LP, Test Pressing, Promo, White Label · Test pressing, Promo |
| 1981 | US | Arista AL 9566LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | US | Arista AL 9566First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Arista AL8-8122 / Arista AL 9566First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Arista AL 9566First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Arista AL 9566First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Arista AL 9566First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Worldwide | Culture Factory 784 102LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Arista 204 094LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Arista 204 094 / Arista AL 9566LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Arista SPART 1180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Arista 204 094LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
26 vinyl pressings of Reflections are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1981 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Europe and more. One of them is Arista AL 9566.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AL 9566, AL8-8122, SPART 1180, L 37831) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, p AL 9566-SA-X B and p BL 9566-SB A. 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.
