Vinyl pressings
by Gladys Knight And The Pips · 1973
Imagination 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.
26 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 15 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.
BDS-5141-A1 Bell Sound RCK PRVariant 1 - Runout A
BDS-5141-B-7 Bell Sound RCK PRVariant 1 - Runout B
BDS-5141-A1 - II - IIIII Bell Sound RCK PRCVariant 2 - Runout A
BDS-5141-B-7 - II - III Bell Sound RCK PRCVariant 2 - Runout B
BDS-5141-A-2 MII Bell Sound RCK SONRunout A
BDS-5141-B-2 Bell Sound RCK SONRunout B
BDS 5141 ALabel A
BDS 5141 BLabel B
T2x BDS-5141-A-5 CTH Bell Sound RCKRunout A, variant 1
x T1 BDS-5141-B-5 CTH Bell Sound RCKRunout B, variant 1
T1 BDS-5141-A-5 CTH TX Bell Sound RCKRunout A, variant 2
T1 BDS-5141-B-5 CTH Bell Sound RCKRunout B, variant 2
BDS-5141-A (MR) △18325 (1) Bell Sound RCKRunout A, variant 1
BDS-5141-B (MR) △18325-X (3) Bell Sound RCKRunout B, variant 1
BDS-5141-A-4 Bell Sound RCK (MR) ∆18325 (5)Runout A, variant 2
BDS-5141-B-4 (MR) Bell Sound RCK ∆18325-X (1)Runout B, variant 2
T1x BDS-5141-A-5 CTH Bell Sound RCK D2Side A Runout
x T1 BDS-5141-B-5 CTH Bell Sound RCK DASide B Runout
BDS 5141 ASide A Label
BDS 5141 BSide B Label
BDS-5141-A (MR) △18325 (2) Bell Sound RCKRunout A
BDS-5141-B (MR) Bell Sound RCK △18325-X (1)Runout B
BDS-5141-ALabel A
BDS-5141-BLabel B
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 | Australia & New Zealand | Buddah Records VAL1-0231First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Buddah Records BDS 5141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Buddah Records BDS 5141LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1973 | Canada | Buddah Records BDS 5141First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Buddah Records 840 016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Buddah Records 2318 083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Buddah Records 2318 083First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Guatemala | Buddah Records 2318 083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Buddah Records 2318 083 LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Jamaica | Buddah Records BDA 5141First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | Buddah Records YZ-52-DAFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Buddah Records YZ-52-DAFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Buddah Records 583.015First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Buddah Records 583.015First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Buddah Records 2318 083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Canada | Buddah Records BDS 89003LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Australia | WEA 252210-1 / Buddah Records 252210-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK & Europe | WEA 252 210-1 / Buddah Records 252 210-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | US | Buddah Records BDS 69007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Buddah Records 810541 / Elemental Music 810541LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Buddah Records 6.23128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Buddah Records BDS 5141 / Buddah Records SW-95567LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | Buddah Records BDS 5141 / Buddah Records SW-95567LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | Buddah Records BDS 5141LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Venezuela | Buddah Records 60.012LP, Album | LP, Album |
53 vinyl pressings of Imagination are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1973 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia & New Zealand, Canada and more. One of them is Buddah Records BDS 5141, released October 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BDS 5141, BDS-5141, 2318 083, VAL1-0231) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BDS-5141-A1 Bell Sound RCK PR and BDS-5141-B-7 Bell Sound RCK PR. 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.
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