Vinyl pressings
by Gong · 1976
Shamal was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 11 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.
V2046 A1 EG +ongSide A, etched, variant 1
V2046 B1 EG MASTER ROOMSide B, etched, variant 1
19 V2046 A1 EG +ongSide A, etched, variant 2
8 V2046 B1 EG MASTER ROOMSide B, etched, variant 2
V2046 A1 EG tone 28Runout side A, variant 1
V2046 B1 EG master room 35Runout side B, variant 1
V2046 A1 3 EG tone 26Runout side A, variant 2
V2046 B1 2 EG master room 26Runout side B, variant 2
V2046 A1 EG +ongside A, etched
8 V2046 B1 EG master roomside B, etched
AL 34156 1F @Tgp A PSide A Runout, variant 1
BL-34156-1C ATGP 0 T1Side B Runout, variant 1
AL-34156 1A atGP A1 1 5Side A Runout, variant 2
BL-34156-1A ATGP A4 1 5Side B Runout, variant 2
AL 34156 1F AT/GPSide A
BL-34156-1B AT/GP SX BSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | Virgin L 35871First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Virgin V2046First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Virgin 2473 719LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | France | Virgin XBLY 940521LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1976 | France | Virgin 2473 719LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | France | Virgin 2473 719LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12046First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Virgin 27 048 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | New Zealand | Virgin V 2046First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Spain | Virgin 27048-1 / Virgin 27.048-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Spain | Virgin 27048-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Spain | Virgin 27048-1 / Virgin 27.048-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Virgin V 2046 / Virgin V2046First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | UK | Virgin V 2046 / Virgin V2046First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Virgin PZ 34156First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | France | Virgin 70028LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK | Virgin OVED 17LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Europe | Virgin 27 048-270LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Virgin 202604LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | France | Virgin 2473 719LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Virgin 202604LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | France & Benelux | Virgin 2473 719LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Virgin 27048LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Virgin OVED 17LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Virgin OVED 17LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Virgin V 2046 / Virgin V2046LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 17LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Virgin V 2046LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Virgin V 2046 / Virgin V2046LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 17LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Virgin V 2046LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Virgin V 2046LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 17LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
43 vinyl pressings of Shamal are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1976 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in UK, US, France, Japan and more. One of them is Virgin V 2046, released February 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V 2046, PZ 34156, 940 521, YX-7102-VR) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V2046 A1 EG +ong and V2046 B1 EG MASTER ROOM. 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.
