Vinyl pressings
by Gordon Lightfoot · 1976
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald 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.
19 pressings came out in 1976, 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.
RPS-1369 TCA-0135-S JW1#1 0A Side Deadwax - Etched
RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S JW1#1 0B Side Deadwax - Etched
RPS-1369 TCA-0135-S JW1 𝒮𝓊𝒷 #1 0Side A Run-out, etched (0 stamped), Var 2
RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S JW1 #3 0Side B Run-out, etched (0 stamped), Var 2
RPS-1369 TCN-0135-S WW1 ----◄A-Side Runout Etching
RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S WW1 ----◄B-Side Runout Etching
(TCN 0135)SA-side label
(UCN 0144)SB-side label
T RPS-1369 TCN-0135-S TH2A side deadwax - scribed
T RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S TH1B side deadwax - scribed
RPS-1369 TCN-0135-S P1A side runout, variant 1
RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S P1B side runout, variant 1
P RPS-1369 TCN-0135-S P1A side runout, variant 2
P RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S P2B side runout, variant 2
RPS-1369 TCN-0135-S 1W2• I(sideways) ✲A side runout
RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S 1W1• CV ✲B side runout
(TCN-0135)Slabel side A
(UCN-0144)Slabel side B
RPS-1369 TCN-0135-S SM1A side deadwax - scribed
RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S SM1B side deadwax - scribed
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 | Reprise Records RPS-1369First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1976 | Canada | Reprise Records REP 1369XFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Chile | Reprise Records RPS-1369First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1976 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 14 451 / Reprise Records REP 14 451 (N)First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1976 | Germany | Reprise Records 144517", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1976 | Italy | Reprise Records W 14451First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1976 | New Zealand | Reprise Records RPS 1369First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1976 | UK | Reprise Records K 14451First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | UK | Reprise Records K 14451First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | UK | Reprise Records K 14451First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1976 | UK | Reprise Records K 14451First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | US | Reprise Records RPS 1369First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | US | Reprise Records RPS 1369First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1976 | US | Reprise Records RPS 1369First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1976 | US | Reprise Records RPS 1369First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
20 vinyl pressings of The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Reprise Records RPS 1369, released August 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RPS 1369, K 14451, REP 1369, RPS-1369) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RPS-1369 TCA-0135-S JW1#1 0 and RPS-1369 UCN-0144-S JW1#1 0. 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.
