Vinyl pressings
by Grand Funk Railroad · 1972
Phoenix was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 22 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.
SMAS-1-11099 Z10 IAM STERLING LH 2Runout side A, variant 1
SMAS-2-11099 Z11 IAM STERLING LH 3Runout side B, variant 1
SMAS-1-11099 Z11 #2 IAM STERLING 3 LHRunout side A, variant 2
SMAS-2-11099 Z11#2 IAM STERLING 3 LHRunout side B, variant 2
SMAS-1-11099 Z10 #2 [IAM In Triangle] STERLING LH 2Runout side A, variant 1
SMAS-2-11099 Z11 [IAM In Triangle] STERLING LH 3Runout side B, variant 1
SMAS-1-11099 Z10 #2 [IAM In Triangle] STERLING LH 2Runout side A, variant 2
SMAS-2-11099 Z10 [IAM In Triangle] STERLING LH 2Runout side B, variant 2
SMAS-1-11099 Z14 · ─◁ STERLING 2 LHRunout Side A
SMAS-2-11099 Z3 ─◁ STERLING 2 LHRunout Side B
SMAS-1-1109 Z7 #1 STERLING LH 0Runout A side etched, except Sterling, 0 stamped - variant 1
SMAS-2-1109 Z7 #3 STERLING LH 0Runout B side etched, except Sterling, 0 stamped - variant 1
SMAS-1-11099 Z2 #4 STERLING LH 0Runout A side etched, except Sterling, 0 stamped - variant 2
SMAS-2-11099 Z1 #2 STERLING LH 0Runout B side etched, except Sterling, 0 stamped - variant 2
SMAS-1-11099 #1 Z16 STERLING 2 LH 0Side A etched [STERLING & last 0 stamped]
SMAS-2-11099 Z16 #1 STERLING LH 0Side B etched [STERLING & last 0 stamped]
SMAS-1-11099 Z5 • 3 ✲ STERLING 2 LHSide A, etched/stamped, Variant 1
SMAS-2-11099 Z6 • 3 -- ✲ STERLING 3 LHSide B, etched/stamped, Variant 1
SMAS-1-11099 Z5 • 1 ✲ STERLING 2 LHSide A, etched, ✲ STERLING stamped, Variant 2
SMAS-2-11099 Z6 • 1 ✲ STERLING 3 LHSide B, etched, ✲ STERLING stamped, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Australia | Capitol Records SW 11099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Brazil | Capitol Records SMAS 11099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Capitol Records SMAS 11099First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Denmark | Capitol Records SMAS-11099First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Capitol Records SMAS-11099First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Capitol Records SMAS-11099 / Capitol Records SMAS 11099First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Capitol Records 1 C 062-81 269First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Greece | Capitol Records SMAS-11099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Guatemala | Capitol Records SMAS-11099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | India | Capitol Records SMAS 11099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Israel | Capitol Records SMAS 11099First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Italy | Capitol Records 3C 064-81269First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Mexico | Capitol Records SLEM-403First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Capitol Records 5C 062-81 269First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Capitol Records SMAS-11099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Europe | Capitol Records 1 C 038-81 269 / EMI Electrola 1 C 038-81 269LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Capitol Records 1 C 038-81 269LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Germany | Capitol Records 1 C 038-81 269 / EMI Electrola 1 C 038-81 269LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Venezuela | Capitol Records ST-403LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | South Korea | Capitol Records SMAS 11099 / Oasis Record Co. OLE 571LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Capitol Records SMAS 11099 / Solo Ediciones SMAS 11099LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Canada | Not On Label SMAS 11099LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Germany | Capitol Records 1 C 038-81 269 / EMI Electrola 1 C 038-81 269LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Guatemala | Capitol Records 110997", EP, Promo · Promo | 7", EP, Promo · Promo |
| ? | Italy | Capitol Records 54 1812691LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SMAS 11099LP, Album | LP, Album |
56 vinyl pressings of Phoenix are listed here, from 31 countries, released between 1972 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Capitol Records SMAS 11099, released September 15, 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SMAS 11099, SMAS-71099, EA-ST 11099, ECP-80662) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SMAS-1-11099 Z10 IAM STERLING LH 2 and SMAS-2-11099 Z11 IAM STERLING LH 3. 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.
