Vinyl pressings
by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five · 1980
Freedom was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 5 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.
BG VID-168-GM -1 ✩ STERLINGA-Side Runout Etching. variant 1
BG VID-169-GM-1 ✩ STERLINGB-Side Runout Etching. variant 1
BG VID-168-GM STERLINGA-Side Runout Etching, variant 2
BG VID-169-GM STERLINGB-Side Runout Etching. variant 2
VID-168-GM STERLINGA runout
VID-169-GM STERLINGB runout
VID-168-GMAS-BWSide A Label
VID-169-GMBS-BWSide B Label
VID-168-GM STERLINGRunout, side A, etched [STERLING stamped]
VID-169-GM STERLINGRunout, side B, etched [STERLING stamped]
SH-549-A (VID-168-GMAS-RG)Label, side A
SH-549-B (VID-169-GMBS-RG)Label, side B
VID-168-GMRunout Side A
VID-169-GMRunout Side B
STERLINGStamped, sides A & B
VID-168-GMAS-APLabel Side A
VID-168-GMASSide A Label
VID-169-GMBSSide B Label
VID-168-GM-1Runout Side A
VID-169-GM-1Runout Side B
VID-168-GMAS-RGLabel Side A
VID-169-GMBS-BWLabel Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Costa Rica | Sugar Hill Records 65.003First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1980 | France | Sugar Hill Records 310850 / Vogue 310850First year12" | 12" |
| 1980 | France | Sugar Hill Records 101365 / Vogue 101365First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Germany | Sugar Hill Records 6.12948First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Germany | Sugar Hill Records 6.12948First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Mexico | Trebol TI 70389First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-549First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-549First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-549First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-549First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-549First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-756First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Styrene · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Styrene · Promo |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-549First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-549First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1980 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-549First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
24 vinyl pressings of Freedom are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1980 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, France, Germany, Mexico and more. One of them is Sugar Hill Records SH-549.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SH-549, SH-756, 310850, 101365) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BG VID-168-GM -1 ✩ STERLING and BG VID-169-GM-1 ✩ STERLING. 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.
