Vinyl pressings
by Greg Lake · 1975
I Believe In Father Christmas was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1975, 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.
K-13511-A2 ⋀ A HAPPY XMAS TO ALL MY READERS - PORKYA side, variant 1
K-13511-B1 ⋀ AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Ho Ho HoB side, variant 1
K-13511-A3 1 2 PorkyA side, variant 2
K-13511-B2 ⋀ 1 PorkyB side, variant 2
K-13511 A2 A C (A HAPPY XMAS TO ALL MY READERS PORKY)Side A stamped/etched
K-13511-B1 A C (AND HAPPY NEW YEAR HO HO HO )Side B stamped/etched
K 13511 ALabel, side A
K 13511 BLabel, side B
K-13511-A2 A HAPPY XMAS TO ALL MY READERS - PORKYA side stamped/etched - variant 1
K-13511-B1 AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Ho Ho HoB side stamped/etched - variant 1
K-13511-A2 PorkyA side stamped/etched - variant 2
K-13511-B1 AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Ho Ho HoB side stamped/etched - variant 2
K-13511-A2A Side runout, stamped
K-13511-B1B Side runout, stamped
A HAPPY XMAS TO ALL MY READERS - PORKYA Side runout, etched
AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Ho Ho HoB Side runout, etched
K·13511·A3 Λ PORKYRunout side A
K·13511·B2 PECKO ΛRunout side B
K 13511 ALabel side A
K 13511 BLabel side B
STA-31437-1Runout Side-A, Hand-etched
STA-31438-1Runout Side-B, Hand-etched
ST-A-31437 SPMatrix, Vinyl-label Side-A
ST-A-31438 SPMatrix, Vinyl-label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Argentina | Music Hall 32.360First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Australia | Atlantic 45-3305First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | Canada | Atlantic AT 3305First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | France | Manticore 13511 / Manticore 13.511First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | Germany | Manticore 16 478 ATFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1975 | Greece | Manticore 135117", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1975 | Italy | Manticore MAN 5404First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | New Zealand | Atlantic 45 3305First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1975 | Spain | Manticore 16478-AFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | UK | Manticore K 13511First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | UK | Manticore K13511 / Manticore K 13511First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1975 | UK | Manticore K 13511First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | UK | Manticore K13511 / Manticore K 13511First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | UK | Manticore K13511 / Manticore K 13511First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Atlantic 45-3305First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Germany | Manticore 104989 / Manticore 104989-1007", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK | Manticore K13511 / Manticore K 135117", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | UK | Atlantic A 7393 / Atlantic 7567-87393-77", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1995 | UK | Atlantic A 7393LC / Atlantic 7567-87393-77", Single, Jukebox | 7", Single, Jukebox |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | USA & Canada | Manticore 5383347110", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | 10", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | UK, Europe & US | BMG BMGCAT766SV10", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 10", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Manticore K 135117", Single, Repress | 7", Single, Repress |
| ? | UK | Manticore K 135117", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| ? | UK | Manticore K 135117", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Manticore K 135117", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | UK | Manticore K 135117", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Manticore K 135117", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Manticore K 135117", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | UK | Manticore K 135117", 45 RPM, Single, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label |
41 vinyl pressings of I Believe In Father Christmas are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1975 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in UK, US, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Manticore K 13511.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use K 13511, K13511, 45-3305, P-1420M) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, K-13511-A2 ⋀ A HAPPY XMAS TO ALL MY READERS - PORKY and K-13511-B1 ⋀ AND HAPPY NEW YEAR Ho Ho Ho. 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.
