US
1954- Label and catalog number
- MGM Records E243
- Format
- LP, 10", Album
Hank Williams With His Drifting CowboysI Saw The Light
Vinyl pressings
I Saw The Light
by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys · 1954
16 pressings4 countriesCountryFolkWorld& Country
I Saw The Light was first pressed on vinyl in 1954. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of I Saw The Light
3 pressings came out in 1954, the album's first year, in 2 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.
US
1954- Label and catalog number
- MGM Records X243
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP · Gatefold
- Runout / matrix
54-EP-39A-Side Label
54-EP-40B-Side Label
54-EP-41C-Side Label
54-EP-42D-Side Label
Canada
1954- Label and catalog number
- MGM Records E3331
- Format
- LP, Album, Compilation, Mono
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 16 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1950s10 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Canada | MGM Records E3331First yearLP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | MGM Records E243First yearLP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| 1954 | US | MGM Records X243First year7", 45 RPM, Album, EP | 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP |
| 1956 | Canada | MGM Records E3331LP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1956 | Japan | MGM Records YL 5016LP, Album, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1956 | Japan | MGM Records YL-5016LP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1956 | New Zealand | MGM Records MGM-MC 6004LP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1956 | US | MGM Records E3331LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | MGM Records E3331LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | MGM Records E3331LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue |
1960s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Japan | MGM Records SL-5102 / MGM Records YL 5016LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE-3331LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE 3331LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
Year unknown3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | MGM Records E3331LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Polydor SE 3331 / Polydor 811 900-1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MGM Records E3331LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
Tracklist
- A1I Saw The Light
- A2Calling You
- A3Dear Brother
- A4I'm Gonna Sing
- A5Message To My Mother
- B1How Can You Refuse Him Now
- B2When God Comes And Gathers His Jewels
- B3Jesus Remembered Me
- B4A House Of Gold
- B5Thank God
- B6The Angel Of Death
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of I Saw The Light are there?
16 vinyl pressings of I Saw The Light are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1954 and 1968.
When was I Saw The Light first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1954, in US, Canada. One of them is MGM Records E243.
How do I tell if my copy of I Saw The Light is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use E243, X243, E3331) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is I Saw The Light on vinyl worth?
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.
