Vinyl pressings
by Harry Chapin · 1975
Portrait Gallery 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.
13 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 7 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.
P 1S 7E1041A-Z CSM SX ESR TD 81875 D 0Side A runout, etched / P, 0 stamped
P 1S P 7E1041 B-3 CSM SX ESR TD 8-18-75 D 3Side B runout, etched / P, P, 3 stamped
7E 1041 A2 CSMSide A runout, variant 1
7E 1041 B3 CSM ESZ TO 8-18-75Side B runout, variant 1
2 7E1041 A-1 CSM SX ESR-TD 8 18 75 3DSide A runout, variant 2
1 S 7E1041 B-3 CSM SX ESR-TD 8-18-75 1 DSide B runout, variant 2
7E 1041 A-1 CSM ESR-TD 81875 A 2Side A runout, variant 1
7E 1041 B-2 1 SXT CTH ESR TD 81875 F5 1 5Side B runout, variant 1
7E 1041 A-1 CSM T CTH ESR-TD 81875 B 4Side A runout, variant 2
\ S 7E 1041 B-1 CSM SX CTH ESR-D 81875 D11Side B runout, variant 2
K 52023 A-1 HTM R
K 52023 B-2 HTM G
K 52023 A-1 HTM RSide A runout
K 52023 B-2 HTM GSide B runout
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 | Australia | Elektra 7E 1041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Elektra 7ES 1041 / Elektra 7ES-1041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | Elektra ELK 52 023First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Elektra P-10077EFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1975 | Japan | Elektra P-10077EFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | New Zealand | Elektra 7E 1041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | UK | Elektra K 52023First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | UK | Elektra K 52023First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1975 | UK | Elektra K 52023First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Elektra 7E 1041 / Elektra 7E-1041LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1975 | US | Elektra 7E-1041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Elektra 7E 1041First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Elektra 7E 1041 / Elektra 7E-1041First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | US | Elektra 7E-1041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | Stutheit Records AG-5325LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Elektra 7E 1041 / Elektra 7E-1041LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Elektra 7E-1041LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Elektra 7E 1041 / Elektra 7E-1041LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
18 vinyl pressings of Portrait Gallery are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1975 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Elektra 7E-1041.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7E-1041, 7E 1041, K 52023, 7ES 1041) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P 1S 7E1041A-Z CSM SX ESR TD 81875 D 0 and P 1S P 7E1041 B-3 CSM SX ESR TD 8-18-75 D 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.
