Vinyl pressings
by Hawkwind · 1980
Levitation 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.
11 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 8 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.
1 BRON 530 A 3U 9Runout side A, variant 1
2 TOWNHOUSE BRON 530 B-1U 13Runout side B, variant 1
BRON 530 A-3U TOWNHOUSE 1 2Runout side A, variant 2
BRON 530 B-1U TOWNHOUSE 1 G DRunout side B, variant 2
BRON530 A//5▽E TH 11 5 TOWNHOUSESide A [stamped]
BRON530 B//2▽E TH 11 6 TOWNHOUSESide B [stamped]
BRON 530 ASide A [label]
BRON 530 BSide B [label]
3 SMX·57087 ··W2ASide A runout, hand-etched
1 SMX·37088 ·· W2BSide B runout, hand-etched
SMX-57087Side A label
SMX-57088Side B label
202997 A-1 /80 S Made in GermanySide A runout
202997 B-1 /80 S Made in GermanySide B runout
S 202 997 ASide A label
S 202 997 BSide B label
202997 A-1 /80 S Made in GermanyRunout side A
202997 B-1 /80 S Made in GermanyRunout side B
BRO 2043 A MPORunout side A, etched
BRO 2043 A MPORunout side B, etched
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 | France | Bronze BRO 2043First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Bronze BRO 2043LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Germany | Bronze 202 997-270 / Bronze 202 997First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Ireland | Bronze BRON 530First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Bronze BROL34530First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Bronze VIP-6752First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Bronze VIP-6752First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | UK | Bronze BRON 530First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | UK | Bronze BRON 530LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1980 | UK & Europe | Bronze BRON 530LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Australia | Bronze L 37498 / Bronze L-37498First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Bronze 202 997-320 / Bronze 202 997First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Bronze 202 997-320 / Bronze 202.997First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | Bronze BRON 530First yearLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | Brazil | Bronze 202 997 / Ariola 402 997LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV305LPLP, Album, Deluxe Edition | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition |
| 2015 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV305LPLP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | UK | Atomhenge ATOMLP 3016LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 2018 | UK | Atomhenge ATOMLP 3016LP, Album, Reissue, LP, All Media, Record Store Day · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, All Media, Record Store Day · Colored vinyl |
20 vinyl pressings of Levitation are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1980 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, Australia, Germany, Netherlands and more. One of them is Bronze BRON 530, released November 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BRON 530, L 37498, 202 997-320, BRO 2043) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1 BRON 530 A 3U 9 and 2 TOWNHOUSE BRON 530 B-1U 13. 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.
