Vinyl pressings
by Henry Cow · 1973
The Henry Cow Legend was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. 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 1973, 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.
V 2005 A - 2 U CRunout side A, stamped variant 1
V 2005 B - 1 U ↾↿ ↿Runout side B, stamped variant 1
V 2005 A - 2 U ↾↿Runout side A, stamped variant 2
V 2005 B - 2 URunout side B, stamped variant 2
V 2005 A - 2 USide A runout, Variant 1
V 2005 B - 2 USide B runout, Variant 1
V-2005-A- 1 FgSide A runout, Variant 2
V-2005-B FgSide B runout, Variant 2
ST-VR-743085-AAA - 1 AT D PRRunout side A, variant 1
ST-VR-743086-AAA - 1 AT PR DRunout side B, variant 1
ST-VR-743085-A AT PR 1Runout side A, variant 2
ST-VR-743086-A AT PR 1Runout side B, variant 2
ST-VR-743085-A ATSide 1 runout stamped
△18850(1) PRSide 1 runout etched
ST-VR-743086-A ATSide 2 runout stamped
△18850-X(1) PRSide 1 runout etched
ST-VR-743085-AAA AT PRSide A runout, variant 1
ST-VR-743086-AAA-1 AT PRSide B runout, variant 1
ST-VR-743085-AAA-1 AT PR 1+1 DSide A runout, variant 2
ST-VR-743086-AAA-1-1+1 AT D PRSide B runout, variant 2
AT-VR-743085 PRLabel side A
AT-VR-743086 PRLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | France | Virgin 840 027 / Virgin N° 840 027First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Virgin 87 738 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12005First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Virgin YX-7022-VRFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | South Africa | Virgin V2005 / Virgin V.2005First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | UK | Virgin V2005 / Virgin V .2005First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Virgin V 2005 / Virgin V .2005First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Virgin VR 13-107First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Virgin VR 13-107First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Virgin VR 13-107First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Virgin VR 13-107First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | Australia | Virgin L 35133LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Virgin YX-7022-VRLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Spain | Virgin 87 738-ILP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | Virgin V 2005LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Japan | Virgin VIP-4153LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | UK | ReR Megacorp ReR VHC1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2017 | Unknown | ReR Megacorp ReR VHC1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | US | Red Records RED 001LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Italy | Virgin VIL 12005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
24 vinyl pressings of The Henry Cow Legend are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1973 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, France, Germany and more. One of them is Virgin V2005.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V2005, V 2005, VR 13-107, 840 027) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2005 A - 2 U C and V 2005 B - 1 U ↾↿ ↿. 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.
