Vinyl pressings
by Herbie Hancock · 1973
Head Hunters 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.
19 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 9 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 AL 32731-1CRunout side A, stamped - variant 1
P BL 32731-1BRunout side B, stamped - variant 1
P AL 32731-1DRunout side A, stamped - variant 2
P BL 32731-1CRunout side B, stamped - variant 2
o P AL 32731-1B \ SX TRunout A, variant 1
o P BL 32731-1B \ SX TRunout B, variant 1
o P AL 32731-1A 2 SX TRunout A, variant 2
o P BL 32731-1A 1 SX TRunout B, variant 2
P AL 32731-1D 1 T º E 4A Side runout, variant 1
º T P BL 32731-1C CB Side runout, variant 1
P AL 32731-1D 1 T JA Side runout, variant 2
BL 32731-2G 1T C VB Side runout, variant 2
o P AL 32731-1A BA-side runout
o P BL 32731-1B CB-side runout
AL 32731A-side label
BL 32731B-side label
S 1 AL 32731-1A I 17Side A runout, stamped and etched, variant 1
S 1 BL 32731-1A A 20Side B runout, stamped and etched, variant 1
o P AL 32731-1A I S I //Side A runout, stamped and etched, variant 2
o P BL 32731-1A I S I //Side B runout, stamped and etched, variant 2
o P AL 32731-1A SX CA-side runout, var 1
p P BL 32731-1C CB-side runout, var 1
o P AL 32731-1A 1 SX EA-side runout, var 2
o P BL 32731-1CB-side runout, var 2
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 | Australia | CBS SBP-234442 / CBS SBP 234442First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPL 238 / CBS/Sony SOPL-238First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPL 238 / CBS/Sony SOPL-238First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 474173First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Philippines | CBS KC 32731 / Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | South Africa | Date DAS 2192First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Trinidad & Tobago | Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | CBS S 65928 / CBS 65928First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Columbia KC 32731First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Japan | CBS/Sony 18AP 2179LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | CBS/Sony 18AP 2179LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1982 | Europe | CBS CBS 32008 / CBS 32008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Portugal | CBS 32008 / CBS CBS 32008LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Columbia PC 32731 / Columbia 32731LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Columbia PC 32731 / Columbia 32731LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Columbia PC 32731LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | Spain | CBS CBS 32008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | UK & Europe | Columbia 65928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Europe | Columbia 88697269991 / Sony BMG Music Entertainment 88697269991LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | US | Columbia 88697392181 / Legacy 88697392181LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2009 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP030 / Legacy 88697392181LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Analogue Productions AAPJ 084LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2015 | US | Analogue Productions APJ 084 / Analogue Productions AAPJ 084LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2015 | US | Analogue Productions APJ 084 / Analogue Productions AAPJ 084LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2017 | US | Analogue Productions APJ 084-45 / Columbia 8887507804112", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Analogue Productions APJ 084-45 / Columbia KC 3273112", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited |
| 2021 | US | Analogue Productions APJ 084 / Analogue Productions AAPJ 084LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Columbia PC 32731LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP-234442 / CBS KC 32731LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia KC 32731LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WKC 32731 / Columbia KC 32731LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32008 / CBS 32008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS 32008 / CBS 65928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 65928 / CBS CBS 65928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32008 / CBS 32008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS 65928 / CBS S 65928LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32008 / CBS 32008LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | South Korea | Domido LD6-022LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | CBS 32008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Giant TD-1438LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 32008LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 32008LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
75 vinyl pressings of Head Hunters are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1973 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia KC 32731, released October 26, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 32731, S 65928, SBP-234442, SOPL 238) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL 32731-1C and P BL 32731-1B. 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.
