Vinyl pressings
by Ian Gillan Band · 1977
Clear Air Turbulence was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 13 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.
BILBO. I-3 ILPS 9500 A2 EG 2Runout side A, variant 1
BILBO - MASTER ROOM. I-8 ILPS 9500 B2 EG 1Runout side B, variant 1
BILBO. I-10 ILPS 9500 A2 EG 2Runout side A, variant 2
BILBO - MASTER ROOM. I-12 ILPS 9500 B2 EG 1Runout side B, variant 2
BILBO I-19 ILPS 9500 A2 EGRunout, side A
BILBO - MASTER ROOM I-21 ILPS 9500 B2 EGRunout, side B
ILPS 9500-Alabel, side A
ILPS 9500-Blabel, side B
1LPS-9500-A-U 1S 1X 〄Version 1 Side A
1LPS-9500-B-U 1S 10 〄Version 1 Side B
ILPS-9500-A-U 1S 5 〄 7-5Version 2 Side A
ILPS-9500-B-U 1S 5 〄Version 2 Side B
SMX 50811 2BSide 1 runout - hand etched
SMX 50812 2BSide 2 runout - hand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | Island Records L-36202 / Island Records L-36,202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Austria | Island Records 28 609 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Brazil | Island Records 202 447First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Island Records 9123 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Island Records 28 609 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Greece | Island Records 14C 064-99255 / Island Records 14C064 - 99255First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19500First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Mexico | Island Records ILPS 9500 / Island Records LA-075First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Island Records L-36202 / Island Records L-36202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Singapore | Island Records ILPS 9500First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Spain | Island Records 28.609-IFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9500First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9500First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Island Records 9500LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1977 | Japan | Island Records ILS-80825First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Finland | Virgin Records Ltd. VM 4LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | UK | Virgin VM 4LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Japan | Island Records ILS-50109LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | UK | Virgin OVED 76LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | UK | The Vinyl Countdown SFMVC1221LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | US | Friday Rights Management, LLC FRID-80825LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Island Records 28 609 XOTLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | Virgin OVED 76LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
24 vinyl pressings of Clear Air Turbulence are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1977 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK, Japan, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9500.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9500, ILS-80825, L-36202, 28 609 XOT) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BILBO. I-3 ILPS 9500 A2 EG 2 and BILBO - MASTER ROOM. I-8 ILPS 9500 B2 EG 1. 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.
