Vinyl pressings
by James Brown · 1974
Hell was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
32 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 15 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.
PD 9001 A4 P̶D̶-̶2̶-̶9̶0̶0̶3̶-̶A̶-̶4̶ 2 II STERLING 22Runout Side A
PD-2-9001-B-RE-4 STERLING RL 22Runout Side B
PD-2-9001-C-RE-4̶ 2 II STERLING RL 22Runout Side C
PD 2-9001-D-RE-4 STERLING RL 22Runout Side D
[etched] PD-2-9001-A -2 [stamped] STERLING [etched] RL [etched] PRSide 1 runout
[etched] PD-2-9001-B-RE -2 [stamped] STERLING [etched] PRSide 2 runout
[etched] PD-2-9001-C RE -2 [stamped] STERLING [etched] PRSide 3 runout
[etched] PD-2-9001-D RE -2 [stamped] STERLING [etched] RL [etched] PRSide 4 runout
PD-2-9001-A-3 PD-2-2̶0̶0̶5̶-A-3 (MR) △19028(4) STERLINGRunout A variant 1
PD-2-9001-B-RE-3 (MR) △19028-X(2) STERLING RLRunou B variant 1
PD-2-9001-C-RE-3 (MR) △19029(3) STERLING RLRunou C variant 1
PD-2-9001-D-RE-3 (MR) △19029-X(3) STERLING RLRunout D variant 1
PD 2-9001 AMatrix side A, on label
PD 2-9001 BMatrix side B, on label
PD 2-9001 CMatrix side C, on label
PD 2-9001 DMatrix side D, on label
PD 9001 A4 (erased PD-2-9003-A-4) 2 II aaEtched Runout Side A
PD-2-9001-B-RE-4 RL aaEtched Runout Side B
PD-2-9001-C-RE-4 RL aaEtched Runout Side C
PD 2-9001-D-RE-4 RL aaEtched Runout Side D
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Brazil | Polydor 2391 155First yearLP | LP |
| 1974 | Canada | Polydor PD-2-9001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | France | Polydor 2669 018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Polydor 2679 032First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | Polydor 2679 032First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | Germany | Polydor 2679 032First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Greece | International Polydor Production 2391 163First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Israel | Polydor 2679 032First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | Polydor 2669 018 A / Polydor 2448 213First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | Polydor 2488 213First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Jamaica | Polydor PD 2-9001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Polydor MP 9474/5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Lebanon | Polydor 2679 032 / Polydor 2488212First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Polydor 2672 022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Polydor 2672 022 / Polydor PD 2-9001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US | Strongly Felt SF74003LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Korea | Yegrin K-7005LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | Giant TD-1413-14LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Polydor PD-2-9001 / Polydor 2673 017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Polydor PD 2-9001 / Polydor 2673 017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Afrts RL 11-5 / United States Department Of Defense RL 11-5LP, Album, Transcription | LP, Album, Transcription |
| ? | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB 2 LP 5869/5870 / Polydor 2679 032LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
43 vinyl pressings of Hell are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1974 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Brazil, Canada and more. One of them is Polydor PD 2-9001.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PD 2-9001, PD-2-9001, 2659 036, 2391 155) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PD 9001 A4 P̶D̶-̶2̶-̶9̶0̶0̶3̶-̶A̶-̶4̶ 2 II STERLING 22 and PD-2-9001-B-RE-4 STERLING RL 22. 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.
