Vinyl pressings
by Jefferson Starship · 1974
Dragon Fly 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.
15 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 10 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.
BFL-1-0717A ̶5̶S̶ 6S B KENDUN I A1Side A runout, variant 1
BFL1-0717B 3S A KENDUN I A1Side B runout, variant 1
BFL-1-0717 A - ̶5̶S̶ /6S KENDUN I B A 5 M MSide A runout, variant 2
BFL1-0717 B 3S KENDUN A I C 1 M M MSide B runout, variant 2
BFL-1-0717 A 2 3̶ 5 A KENDUN HRunout side A, variant 1
BFL1-0717B 2S A KENDUN HRunout side B, variant 1
BFL1-0717 A 1S KENDUN H ARunout side A, variant 2
BFL1-0717 B 2S KENDUN H ARunout side B, variant 2
BFD1-0717A 1S DWJSide A runout
BFD1-0717B 1S DWJSide B runout
BFD1-0717A 1S DWJ HSide A runout, variant 2
BFD1-0717B 1S DWJ HSide B runout, variant 2
BFL1-0717-A-1E A1AMVariant 1, Runout A-side, etched
BFL1-0717-A 2E A2OVariant 1, Runout B-side, etched
BFL1-0717-A-1E A1SVariant 2, Runout A-side, etched
BFL1-0717-B-1E A1SVariant 2, Runout B-side, etched
DKAY 30274 1S 1A 5 ERunout side A
DKAY 30275 1S 1A 3 ERunout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | Grunt BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Australia | Grunt AYL1-3796First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.8087First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Grunt BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Grunt BFL1-0717LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | Israel | Grunt BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Grunt BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Peru | RCA Victor BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | South Africa | Grunt BFL1-0717 / RCA BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | UK | Grunt BFL1 0717 / Grunt BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Grunt BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Grunt BFD1-0717First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1974 | US | Grunt BXL1-0717First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Grunt BFL1-0717First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Grunt BXL1-0717LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | New Zealand | Grunt AYL1 3796 / Grunt BXL1-0717LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Grunt AYL1-3796LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | France | Grunt BFL1 0717 / Grunt BFL1-0717LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Grunt YL 13796LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Grunt YL 13796LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1986 | Japan | RCA RPL-2143LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | US | Friday Music FRM-07170 / Grunt FRM-07170LP, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Friday Music FRM-07170 / Grunt FRM-07170LP, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Friday Music HN72 7772.1LP, Deluxe Edition, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Deluxe Edition, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Grunt BFL1-0717LP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| ? | Canada | Grunt BFL1-0717LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Grunt NL 83796LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | RCA NL 13796LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Grunt BFL1-0717 / Grunt NL 83796LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Grunt BFL 1-0717LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK & Europe | Grunt NL 83796LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK & Europe | Grunt NL 83796LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
44 vinyl pressings of Dragon Fly are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1974 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Italy, Australia and more. One of them is Grunt BFL1-0717.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BFL1-0717, BXL1-0717, BFD1-0717, BFL1 0717) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BFL-1-0717A ̶5̶S̶ 6S B KENDUN I A1 and BFL1-0717B 3S A KENDUN I A1. 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.
