Vinyl pressings
by Jefferson Starship · 1978
Earth was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 21 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.
BXL1-2515 A-1S KENDUN-A JG I AiHHHRunout A, variant 1
BXL1-2515-B-1S KENDUN-A JG I AjQRunout B, variant 1
BXL1-2515 A-1S KENDUN-A I A7 ZZRunout A, variant 2
BXL1-2515-B-1S KENDUN-A JG I A 8 IRunout B, variant 2
BXL1-2515 A-30Side A runout, variant 1
BXL1-2515-B-1S JG KENDUN-ASide B runout, variant 1
BXL1-2515-A JG CC KENDUN-ASide A runout, variant 2
BXL1-2515-B JG CC KENDUN-ASide B runout, variant 2
BXL1-2515 A - 3S KENDUN-A JGRunout A side, variant 1
BXL1 - 2515-B - 3S KENDUN-A JGRunout B side, variant 1
BXL1-2515 A - 1S KENDUN-A JGRunout A side, variant 2
BXL1 - 2515-B - 1S KENDUN-A JGRunout B side, variant 2
FL 12515-A-IE A2BEtched A-side
FL 12515-B-IE A2BEtched B-side
FL.12515-A-IE A2BEtched A side runout variant 1
FL.12515-B-IE A2BEtched B side runout variant 1
FL 12515-A-IE A2 FEtched A side runout variant 2
FL 12515-B-IE A2 IEtched B side runout variant 2
A2 AE FL 12515 - A - IESide A runout, variant 1
AIV FL 12515 - B - IESide B runout, variant 1
A2 AD FL 12515 - A - IE.Side A runout, variant 2
A2G FL 12515 - B - IE.Side B runout, variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | RCA Victor AVS-4576First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | Grunt BXL1-2515First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.8079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Grunt BXL1-2515First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Grunt BXL1-2515First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Grunt BXL1-2515 / Grunt BXL1 2515First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Grunt FL 12 515First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Grunt FL 12 515 / Grunt FL 12515First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Grunt FL 12 515First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20105First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | India | RCA BXL 1-2515 / RCA Victor BXL1. 2515First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | India | RCA Victor BXL 1-2515First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Israel | Grunt BXL1-2515 / RCA BXL1-2515First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Grunt FL 12515First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Grunt FL 12515First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | UK | Grunt INTS 5173 / RCA International INTS 5173LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Italy | RCA YL 14172 / Grunt YL 14172LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1982 | Italy | RCA YL 14172 / Grunt YL 14172LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Promo |
| 1982 | Japan | Grunt RPL-2114LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Germany | Grunt NL84172LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1987 | Peru | RCA Victor DXL1-2515LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1989 | Spain | RCA NL-84172LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | RCA NL84172 / Grunt NL84172LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Grunt FL-12515 / Grunt FL 12515LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Liming Record LM-2871LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | RCA Victor AYL1-4172LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
42 vinyl pressings of Earth are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1978 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Grunt BXL1-2515.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BXL1-2515, FL 12515, AVS-4576, 104.8079) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BXL1-2515 A-1S KENDUN-A JG I AiHHH and BXL1-2515-B-1S KENDUN-A JG I AjQ. 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.
