Vinyl pressings
by John Coltrane · 1967
Expression was first pressed on vinyl in 1967. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
9 pressings came out in 1967, the album's first year, in 4 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.
AS-9120-A VAN GELDER LWRunout side A - variant 1
AS-9120-B VAN GELDER LWRunout side B - variant 1
AS 9120 A LW 3Runout side A - variant 2
AS-9120-B LW VAN GELDERRunout side B - variant 2
A-9120-ASide 1, etched
AS-9120-BSide 2, etched
VAN GELDERSide 1+2, stamped
LWSide 1+2, etched
AS 9120 A LWSide A runout
AS·9120·B LW VAN GELDERSide B runout
AS-9120-ASide A label
AS-9120-BSide B label
AS-9120-ASide 1, etched
AS-9120-BSide 2, etched
VAN GELDERSide 1+2, stamped
LWSide 1+2, etched
A-9120-ASide 1, etched
AS-9120-BSide 2, etched
VAN GELDERSide 1+2, stamped
LWSide 1+2, etched
AS-9120-ASide 1, etched
AS-9120-BSide 2, etched
VAN GELDERSide 1+2, stamped
LWSide 1+2, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Canada | Sparton Impulse! Records A-9120-S / Impulse! A-9120First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Japan | Impulse! AS-9120 / Impulse! A-9120First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Spain | Impulse! HZ(S) 221-13 / Hispavox HZS 221-13First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Spain | Impulse! HZ 221-13 / Hispavox HZ 221-13First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | US | Impulse! 91288 / Impulse! SMAS 91288LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1967 | US | Impulse! 91288 / Impulse! MAS 91288LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1967 | US | Impulse! A-9120 / Impulse! A-9120First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | US | Impulse! AS-9120 / Impulse! A-9120First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Impulse! A-9120 / Impulse! A-9120First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1967 | US | Impulse! A-9120 / Impulse! AS-9120First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Impulse! AS-9120 / Impulse! A-9120First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Sparton Impulse! Records A 9120 / Impulse! A 9120LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | France | Impulse! A-9120 / Impulse! A. 9120LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | France | Impulse! A-9120 / Impulse! A. 9120LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Impulse! AS-9120 / ABC Records AS-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Japan | Impulse! SR-3061 / ABC Records SR-3061LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Japan | Impulse! SR-3061 / ABC Records SR-3061LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Impulse! AS-9120 / Impulse! A-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Impulse! AS-9120 / Impulse! A-9120LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1972 | US | Impulse! AS-9120 / ABC Records AS-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Impulse! AS-9120 / Impulse! A-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Impulse! IMP-88157 / ABC Records IMP-88157LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | ABC Impulse! AS-9120 / Impulse! AS-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | ABC Impulse! AS-9120 / MCA Impulse! MCA 29023LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | France | ABC Impulse! AS-9120 / ABC Impulse! AS 9.120LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Italy | ABC Impulse! IMP 433 / Impulse! IMP 433LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Italy | ABC Impulse! IMPL 5005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | Japan | ABC Impulse! YP-8570-AI / Impulse! YP-8570-AILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-4626 / Impulse! A-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-4626 / Impulse! A-9120LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Impulse! A9120 / MCA Records 29023LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Sweden | Impulse! AS-9120 / MCA Records MCA-29023LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-5645 / Impulse! VIM-5645LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | MCA Impulse! MCA 29023 / Impulse! AS-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | MCA Records MCA 29023 / Impulse! AS-9120LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | MCA Impulse! MCA 29023 / Impulse! AS-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | UK | Jasmine Records JAS 73LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | UK | Jasmine Records JAS 73LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Impulse! IM-9210-ELP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Impulse! A-9120 / ABC Records A-9120LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Chile | Impulse! IM-9120-SDLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Impulse! A-9120 / Impulse! A. 9120LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | ABC Records ABCS.9120 / Impulse Records ABCS.9120LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Impulse! A-9120 / Impulse! SMAS-91288LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | Impulse! A-9120 / ABC Impulse! AS-9120LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Records AS-9120 / Impulse! AS-9120LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
52 vinyl pressings of Expression are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1967 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1967, in US, Canada, Japan, Spain. One of them is Impulse! AS-9120, released August 1967.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AS-9120, A-9120, A-9120-S, HZ(S) 221-13) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AS-9120-A VAN GELDER LW and AS-9120-B VAN GELDER LW. 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.
