Vinyl pressings
by John Martyn · 1973
Solid Air was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 3 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.
ILPS 9226 A -1U GO STERLING 2H 2 1Variant 1 - runout side A etched / stamped [-1U GO STERLING]
ILPS 9226 B 1 ILPS 9226 B-1U STERLING 1H 2 CRVariant 1 - runout side B etched / stamped
ILPS 9226 A -1U GO STERLING 2H 2 1Variant 2 - runout side A etched / stamped [-1U GO STERLING]
ILPS 9226 B 2 EGVariant 2 - runout side B etched
ILPS 9226 A " AREACEMA-side runout
ILPS 9226 B " AREACEM ♡B-side runout
ILPS-9226 AA-side label
ILPS-9226 BB-side label
SW-1-9325 Z6• 1 ✲ STERLING LHRunout A, variant 1
SW-2-9325 Z6 1 ✲ STERLING LH 3Runout B, variant 1
SW-1-9325 Z5• 1 ✲ STERLING LH 2Runout A, variant 2
SW-2-9325 Z5 1 ✲ STERLING LH 2Runout B, variant 2
0 SW-1-9325 Z3 STERLING LH 2Side A runout etched, 0 STERLING stamped
0 SW-2-9325 #2 Z3 STERLING LH 2Side B runout etched, 0 STERLING stamped
SW 1-9325Label side A
SW 2-9325Label side B
SW-1-9325 Z1 STERLING LH 2 —◁Side A runout, variant 1
SW-2-9325 Z1 STERLING LH 2 —◁Side B runout, variant 1
SW-1-9325 Z1 —◁ STERLING LH 2Side A runout, variant 3
SW-2-9325 Z1 STERLING LH 2Side B runout, variant 3
0 SW-1-9325 Z3 STERLING LH 2Side A runout etched, 0 STERLING stamped
0 SW-2-9325 Z3 #3 STERLING LH 2Side B runout etched, 0 STERLING stamped
SW 1-9325Label side A
SW 2-9325Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Spain | Island Records 86 671-IFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Island Records SW-9325First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Island Records SW-9325First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Island Records SW-9325First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Island Records SW-9325First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Island Records SW-9325First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1973 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1975 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| 1975 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1975 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1977 | Ireland | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1977 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1978 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Australia | Island Records L 36019LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | UK | Island Records ILPM 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 102LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1999 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP112LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1999 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 102LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1999 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 102LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 501LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | UK | Island Records 533 763-6LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | UK | Island Records 533 763-6 / Universal Music Group International 533 763-6LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Europe | Island Records ARHSLP003LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2016 | UK | Island Records 478 527-7LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Island Records 533 763-6LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Ireland | Island Records ARHALP003LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Island Records L 36019 / Island Records L-36,019LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Island Records L 36019 / Island Records L-36,019LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISL 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Island Records 207 970LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19226LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPM 9226LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPM 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Island Records ILPS 9226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Island Records SW-9325LP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
44 vinyl pressings of Solid Air are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1973 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, Spain. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9226, released February 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9226, SW-9325, 86 671-I) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9226 A -1U GO STERLING 2H 2 1 and ILPS 9226 B 1 ILPS 9226 B-1U STERLING 1H 2 CR. 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.
