Vinyl pressings
by Jon Lord · 1971
Gemini Suite was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1971, 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.
TPSA 7501A-1U T HILLTOP 1Runout Side A
TPSA 7501B-1U T JOHN LORD 1Runout Side B
TPSA.7501 ALabel Side A
TPSA.7501 BLabel Side B
TPSA 7501A-1U II HILLTOPSide A, runout, variant 1
TPSA 7501B-1U o JOHN LORDSide B, runout, variant 1
TPSA 7501A-1U H HILLTOP 1Side A, runout, variant 2
TPSA 7501B-1U 0 JOHN LORD 1Side B, runout, variant 2
TPSA 7501A-1U H 1 HILLTOPRunout Side A
TPSA 7501B-1U 0 1 JOHN LORDRunout Side B
TPSA.7501 ALabel Side A
TPSA.7501 BLabel Side B
TPSA 7501A-1U HILLTOPRunout Side A
TPSA 7501B-1U JOHN LORDRunout Side B
TPSA.7501 ALabel Side A
TPSA.7501 BLabel Side B
TPSA 7501 A-1U H 1 HILL TOPSide A
TPSA 7501 B-1U O 1 JOHN LORDSide B
SMAS 1 870 A5 #1 OSide A runout
SMAS 2 870 H1 #1 OSide B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | Purple Records TPSA 7501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Capitol Records SMAS-870First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Purple Records TPSA 7501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Purple Records 1 C 062-92 817First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Israel | Harvest TPSA 7501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Israel | Harvest TPSA 7501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Israel | Harvest TPSA 7501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Purple Records 5C 062-92817First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Africa | Purple Records TPSAJ 7501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | Purple Records TPSA 7501 / Purple Records 1E 064 ◦ 92817First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Purple Records TPSA 7501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | Purple Records TPSA 7501LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1971 | UK | Purple Records TPSA 7501First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Purple Records TPSA 7501 / Purple Records 1E 064 ◦ 92817First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | Purple Records TPSA 7501First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Germany | Line Records OLLP 5317LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | Safari Records LONG 10LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | Ear Music 0214174EMULP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Czech Republic | Dark Horse Records DH0023LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Line Records LILP 4.00122 J / Line LILP 4.00122 JLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Germany | Purple Records 1C 064-92 817 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-92 817LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Purple Records 1C 064-92 817 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-92 817LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SMAS-870LP, Album | LP, Album |
40 vinyl pressings of Gemini Suite are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1971 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in UK, US, Germany, Italy and more. One of them is Purple Records TPSA 7501.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TPSA 7501, SMAS-870, 1 C 062-92 817, 3C 062 - 92817) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TPSA 7501A-1U T HILLTOP 1 and TPSA 7501B-1U T JOHN LORD 1. 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.
