Vinyl pressings
by King Crimson · 1974
Starless And Bible Black 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.
27 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 18 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 9275 A 2M S.D.A-side runout, variant 1
ILPS 9275 B 3M Sean + RayB-side runout, variant 1
ILPS 9275 A 2M 5 S.D.A-side runout, variant 2
ILPS 9275 B 3M Sean + RayB-side runout, variant 2
ILPS 9275 A-3U 2 T SARCSide A runout, variant 1
ILPS 9275 B-3U 1 G Sean + RaySide B runout, variant 1
ILPS 9275 A-3U 1 P SARCSide A runout, variant 2
ILPS 9275 B-3U 2 AD Sean + RaySide B runout, variant 2
ST-A- 743067- A PRSide A runout
ST- A- 743068B- ATGP CAP PRSide B runout
ST-A-743067 PRSide A label
ST-A-743068 PRSide B label
ST-A 743067-AAA-1-111 D PRA-side runout, variant 1
ST-A-743068 BBB AT GP C HP-1-11B-side runout, variant 1
ST-A 743067-AAA PRA-side runout, variant 2
ST-A-743068 BBB AT GP C HP-1-11 PRB-side runout, variant 2
ST-A 743067-AA ∆18867(2) PRSide A runout, etched
ST-A-743068-BB- ATGP CAP MR ∆18867-X(1) PRSide B runout, etched
ST-A 743067-AA ∆18867(1) PRSide A runout, etched, variant 1
ST-A-743068-BB- ATGP CAP MR ∆18867-X(3) PRSide B runout, etched, variant 1
ST-A-743067-A O-1 PR-SPrunout Side A
ST-A-743068-B- AT/GP CMP PR-SPrunout Side B
ST-A-743067-SPLabel side A
ST-A-743068-SPLabel 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 | Island Records L 35111 / Island Records ILPS 9275First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Brazil | ATCO Records ATLP-077First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Atlantic SD 7298First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Atlantic SD 7298First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Island Records 9101 626First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Island Records 87 751 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9275First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9275LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1974 | Israel | Atlantic SD 7298First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19275First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Atlantic P-8442AFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Atlantic P-8442AFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Ariola 87751 HTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Island Records 87 751 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Island Records 87 751 IT / Island Records ILPS 9275First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Atlantic P-6393ALP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Spain | Polydor 24 75 701LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 1983 | Japan | Polydor 25MM 0267LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Spain | EG LL-208 120LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | EG EGLP 12LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Canada | Editions EG EGKC7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | US | Editions EG EGKC 7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Japan | EG VJL-133LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Japan | Discipline Global Mobile IEPS-9275 / Wowow Entertainment, Inc. IEPS-9275LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | UK | Discipline Global Mobile KCLP6 / Panegyric KCLP6LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | UK | Discipline Global Mobile KCLP6 / Panegyric KCLP6LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2018 | UK | Discipline Global Mobile KCLP6 / Panegyric KCLP6LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | UK | Discipline Global Mobile KCLP6 / Panegyric KCLP6LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2021 | Worldwide | Discipline Global Mobile KCLP6 / Panegyric KCLP6LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Atlantic SD 7298LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Island Records 9101 626LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2344 092LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 87 751 ITLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 87 751 ITLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | EG VJL-133LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Island Records 87 751 ITLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Island Records 87.751-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Polydor 2302 065LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Polydor 2302 065 / Island Records ILPS 9275LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
67 vinyl pressings of Starless And Bible Black are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1974 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9275, released February 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9275, SD 7298, L 35111, ATLP-077) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9275 A 2M S.D. and ILPS 9275 B 3M Sean + Ray. 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.
