Vinyl pressings
by Kiss · 1981
(Music From) The Elder was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
46 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 26 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.
SterlingStamped Both Sides
D-5 <-> NBLP 7261 AS RE HRMEtched side A - Variant 1
E-1 <-> NBLP 7261 BS RE HRMEtched side B - Variant 1
D-2 <-> NBLP 7261 AS RE HRMVariant 2
NBLP 7261 AS RE PRC R-1-3Etched side A, Variant 1
NBLP 7261 BS RE PRCR-1-111Etched side B, Variant 1
NBLP 7261 AS RE PRC R-1-11 REtched Side A, Variant 2
NBLP 7261 BS RE PRC R-1-1Etched Side B, Variant 2
NBLP 7261 AS REVPRC C2-1Etched side A
NBLP 7261 BS REVPRC C1-1Etched side B
STERLINGStamped both sides
NBLP 7261 AS RE PRC R1-1-1Variant 1 Etched side A
NBLP 7261 BS RE PRC R1-1-1Variant 1 Etched side B
NBLP 7261 AS RE PRC R1-1-1 61Variant 2 Etched Side A
NBLP 7261 BS RE PRC R-1-11 1PVariant 2 Etched Side B
NBLP 7261 AS REVPRC C2-1 STERLINGA runout (variant 1)
NBLP 7261 BS REVPRC C1-1 - 11 (8) STERLINGB runout (variant 1)
NBLP 7261 AS REVPRC C1-1-11 -P- STERLINGA runout (variant 2)
NBLP 7261 BS REVPRC C-2-1 - 1 -3- STERLINGB runout (variant 2)
D-5 <-> NBLP 7261 AS RE HRMEtched side A - Variant 1
E-1 <-> NBLP 7261 BS RE HRMEtched side B - Variant 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Australia | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Austria | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Austria | Casablanca 91 819LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Austria | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Austria | Casablanca 91 819 / Casablanca 6302 163LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1981 | Brazil | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7261LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1981 | Ecuador | Casablanca LP-28537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Casablanca 6302 163First yearLP, Album, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, White Label, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Malta | Dallas PIC 9002LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Picture disc |
| 2014 | Unknown | Not On Label (Kiss)LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo, Limited |
| 2014 | Unknown | Not On Label (Kiss)LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
| 2014 | Europe | Casablanca 0602537850709 / Mercury 0602537850709LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2014 | Europe | Casablanca 06025 377 856-9 (8) / Mercury 06025 377 856-9 (8)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | US | Mercury B0020452-01 / UMe B0020452-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Mercury B0033662-01 / Casablanca B0033662-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2022 | Europe | Casablanca 0600753948156 / Universal 0600753948156LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Casablanca B0033662-01LP, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7261LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Casablanca 6302 163LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 188LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | Casablanca 63 02 163LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Worldwide | Casablanca 06025 377 856-9 (8) / Mercury 06025 377 856-9 (8)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
80 vinyl pressings of (Music From) The Elder are listed here, from 33 countries, released between 1981 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Japan, Norway and more. One of them is Casablanca NBLP 7261.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NBLP 7261, 6302 163, 28S-23, 6032) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Sterling and D-5 <-> NBLP 7261 AS RE HRM. 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.
