Vinyl pressings
by Leon Russell · 1975
Will O' The Wisp was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 12 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.
MCA 706 W1 B.D.I. ◈-P-◈A side runout, variant 1
MCA 707 W1 B.D.I. ◈-P-◈B side runout, variant 1
MCA 706 W2 B.D.I. ◈-P-◈A side runout, variant 2
MCA 707 W2 B.D.I. ◈-P-◈B side runout, variant 2
SRL - 52020 - A ⑤Runout area side A
SRL - 52020 - B ⑤Runout area side B
SRL 52020-ALabel side A
SRL 52020-BLabel side B
MCA 706 W2 B.D.I. ✓ 回-G-回A Side Etch exc Gloversville stamp
MCA 707 W3 回-G-回B Side Etch exc Gloversville stamp
MCA 706 W1 B.D.I. ⧈-G-⧈A side runout, variant 1
MCA 707 W1 B.D.I. ⧈-G-⧈B side runout, variant 1
MCA 706-W3 I ⧈-G-⧈A side runout, variant 2
MCA 707 W1 B.D.I. ⧈-G-⧈ 2B side runout, variant 2
MCA 706 W2 B.D.I. v ◈-P-◈Side A runout, variant 1
MCA 707 W2 B.D.I. ◈-P-◈ 1̶1̶1̶1̶ 1Side B runout, variant 1
MCA 706 W2 v B.D.I. v ◈-P-◈ ||Side A runout, variant 2
MCA 707 W2 B.D.I.v ◈-P-◈ ||Side B runout, variant 2
T1 SRL- 52020 - A 3Side A Runout 3 circled
T1 SRL- 52020 - B 4Side B Runout 4 circled
SRL 52020-ASide A Label
SRL 52020-BSide B Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | Shelter Records L 35572 / Shelter Records L-35,572First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Brazil | Philips 6369130First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Shelter Records R-2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Shelter Records 9309-52020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Shelter Records SR-2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Shelter Records SR-2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | Philips 6369 130First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Shelter Records RJ-7002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Mexico | Philips LRG 15122 / Philips 6369 130First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | New Zealand | Shelter Records SR-2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Philippines | Shelter RecordsFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Taiwan | Yung Feng LF-3063LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1975 | UK | A&M Records AMLS 68309First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Shelter Records SRL-52020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Shelter Records SR-2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | France | Shelter Records 67.611LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Shelter Records SRL-52020LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-686 / Shelter Records SRL-52020LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Shelter Records SRL-52020 / ABC Records SRL-52020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
35 vinyl pressings of Will O' The Wisp are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1975 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Italy, Australia and more. One of them is Shelter Records SR-2138, released April 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SR-2138, SRL-52020, AMLS 68309, 6369 130) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA 706 W1 B.D.I. ◈-P-◈ and MCA 707 W1 B.D.I. ◈-P-◈. 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.
