Vinyl pressings
by Mahavishnu Orchestra · 1973
Birds Of Fire 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.
38 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 16 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.
P AL 31996-2C 2TSide A runout, variant 1
P BL 31996-2D TSide B runout, variant 1
ᴑ P AL 31996-2C 1T A9Side A runout, variant 2
ᴑ P BL 31996-2C 1T A3Side B runout, variant 2
P PAL 31996 G2B 'dot'Side A Runout
P PBL 31996 G2A 'ama'Side B Runout
AL 31996Side A Label
BL 31996Side B Label
o P AL-31996-2B̶ C ϟ 7Runout Side A Stamped, ϟ 7 Etched (Var. 1)
o BL-31996-2B \ ϟRunout Side B Stamped, \ ϟ Etched (Var. 1)
P AL-31996-2A ϟ D 5Runout Side A Stamped, ϟ 5 Etched (Var. 2)
o BL-31996-2B \ ϟRunout Side B stamped, \ ϟ Etched (Var. 2)
P AL 31996-2AStamped, side A, variant 1
P BL 31996-2AStamped, side B, variant 1
o P AL 31996-2EStamped, side A, variant 2
o P BL 31996-2AStamped, side B, variant 2
P AL-31996-2A P 2 ASide A runout, variant 1
P BL-31996-2A P CSide B runout, variant 1
P AL-31996-2A P BSide A runout, variant 2
P BL-31996-2A P ASide B runout, variant 2
o P AL 31996-2E P ASide A stamped
P BL-31996-2A o P A 3Side B stamped
AL 31996Side A label
BL 31996Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Argentina | CBS 19551First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | CBS SBP234294First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| 1973 | Australia | CBS SBP234294First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Brazil | CBS 137816First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 31996First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia CQ 31996First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 31996First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia CQ 31996First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia CQ 31996First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia CQ 31996First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | Europe | CBS CBS S 65321 / CBS S 65321First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Europe | CBS CBS S 65321 / CBS S 65321First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Israel | CBS 65321First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPL 175 / CBS/Sony SOPL-175First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPL-175First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Spain | CBS LSP 15402 / Orbis LSP 15402LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Spain | CBS CBS 32280 / CBS S 32280LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Europe | CBS CBS 32280 / CBS 32280LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | UK | CBS CBS 32280LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Europe | CBS CBS 32280 / CBS 32280LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | Europe | CBS CBS 32280 / CBS 32280LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | South Korea | CBS KJPL-0593LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | CBS LSP 982371-1 / Productos Especiales CBS LSP 982371-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1992 | South Korea | Sony CPL-1282 / Columbia CK-31996LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | Friday Music FRM 31996 / Columbia FRM 31996LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Friday Music FRM 31996 / Columbia FRM 31996LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Germany | Columbia KC 31996 / Speakers Corner Records Columbia KC 31996LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2019 | Europe | Columbia KC 31996 / Sony Music KC 31996LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP234294LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia KC 31996 / Columbia WKC-31996LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia KC 31996LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia KC 31996LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Columbia 32280Album, LP, Reissue | Album, LP, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32280LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 65321 / CBS CBS 65321LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 65321 / CBS CBS 65321LP, Album, Stereo, Repress | LP, Album, Stereo, Repress |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 65321 / CBS CBS 65321LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 65321 / CBS KC 31966LP, Album, Misprint, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | CBS S 65321 / CBS CBS 65321LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Greece | CBS CBS 32280 / CBS 32280LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | TW TW-016LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Spain | CBS S 65321LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Union TD 1227LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
80 vinyl pressings of Birds Of Fire are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1973 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Italy, Europe and more. One of them is Columbia KC 31996, released March 29, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 31996, PC 31996, CQ 31996, 65321) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL 31996-2C 2T and P BL 31996-2D T. 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.
