Vinyl pressings
by Manfred Mann's Earth Band · 1973
Solar 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.
23 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 9 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 9265 A-2 GL 1Side A runout variant 1
ILPS 9265 B-1U RG 1 BILBOSide B runout variant 1
ILPS 9265 A-2 A A 1Side A runout variant 2
ILPS 9265 B-1U RA 2 BILBOSide B runout variant 2
PD-6019-A-1A RL 22 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
PD-6019-B-1A 22 RL STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
PD-6019-A-1A RL STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
PD-6019-B-1A RL STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
PD-6019-A-2Runout side A
PD-6019-B-1Runout side B
2391 112Label, both sides
PD 6019 ALabel side A
22 PD-6019-A-1A RL STERLINGSide A runout etched / Sterling stamped
22 PD-6019-B-1A RL STERLINGSide B runout etched / Sterling stamped
PD 6019 ASide A label
PD 6019 BSide B label
PD-6019-A-1C (MR) △18543(1) STERLING RLSide A runout, variant 1
PD-6019-B-1C (MR) △18543-X(1) STERLING RLSide B runout, variant 1
PD-6019-A-1C (MR) △18543(1) STERLING RL ISide A runout, variant 2
PD-6019-B-1C (MR) △18543-X(1) STERLING RL ISide B runout, variant 2
PD-6019-A-2-II-III STERLING RL P.R.Side A runout, etched, except STERLING stamped, variant 1
PD-6019-B-1-II-II STERLING RL P.R.Side B runout, etched, except STERLING stamped, variant 1
PD-6019-A-2-11-1 STERLING RL P.R. DSide A runout, etched, except STERLING stamped, variant 2
PD-6019-B-1-11-1 STERLING RL P.R. DSide B runout, etched, except STERLING stamped, variant 2
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 | France | Island Records 6499 749 / Bronze 6499 749First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Island Records 87 515 IT / Bronze 87 515 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Bronze 87 515 ITLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1973 | Italy | Bronze ILPS 19265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Bronze 6357 226First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Scandinavia | Bronze ILPS 9265 / Island Records ILPS 9265First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Scandinavia | Bronze BRON 265 / Bronze BRON-265First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| 1973 | Scandinavia | Bronze ILPS 9265First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| 1973 | Scandinavia | Bronze ILPS-9265First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Scandinavia | Bronze BRON 265 / Bronze BRON-265First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1973 | Scandinavia | Island Records ILPS 9265 / Bronze ILPS 9265First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | South Africa | Bronze ILPS 9265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Spain | Bronze 87515-I / Bronze 87.515-IFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Spain | Bronze ILPS9263 / Bronze 28.778-IFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Spain | Bronze 28.778-IFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Portugal | Bronze 5000 265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | Bronze BRNA 265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Bronze 28.778-ILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Bronze 28 778 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | Germany | Bronze 28 778 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Legacy Records LLP121LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Greece | Bronze 834785-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Cohesion COMME 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | UK | Creature Music MANNLP006LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | UK | Creature Music MANNLP006LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Worldwide | Creature Music MMLPP6LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc |
| 2023 | Europe | Creature Music MANNLP006LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Bronze 24 265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Bronze 202 545LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Bronze BRO 2002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Bronze 89 3002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 778 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 87 515 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 87 515 XOT / Bronze 28 778 XOTAlbum, LP, Reissue | Album, LP, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 778 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 87 515 XOT / Bronze 28 778 XOTLP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 778 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Bronze 834785-1LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| ? | Netherlands | Bronze 28 778 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Bronze 87 515 XOTLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | New Zealand | Bronze 24-265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | Bronze 24265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
94 vinyl pressings of Solar Fire are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1973 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, France, Germany and more. One of them is Bronze ILPS9265, released November 30, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS9265, PD 6019, PD-6019, 6499 749) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9265 A-2 GL 1 and ILPS 9265 B-1U RG 1 BILBO. 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.
