Vinyl pressings
by Manfred Mann's Earth Band · 1974
The Good Earth 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 14 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 9306 A-2U A 1 PORKYSide A runout, variant 1
ILPS 9306 B-2U GG 1 PECKOSide B runout, variant 1
ILPS 9306 A-2U GT 2 PORKYSide A runout, variant 2
ILPS 9306 B-2U RG 1 PECKOSide B runout, variant 2
ILPS-9306-A3 HTMSide A runout, stamped/etched
ILPS-9306-B3 HTMSide B runout, stamped/etched
BS 2826 40926 - 1B STERLING 3Side A runout etched, variant 1
BS 2826 40927 - 1A STERLINGSide B runout etched, variant 1
BS 2826 40926 • 1 C STERLING pSide A runout etched, variant 2
BS 2826 40927 - 1 DM⃫ pSide B runout etched, variant 2
P BS 2826 40926 - 1C STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
P BS 2826 40927 - 1C STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
P BS 2826 40926 - 1D STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
P BS 2826 40927 - 1DM̶̸ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
BS 2826 40926 - 1DSide 1 Etched Var. 1
BS 2826 40927 - 1₩ CSide 1 Etched Var. 1
S40,926Side A label
S40,927Side B label
T 1 BS 2826 40926-1E STERLING ASide A runout etched / sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ and A stamped, variant 1
T 1 BS 2826 40927-1E STERLING ASide B runout etched / sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ and A stamped, variant 1
T1 BS 2826 40926-1F C3Side A runout etched / C stamped, variant 2
T1 BS 2826 40927-1E CSide B runout etched / C 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Unknown | Bronze ILPS 9306LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1974 | Australia | Bronze 24-306First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Austria | Bronze 88 369 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Austria | Bronze 88 369 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2826LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2826 / Bronze BS 2826First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2826 / Bronze BS 2826First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | France | Bronze BRO 2008 / Bronze ILPS 9306First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Bronze 88 369 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Israel | Bronze ILPS 9306First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | Bronze ILPS 19306First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Bronze 88 369 IT / Bronze ILPS 9306First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Bronze 88 369 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Bronze 88 369 IT / Bronze ILPS 9306First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Bronze ILPS 9306First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Germany | Bronze 28 780-270 / Bronze 28 780 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Germany | Bronze 28 780 XOT / Bronze 28 780-270LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Germany | Bronze 28 780 XOT / Bronze 28 780-270LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Creature Music MANNLP007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2826LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2826LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Bronze 893.008LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Bronze BRO 2008 / Bronze ILPS 9306LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 780 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 780-270LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Bronze 88 369 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Scandinavia | Bronze BRON 306LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Bronze ILPS 9306LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Bronze ILPS 9306LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Bronze ILPS 9306LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
54 vinyl pressings of The Good Earth are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1974 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is Bronze ILPS 9306, released October 4, 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9306, BS 2826, 24-306, 88 369 XOT) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9306 A-2U A 1 PORKY and ILPS 9306 B-2U GG 1 PECKO. 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.
