Vinyl pressings
by Marty Balin · 1981
Balin 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.
20 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 13 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.
064 SO-1-17054-Z1 ✲ STERLING GCSide A Runout (variant 1), Etched; ✲ STERLING Stamped
064 SO-2-17054-Z2 ✲ STERLINGSide B Runout (variant 1), Etched; ✲ STERLING Stamped
SO-1-17054-Z2• ✲ Z STERLING GC m #64Side A Runout (variant 2), Etched; STERLING ✲ Stamped
SO-1-17054-Z2• MR ✲ STERLING 064Side B Runout (variant 2), Etched; STERLING ✲ Stamped
SO-1-17054-Z4 #2 0 STERLINGSide A etched 0 Sterling stamped
SO 2 17054-Z3 #1 STERLING 0Side B etched Sterling 0 stamped
SO • 1 • 17054-Z5 #3 • ━◁ STERLING GCRunout, side A / etched [except STERLING]
SO • 2 • 17054-Z5 #2 • ━◁ STERLING GCRunout, side B / etched [except STERLING]
(SO 1-17054)Label, side A
(SO 2-17054)Label, side B
SO∙1∙17054-Z1 ∙ ✲ MR Z STERLING gc 064-Side A runout
SO∙2∙17054-Z2 ∙ MR ✲ STERLING 064-Side B runout
SO 1-17054Side A label
SO 2-17054Side B label
EMAM 19A - MAXICUT ottoRunout, Etched, Side 1
EMAM 19B - MAXICUT ottoRunout, Etched, Side 2
EMAM - 19ALabel, Side 1
EMAM - 19BLabel, Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | EMI America 8971First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Australia & New Zealand | EMI America EMAM-19First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | EMI America 31C 064 400014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | EMI America SO-17054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | EMI America SO-17054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | EMI America SO-17054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | EMI America 2C 070 400.014 / EMI America 2C 070 400014First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | EMI America 3C 064-57009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | EMI America EYS-81436First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Mexico | EMI America SLEM-1036 / EMI America 33C 062 - 400014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | EMI America 11C 076-400014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | South Africa | EMI America SO(D) 17054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Spain | EMI America 10C 066-400014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | EMI America SO-17054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | EMI America SO-17054First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
23 vinyl pressings of Balin are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, Japan, Australia & New Zealand, Brazil and more. One of them is EMI America SO-17054.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SO-17054, EYS-81436, EMAM-19, 31C 064 400014) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 064 SO-1-17054-Z1 ✲ STERLING GC and 064 SO-2-17054-Z2 ✲ STERLING. 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.
