Vinyl pressings
by Mickey Newbury · 1973
Heaven Help The Child 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.
14 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 8 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.
S EKS 75055 A-1 ESR-PC A 4Runout Side A
S EKS 75055 B-2 ESR-PC A 4Runout Side B
S EKS 75055 A ESR-PC A 6Variant 2 Side A
S EKS 75055 B ESR-PC A 3Variant 2 Side B
P EKS 75055 A-1 CP SX ESR-PC B 1Runout side A
P EKS 75055 B-2 CP S̶X̶ ESR-PC A 1Runout side B
EKS-75055-ALabel side A
EKS-75055-BLabel side B
EKS 75055 A-1 SX CTH ESR-PC D2Runout A, variant 1
EKS 75055 B-1 CTH ESR-PC B8Runout B, variant 1
EKS 75055 A-1 SX ESR-PC CTH B4Runout A, variant 2
EKS 75055 B-1 SX CTH ESR-PC C2Runout B, variant 2
EKS 75055A-CP ESR-Pc C X5 (upside-down 2)Side A
EKS 75055 B-1 CP ESR-PC ASide B
K42137 A1 A2 PNSide A runout, variant 1
K42137 B1 A1 PNSide B runout variant 1
K42137 A1 C1 PNSide A runout, variant 2
K42137 B1 C1 PNSide B runout, variant 2
K•42137•A1 A 4Side A runout
K•42137•B1 A 2Side B runout
K 42137 ASide A label
K 42137 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | Elektra EKS-75055First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Elektra ELK 42 137 / Elektra EKS 75055First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Elektra ELK 42 137 / Elektra EKS 75055First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Japan | Elektra P-7003EFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Elektra P-7003EFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Elektra EKS 75055First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | Elektra EKC 6030First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | UK | Elektra K42137 / Elektra K 42137First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | UK | Elektra K42137 / Elektra K 42137First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Elektra EKS-75055First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | US | Elektra EKS-75055LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1973 | US | Elektra 75055 / Elektra EKS-75055First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Elektra EKS-75055First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Elektra EKS-75055First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Elektra EKS-75055 / Elektra 75055First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Drag City DC-476LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US | Fat Possum Records FP1862-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
17 vinyl pressings of Heaven Help The Child are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1973 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Elektra EKS-75055, released January 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EKS-75055, 75055, K42137, ELK 42 137) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S EKS 75055 A-1 ESR-PC A 4 and S EKS 75055 B-2 ESR-PC A 4. 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.
