Vinyl pressings
by Mountain · 1974
Avalanche 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.
16 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 6 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 33088-1E 1TRunout side A, stamped except 1T etched
PBL 33088-1A STERLINGRunout side B, etched except sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢ stamped
AL 33088Label side A
BL 33088Label side B
AL 33088A Side Label
BL 33088B Side Label
C P AL 33088-1E 1T CA Side Stamp exc "1T" etch
C P BL 33088-1C 2T A1B Side Stamp exc "2T" etch
P AL-33088-1L STERLINGA Side Stamp, Variant 2
P BL 33088-1E STERLINGB Side Stamp, Variant 2
P AL 33088-1H PSide A, stamped, variant 3
PBL 33088-1A STERLING D PSide B, etched ("STERLING D P" stamped), variant 3
AL 33088Side 1 label
BL 33088Side 2 label
P AL 33088-1LRunout Side A Stamped Variant 1
P BL 33088-1ERunout Side B Stamped Variant 1
P AL 33088-1HRunout Side A Stamped Variant 2
P BL 33088-1ERunout Side B Stamped Variant 2
P AL-33088-1D I. B3 P oRunout side A var. 1 stamped
PBL-33088-1A I STERLING D2 P oRunout side B var. 1 stamped
P AL 33088-1G A PRunout side A var. 2 stamped
PBL 33088 -1A STERLING A 3 PRunout side B var. 2 stamped
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 | Australia | CBS SBP 234538First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Europe | CBS 33088 / Windfall Records 33088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Windfall Records SOPN-67-WFFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Columbia KC 33088 / Windfall Records KC 33088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Columbia CQ 33088 / Windfall Records CQ 33088First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1974 | US | Columbia C 33088 / Windfall Records C 33088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Columbia C 33088 / Windfall Records C 33088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Columbia C 33088 / Columbia 33088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Columbia C 33088 / Windfall Records C 33088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Columbia KC 33088 / Windfall Records KC 33088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Columbia 33088 / Columbia C 33088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Columbia KC 33088 / Windfall Records KC 33088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | Columbia KC 33088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Europe | CBS 80492First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Windfall Records SOPN-67WFFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | UK | Castle Classics CLALP 136XLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | CBS 80492 / CBS CB 80492LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 33088 / Windfall Records PC 33088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Columbia C 33088 / Windfall Records C 33088LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 33088 / Windfall Records PC 33088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Columbia C 33088 / Windfall Records C 33088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 33088 / Windfall Records PC 33088LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Columbia C 33088 / Windfall Records C 33088LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
24 vinyl pressings of Avalanche are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1974 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is Columbia KC 33088.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 33088, C 33088, 33088, CQ 33088) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL 33088-1E 1T and PBL 33088-1A 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.
