Vinyl pressings
by Mountain · 1971
Flowers Of Evil was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. 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 1971, 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.
WF-5501-SA - RE BestwayA side runout, variant 1
WF-5501-SB - REB side runout, variant 1
5501-SAA side runout, variant 2
5501-SBB side runout, variant 2
WF-5501-SA-RE MR (circled) ⋀ △16545Side A runout etched, variant 1
WF-5501-SB-RE MR (circled) △16545-X (4)Side B runout etched, variant 1
WF-5501-SA-RE MR (circled) △̷ 16545 (4) Ʌ̸̶̸1̸̶̸6̸̶̸5̸̶̸1̸̶̸5̸̶̸Side A runout etched, MR stamped, variant 2
WF-5501-SB-RE MR (circled) △̷ 16545-X △̸̶̸1̸̶̸6̸̶̸5̸̶̸1̸̶̸5̸̶̸-̸̶̸X̸̶̸ (2)Side B runout etched, MR stamped, variant 2
WF-5501-SA - RE-1-1Matrix / Runout (Side A - Runout), variant 1
WF-5501-SB - RE-1-1Matrix / Runout (Side B- Runout), variant 1
WF-5501-SA - RE-1-1 TI SMatrix / Runout (Side A - Runout), variant 2
WF-5501-SB - RE-1-1 TIMatrix / Runout (Side B- Runout), variant 2
WF-5501-SA-RESide A, etched, variant 1
WF-5501-SB-RESide B, etched, variant 1
WF-5501-SA - RE-0-1-1 P.R.Side A, etched, variant 2
WF-5501-SB - RE-0 P.R.Side B, etched, variant 2
WF-5501-SA-RE IISide A runout, variant 1
WF-5501-SB-RE BestwaySide B runout, variant 1
WF-5501-SA - RESide A runout, variant 2
WF-5501-SB - RESide B runout, variant 2
WF-5501-S A1-11 PRSide A etched
WF-5501-S -1-1-1 B PRSide B etched
5501 SASide A label
5501 SBSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | Image ILP 719First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Canada | Bell Records WF 5501 / Windfall Records WINDFALL 5501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Bell Records WF 5501LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1971 | Denmark | Island Records ILPS 9179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Island Records 6427 007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | France | Island Records 6427 007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Island Records 85 849 IT / Island Records ILPS 9171First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Sweden | Island Records ILPS 9179 / Island Records ILPS-9179First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9179 / Island Records ILPS-9179First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9179LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1971 | US | Windfall Records WINDFALL 5501First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Windfall Records WINDFALL 5501 / Windfall Records 5501First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Windfall Records Windfall 5501 / Windfall Records 5501First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Windfall Records WINDFALL 5501 - WIN 5501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Windfall Records WINDFALL 5501 / Windfall Records 5501First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK | BGO Records BGOLP113LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2365 / Windfall Records Windfall 5501LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Korea | Oscar 334LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | First Record FL-2202LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | Crazy Cats Record CC-1011LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
27 vinyl pressings of Flowers Of Evil are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1971 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Windfall Records WINDFALL 5501.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WINDFALL 5501, Windfall 5501, WINDFALL 5501 - WIN 5501, ILPS 9179) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WF-5501-SA - RE Bestway and WF-5501-SB - RE. 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.
