Vinyl pressings
by Mountain · 1973
The Best Of Mountain 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.
22 pressings came out in 1973, 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.
AL 32079A Side Label
BL 32079B Side Label
AL 32079-1A STERLING LH PA Side Etch, except "P", Sterling stamps
BL 32079-1A STERLING LH PB Side Etch, except "P", Sterling stamps
T1 AL 32079-1C o STERLING LH 2Side A runout
T1 o BL 32079-1C STERLING LH 2Side B runout
AL 32079Side A label
BL 32079Side B label
PAL 32079-1F o STERLING LH A5 SVariant 1, A Side Etched, Sterling LH stamped
P BL 32079-1F STERLING LH SVariant 1, B Side Etched, Sterling LH stamped
P AL 32079-1F o STERLING LH 3 A7 SVariant 2, A Side Etched; o STERLING stamped
P BL 32079-1E o BVariant 2, B Side Etched; o stamped
0 P QAL -32079-2D I TSide A stamped, except "P","I", "T" etched
0 P Q BL-32079-IB T ISide B stamped, except "P","I", "T" etched
QAL 32079A Side Label
QAL 32079B Side Label
P o PQ AL 32079-2A ARunout A
P o P Q BL 32079-2A ARunout B
QAL 32079Matrix A, on label
QBL 32079Matrix B, on label
ILPS 9236 A-1U M 1Runout side A, stamped - variant 1
ILPS 9236 B-1U R 1Runout side B, stamped - variant 1
ILPS 9236 A-1U G A 1Runout side A, stamped - variant 2
ILPS 9236 B-1U G R 1Runout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | Image ILP 729 / Windfall Records CS32079First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32079 / Windfall Records KC 32079First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia CQ 32079 / Windfall Records CQ 32079First yearLP, Compilation, Quadraphonic | LP, Compilation, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | France | Island Records 6396 028First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Germany | Island Records 86 758 ITFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19236First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Japan | Windfall Records BLPM-11-WFFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Japan | Windfall Records BLPN-5-WFFirst yearLP, Compilation, Quadraphonic | LP, Compilation, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | Japan | Windfall Records BLPM-11-WFFirst yearLP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | Mexico | CBS CLS-5424 / Windfall Records CLS-5424First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Family WFS 5503 / Windfall Records WFS 5503First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Philippines | CBS KC 32079 / Columbia KC 32079First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | South Africa | Date DAS 2176First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Sweden | Island Records ILPS-9236 / Island Records ILPS 9236First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Sweden | Island Records ILPS-9236 / Island Records ILPS 9236First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | South Korea | Jigu Records KJPL-0497 / CBS PC-32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Europe | CBS 466335 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | US | Columbia KC 32079 / Windfall Records KC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Friday Music FRM-32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 2018 | US | 8th Records 032079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Columbia KC 32079 / Windfall Records KC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia KC 32079 / Windfall Records KC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WKC 32079 / Windfall Records WKC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 112LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | BGO Records BGO LP33LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32079 / Windfall Records PC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia KC 32079 / Windfall Records KC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32079 / Windfall Records PC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia KC 32079 / Windfall Records PC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32079 / Windfall Records PC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32079 / Windfall Records PC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32079 / Windfall Records PC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia 32079 / Windfall Records PC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32079 / Windfall Records PC 32079LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32079 / Columbia 32079LP, Compilation, Special Edition, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Special Edition, Stereo |
49 vinyl pressings of The Best Of Mountain are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1973 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia KC 32079, released February 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 32079, CQ 32079, ILPS 9236, ILPS-9236) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL 32079 and BL 32079. 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.
