Vinyl pressings
by Norman Greenbaum · 1969
Spirit In The Sky was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. 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 1969, the album's first year, in 12 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.
M 17565-1E pA side deadwax - stamped, variant 1
M 17570-1E pB side deadwax - stamped, variant 1
M 17565-1F pA side deadwax - stamped, variant 2
M 17570-1F pB side deadwax - stamped, variant 2
M-17565-1D TIIA side - runout (stamped)
M-17570-1D TIIB side - runout (stamped)
M-17565-1C TIIA side variant - runout (stamped)
M-17570-1D TIIIIB side variant - runout (stamped)
M 17565-1A sssA Runout - Variant 1
M 17570-1B ssB Runout - Variant 1
M-17565-1C ssssA Runout - Variant 2
M-17570-1C sssB Runout - Variant 2
M-17565-1B sSide A Runout (Handwritten)
M-17570-1B sSide B Runout (Handwritten)
M17565Side A Label
M17570Side B Label
M-17565-S-1A STEREO ssRunout A
M-17570-S-1A STEREO ssRunout B
(M17565)SLabel A
(M17570)SLabel B
RS20885 5A-1ΔG AH 4Side A stamped
RS20885 5B-3ΔG BY 1Side B stamped
RS20885 5A-1ΔG AP 1Side A Stamped variant 2
RS20885 5B-3ΔG AV 1Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Australia | Reprise Records 0885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Canada | Reprise Records 0885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Canada | Reprise Records 0885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Canada | Reprise Records 0885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Germany | Reprise Records RA 0885First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | Reprise Records RA 0885First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | Greece | Reprise Records Fg 30142First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | India | Reprise Records 0885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Ireland | Reprise Records RS.20885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Netherlands | Reprise Records R 0885First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | New Zealand | Reprise Records RO.885First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1969 | Norway | Reprise Records RA 0885First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1969 | Philippines | Reprise Records 0885First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1969 | UK | Reprise Records RS.20885First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1969 | UK | Reprise Records RS.20885First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Argentina | Reprise Records 31.369 / Warner Bros. Records Inc. 31.3697", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Brazil | Reprise Records RCS 17.0377", 33 ⅓ RPM | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1970 | Chile | Reprise Records 08857", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Italy | Reprise Records R 021387", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1970 | Japan | Reprise Records JET-19677", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1970 | Japan | Reprise Records JET-19677", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | Peru | Reprise Records 109977", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | South Africa | Reprise Records R21.1257", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | South Africa | Reprise Records R21.1257", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Turkey | Reprise Records 707027", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | UK | Reprise Records RS.208857", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Canada | Reprise Records 08857", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | Old Gold OG 95507", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | Old Gold OG 95507", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | UK | Old Gold OG 95507", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Music Hall 313697", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| ? | Ireland | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Lebanon | Reprise Records 08857", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Reissue · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records k 140257", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 140257", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | US | Reprise Records 08857", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Styrene, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Styrene, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Reprise Records 08857", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| ? | US | Reprise Records 08857", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress, Styrene |
54 vinyl pressings of Spirit In The Sky are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1969 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Reprise Records 0885.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 0885, RS.20885, RA 0885, Fg 30142) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M 17565-1E p and M 17570-1E p. 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.
