Vinyl pressings
by Patti Smith Group · 1976
Radio Ethiopia was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1976, 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-4097-SA PP "DADA WAH" STERLINGSide A etched/stamped,
AL-4097-SB PP "AL-HAKIM" STERLINGSide B etched/stamped,
AL 4097 SASide A label in brackets
AL 4097 SBSide B label in brackets
AL-4097-SA W "DADA WAH" STERLINGSide A runout, etched ["STERLING" stamped]
AL-4097-SB W "AL-HAKIM" STERLINGSide B runout, etched ["STERLING" stamped]
AL 4097 SASide A label
AL 4097 SBSide B label
AL-4097-SA-1 1-111 "DADA WAH" STERLING PRCSide A runout, variant 1
AL-4097-SB-1-1-1 "AL HAKIM" STERLING PRCSide B runout, variant 1
AL-4097-SA-2 1-1 "DADA WAH" STERLING PRCSide A runout, variant 2
AL-4097-SB-1-1-1 "AL HAKIM" STERLING PRCSide B runout, variant 2
AL-4097-SA-1 CTH 1TSide A [etched]
AL-4097-SB-1 CTH TSide B [etched]
STERLINGBoth Sides [stamped]
AL-4097-SA-1 1-111 "DADA WAH" STERLINGA-side runout
AL-4097-SB-1-1-1 "AL HAKIM" STERLINGB-side runout
AL-4097-SA-1 1-111 "DADA WAH" STERLING PRCSide A runout
AL-4097-SB-1-1-1 "AL HAKIM" STERLING PRCSide B runout
AB 4097 SASide A label
AB 4097 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Brazil | Arista AL 4097 ARL-33025First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Arista AL 4097 / Arista AL4097First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Arista 2C068-98283 / Arista 2C 068-98.283First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | France | Arista 2C068-98283 / Arista 2C 068-98.283First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Arista 1C 062-98 283First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Arista 1C 062-98 283First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Arista AL 4097 / Bell Records 5N 058-98283First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Arista AL 4097First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Arista 5 058-98283First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Arista 5N 058-98283 / Bell Records 5N 058-98283First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | New Zealand | Arista AL 4097First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | New Zealand | Arista AL4097First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Philippines | Arista AL 4097First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Portugal | Arista 8E-068-98283 / Arista 8E 068 98283First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Spain | Arista 10 C 064-98.283First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Arista L 37223 / Arista L-37,223LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Italy | Arista ARS 25009LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Japan | Arista 18RS-8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Spain | Arista I-201.117 / Arista I-201117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Canada | Arista AMP-1-7306LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Italy | Arista ARS 39026LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Spain | Arista I-201.117 / Arista I-201117LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Spain | Arista I-201.117 / Arista I-201117LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Spain | Arista I-201.117 / Arista I-201117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Arista AL 4097 / Arista AL5-8161LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Arista AL 4097 / Arista AL4097LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Arista AL 4097 / Arista AL4097LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 1985 | Europe | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | Arista P 754942 / Arista AS 754942LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP380LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | Germany | Arista 201 177 / Arista 201 117LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2015 | Germany | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | Europe | Arista 88985438481 / Sony Music 88985438481LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | UK, Europe & US | Arista 19958401761RT50 / Sony Music 19958401761RT50LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Arista ABM-65011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Arista AL 4097 / Arista AL4097LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Arista AL4097 / Arista ALB6-8379LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Arista AL 4097 / Arista AL4097LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Arista 201 117LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Arista 2C 068 - 98.283 / Arista 2C 068-98283LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Arista 2C068-98283 / Arista 2C 068-98.283LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Arista 201 117LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Arista 5 058-98283LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Arista AL 4097LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | Netherlands | Arista 5 058-98283LP, Album | LP, Album |
109 vinyl pressings of Radio Ethiopia are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1976 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Arista AL 4097, released October 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AL 4097, AB 4097, SPARTY 1001, AL.4097) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL-4097-SA PP "DADA WAH" STERLING and AL-4097-SB PP "AL-HAKIM" 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.
