Vinyl pressings
by Paul Kantner · 1970
Blows Against The Empire was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 9 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.
ZPRS 9053 37SVariant 1, side 1, stamped
ZPRS-9054-35SVariant 1, side 2
ZPRS-9054-5SVariant 1, side 2, etched (alternate)
ZPRS 9053-30S A4A RVariant 2, side 1, stamped (A4A etched)
ZPRS 9053 37S 1AVariant 1, runout side A
ZPRS-9054-35SVariant 1, runout side B
ZPRS 9053 37S I A2Variant 2, runout side A
ZPRS-9054 35S I A1Variant 2, runout side B
ZPRS 9053 12S [Artisan logo] Ⅰ A1Side A runout stamped
ZPRS-9054-5S [Artisan logo] Ⅰ A2Side B runout etched, exc. [Artisan logo] and A2 stamped
ZPRS-9053Side A Label
ZPRS-9054Side B Label
ZPRS-9053-34S- B2 AH RSide A runout etched, variant 1
ZPRS-9054-38S- A/H RSide B runout etched, variant 1
ZPRS-9053-34S-A2 RSide A runout etched, variant 2
ZPRS-9054-33S-B1H RSide B runout etched, variant 2
ZPRS - - 9053 - 7S H [Artisan Sound Recorders logo]Side A runout
ZPRS-9054-1S ⊕ ☐ [Artisan Sound Recorders logo] HSide B runout
ZPRS-9053Side A label
ZPRS-9054Side B label
ZPRS - - 9053 • 8S [Artisan logo] HSide A / stamped - Variant 1
ZPRS-9054-1S ⊕ [Artisan logo] ☐ HSide B / etched [except Artisan logo and H / stamped] - Variant 1
ZPRS - - 9053 • 7S [Artisan logo] HSide A / stamped - Variant 2
ZPRS-9054-1S [Artisan logo] HSide B / etched [except Artisan logo and H / 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Australia | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | France | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | France | RCA Victor 443008 LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | France | RCA Victor 443.008LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1970 | Germany | RCA Victor LSP 4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | RCA Victor LSP 4448First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Germany | RCA Victor LSP 4448First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1970 | Israel | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | RCA SHP-6177First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | New Zealand | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | New Zealand | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Philippines | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4448First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Canada | RCA AYL1-3868LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | RCA YL 13868LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | RCA YL 13868LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | RCA AYL1-3868 / RCA Victor AYL1-3868LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | RCA Victor 88697335671 / Legacy 88697335671LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2009 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP011 / RCA Victor 88697335671LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | RCA Victor 19439800381 / Legacy 19439800381LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | RCA 19439800381 / Legacy 19439800381LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | France | RCA 19439800381 / Legacy 19439800381LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | USA & Europe | RCA 19439800381 / Legacy 19439800381LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-4448LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor LSP 4448LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | RCA Victor SF 8163 / RCA Victor LSP 4448LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA LSP-4448 / RCA Victor LSP-4448LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSP-4448LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSP-4448LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA AYL1-3868 / RCA Victor AYL1-3868LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA LSP-4448 / RCA Victor LSP-4448LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
52 vinyl pressings of Blows Against The Empire are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1970 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, Australia, Canada, France and more. One of them is RCA Victor LSP-4448.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LSP-4448, 443008 LSP-4448, LSP 4448, SHP-6177) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZPRS 9053 37S and ZPRS-9054-35S. 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.
