Vinyl pressings
by Paul Kantner · 1971
Sunfighter 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.
10 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.
APRS 8713 1S I - D1Runout A-side, stamped, variant 1
APRS 8714 1S I - B1Runout B-side, stamped, variant 1
APRS 8713 1S I B5Runout A-side, stamped, variant 2
APRS 8714 1S I B2Runout B-side, stamped, variant 2
APRS 8713 3S HA side runout variant 1
APRS - 8714 - 2S HB side runout variant 1
APRS 8713 - 6S HA side runout variant 2
APRS - 8714 - 6S HB side runout variant 2
APRS-8713-2S-BID RSide A runout, var. 1
APRS-8714-5SA2 A RSide B runout, var. 1
APRS-8713-5S-AIE RSide A runout, var. 2
APRS-8714-2S-A4B RSide B runout, var. 2
(FTR 1002) APRS 8713Matrix Side 1
(FTR 1002) APRS 8714Matrix Side 2
APRS-8713-2ERunout Etching Side 1, variant 1
APRS-8714-2ERunout Etching Side 2, variant 1
APRS-8713-8S I A2A3A-side Runout
APRS 8714 1S I A5A2B-side Runout
(APRS-8713)A-side label
(APRS-8714)B-side label
APRS-8713 TGSide A, etched
APRS-8714 TGSide B, etched
APRS-8713Side A label
APRS-8714Side 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 | France | Grunt FTR 1002 / Grunt FTR-1002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | Grunt FTR-1002 / Grunt FTR 1002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Japan | Grunt SRA-5534First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Grunt FTR 1002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | Grunt FTR-1002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Grunt FTR-1002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Australia | Grunt FTR-1002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Grunt FTR-1002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Grunt FTR-1002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Grunt FTR-1002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Grunt R4P-5027LP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | Grunt FL-43157LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Italy | Grunt YL-45159LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Essential! Records ESSLP 001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | Floating World FLOATLP6350LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Grunt FTR-1002LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | RCA Victor AYL1-4385 / Grunt AYL1-4385LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
17 vinyl pressings of Sunfighter are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1971 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Grunt FTR-1002, released December 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FTR-1002, FTR 1002, SRA-5534) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APRS 8713 1S I - D1 and APRS 8714 1S I - B1. 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.
