Vinyl pressings
by Pearls Before Swine · 1968
Balaklava was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 4 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.
EPS-S-1075-A R12716A ┏∟Side A, runout variant 1
EPS-S-1075-B R12716B ┏∟Side B, runout variant 1
EPS-S-1075-A ┏∟Side A, runout variant 2
EPS-S-1075-B ┏∟Side B, runout variant 2
ESP-S-1075-ASide A, Hand-Etched
ESP-S-1075-B ΔεSide B, Hand-Etched
rLSide A, Stamped
rLSide B, Stamped
ESP1075A-1ASide A:
ESP1075B-1ASide B:
ESP1075 A -1B I T D4Side A
o ESP1075 B -1B I T A1Side B
888802 1Y//2 420 112Side A, runout etched
888802 2Y//1 420 11Side B, runout etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Canada | ESP-Disk' 1075First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Poland | ESP-Disk' 1075First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | Fontana 888 802 TY / Fontana STL 5503First yearLP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1968 | US | ESP-Disk' 1075First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | ESP-Disk' 1075First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | ESP-Disk' 1075First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | ESP-Disk' 1075LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1968 | US | ESP-Disk' 1075First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Netherlands | ESP-Disk' 888 802 TY / Fontana 888 802 TYLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | ESP-Disk' 888 802 TY / Fontana STL.5503LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Netherlands | Pink Elephant PE 877.074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Pink Elephant PE 877.074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Pink Elephant PE 877.074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Direction Records DRS 1004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | US | ESP-Disk' 1075LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | ESP-Disk' ESP-1075 / ESP-Disk' #1075LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Italy | Get Back GET 1010LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Italy | Get Back GET 91010LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | US | Drag City DC710LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Worldwide | Earth EARTHLP056LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Italy | Base Record ESP 1075 / Base Record ESPS 1075LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Base Record ESP 1075LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Base Record ESP 1075LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | ESP-Disk' 1075LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | ESP-Disk' 1075LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | ESP-Disk' 1075LP, Album, Repress, White Label | LP, Album, Repress, White Label |
26 vinyl pressings of Balaklava are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1968 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Canada, Poland. One of them is ESP-Disk' 1075.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 1075, 888 802 TY) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EPS-S-1075-A R12716A ┏∟ and EPS-S-1075-B R12716B ┏∟. 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.
