Vinyl pressings
by Queen · 1976
A Day At The Races 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.
44 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 23 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.
YAX 5245 - 1U STERLINGSide A runout, stamped, variant 1
YAX 5246 - 1U STERLINGSide B runout, stamped, variant 1
YAX 5245 - 4U STERLINGSide A runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
YAX 5246 - 3U STERLINGSide B runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
YAX 5245-3URunout A, etched
2YEA5246-2Runout B, stamped
YAX5245Side A label
YAX5246Side B label
YAX 5245 - 1U STERLINGSide A, stamped, variant 1
YAX 5246 - 1U STERLINGSide B, stamped, variant 1
YAX 5245-6 2 1Side 1 runout stamped
YAX-5246 - 5 U STERLING 3Side 2 runout etched [YAX-5246] & stamped
YAX 5245Side 1 label identifier
YAX 5246Side 2 label identifier
6E-101-A 4 CSM STERLINGA side, variant 1
6E-101-B 4-CSM STERLINGB side, variant 1
6E-101-A 2 CSM A-6 STERLINGA side, variant 2
6E-101-B 4-CSM 6 STERLING 1 SB side, variant 2
6E-101-A 2 CSM STERLING E 15 (7E 1091 A2 -CSM 7E-10 scratched out)A Side Etch, except Sterling Stamp
6E-101-B-2-CSM STERLING E 15 (7E 1091-B2 -CSM scratched out)B Side Etch, except Sterling Stamp
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 | Australia | Elektra 6E-101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Australia | Elektra 6E-101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Barbados | Elektra 6E-101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Brazil | EMI XEMC 8044First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Elektra K6E-101 / Elektra K6E 101LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Elektra K6E-101First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Elektra K6E-101 / Elektra K6E 101LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1976 | Europe | EMI 1C 064-98 485 / EMI EMTC 104First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | EMI 1C 062-98 485 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-98 485First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | EMI 064 7 46208 1 / EMI Electrola 064 7 46208 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Germany | EMI 1C 064-98 485 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-98 485First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | India | EMI EMTC 104First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Israel | EMI EMTC 104First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Italy | EMI 3C 064-98485 / EMI 3 C 064-98485First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | Elektra P-10300EFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | EMI 8366LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Guatemala | EMI 3395LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Guatemala | EMI 3395LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Elektra P-6554ELP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | Elektra P-10300LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1984 | Taiwan | Chin Hsiang HQ-1137LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1986 | Spain | EMI 066-198485 1 / EMI 066 1984851LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Japan | EMI EMS-81775LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Australasia | EMI MID.166129LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Venezuela | EMI EMI-25177LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1992 | South Korea | EMI EKPL-0212 / EMI FA 3099LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | Santa Records П93 00555/6 / Santa Records ATR 30127/8LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1993 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-256LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1996 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-256 / Hollywood Records MFSL 1-256LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 1999 | UK | EMI 7243 4 99462 1 7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | Hollywood Records D000262101LP, Album, Remastered, Reissue | LP, Album, Remastered, Reissue |
| 2009 | Europe | Parlophone QUEENLP 5 / Parlophone 50999 2 66595 1 0LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Hollywood Records D004064801LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | UK & Europe | Virgin EMI Records 00602547202703 / Virgin EMI Records 4720270LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2018 | Italy | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Japan | Virgin EMI Records / DeAGOSTINI Japan 12LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Spain | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | Chile | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | US | Hollywood Records D004064801LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2023 | Italy | EMI 0602547202703 / Virgin 0602547202703LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | USA & Canada | Hollywood Records DD004064801LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | Argentina | EMILP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2024 | Italy | EMILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | EMI XEMC 8044 / EMI 31C 064 98485DLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Elektra K6E-101LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra K6E 101LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra K6E-101LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra K6E 101LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1A 064-98485 / EMI 1A 062-98485LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | EMI 1C 062-98 485 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-98 485LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | EMI 1C 062-98 485 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-98 485LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Germany | EMI 1C 062-98 485 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-98 485LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Germany | EMI 1C 062-98 485LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Greece | EMI 14C 064-98485LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Israel | Portrait EMTC 104LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Israel | Portrait EMTC 104LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | EMI EMS-81775LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| ? | Netherlands | EMI 1A 062-98485LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
128 vinyl pressings of A Day At The Races are listed here, from 38 countries, released between 1976 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in UK, US, Chile, Australia and more. One of them is EMI EMTC 104, released December 10, 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EMTC 104, 6E-101, 5209, XEMC 8044) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, YAX 5245 - 1U STERLING and YAX 5246 - 1U 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.
