Vinyl pressings
by Queen · 1974
Sheer Heart Attack was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
43 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 21 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 4881-3U LM1Side A, stamped. Variant 1
YAX 4882-3U HG1Side B, stamped. Variant 1
YAX 4881-3U TP2Side A, stamped. Variant 2
YAX 4882-3U TD1Side B, stamped. Variant 2
YAX 4881-4U R P L 2 TML-MSide A, stamped. Variant 1
YAX 4882-4U R M P 2Side B, stamped. Variant 1
YAX 4881-3U LG 2 TML-SSide A, stamped. Variant 2
YAX 4882-4U PL 1 5Side B, stamped. Variant 2
YAX 4881-3U OOM TML-SRunout side A variant 1
YAX 4882-4U MDORunout side B variant 1
YAX 4881-3U OL 12 TML-SRunout side A variant 2
YAX 4882-4U HM 4Runout side B variant 2
YAX 4881-3UVariant 1 Side A Stamped
YAX 4882-4UVariant 1 Side B Stamped
YAX 4881-3U VA 1 TML-SVariant 2 Side A Stamped
YAX 4882-4U LM 15Variant 2 Side B Stamped
YAX 4881-3U TML-SSide A, variant 1
YAX 4882-3USide B, variant 1
YAX 4881-4U GTL TML-MSide A, variant 2
YAX 4882-4U GTO 2Side B, variant 2
YAX 4881-4U O A G 1 TML-MRunout side A, variant 1
YAX 4882-4U O E G 2Runout side B, variant 1
YAX 4881-3U TT C1 TML-SRunout side A, variant 2
YAX 4882-4U LORunout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Barbados | EMI EMC 3061First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Brazil | EMI EMC 8016First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | France | EMI 2C 066-96025First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | EMI 1C 062-96 025 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-96 025First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | EMI 1C 062-96 025 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-96 025First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Greece | EMI EMC 3061First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | India | EMI EMC 3061First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | EMI 3C 064-96025First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Elektra P-8516EFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Elektra P-8516EFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | EMI 5C 062-96025First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | EMI 1A 062-96025 / EMI 1A 062○96025First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Elektra EKS 1026First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Panama | EMI EMI 33168First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Philippines | EMI EMC-3601First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Guatemala | EMI 33168LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | EMI 3C 064 - 96025LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Italy | EMI 3C 064-96025 / EMI 3 C064-96025LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Elektra P-6552ELP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Mexico | EMI SLEM-570LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | Elektra P-10137 / Elektra P-10137ELP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Spain | EMI 1 J 064-96025 / EMI 10 C 064-96.025LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | US | Elektra 7E-1026 SPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | New Zealand | EMI EMC 313LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Japan | EMI EMS-81798LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1987 | Japan | EMI EMS-81798LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Australia | EMI MID 166125LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | South Korea | EMI EKPL-0188 / EMI EMC 3061LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П94 RAT 30755LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | Hollywood Records D000261901LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | UK | Parlophone QUEENLP 3 / Parlophone 50999 2 66573 1 8LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Virgin EMI Records 00602547202680LP, 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 9LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Spain | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2022 | Chile | Virgin EMI RecordsLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2022 | US | Hollywood Records D004065001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | US | Hollywood Records D004065001 / EMI D004065001LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Argentina | EMILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | Italy | EMILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2024 | Brazil | Universal Music 602547202660LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Elektra 7E-1026LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Argentina | EMI 8087LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Elektra 7E-1026LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 96025 / EMI EMC 8016LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | EMI EMC 8016LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 96025 / EMI EMC 8016LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 7ES-1026LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 7ES 1026LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1C 072-96 025 / EMI Electrola 1C 072-96 025LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1 A 064-96025 / EMI 1A 062-96025LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | EMI 064-7 46206 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1 A 064-96025 / EMI 1A 062-96025LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1 C 072-96 025LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1 C 072 - 96 025 / EMI Electrola 1 C 072-96 025LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | EMI 064-7 46206 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
142 vinyl pressings of Sheer Heart Attack are listed here, from 36 countries, released between 1974 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Japan, Canada and more. One of them is EMI EMC 3061, released November 8, 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EMC 3061, 7E-1026, P-8516E, 7ES 1026) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, YAX 4881-3U LM1 and YAX 4882-3U HG1. 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.
