Vinyl pressings
by Rainbow · 1975
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. 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 1975, the album's first year, in 22 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.
KENDUN-A OYA 2001 A-1U WASPRunout side A, variant 1
KENDUN-B OYA 2001 B-1URunout side B, variant 1
KENDUN A OYA 2001 A- 1U GP WASP 1Runout side A, variant 2
KENDUN-B OYA 2001 B-1U PR 2Runout side B, variant 2
PD-6049-A-CS-4 KENDUN-A The Wasp(Variant 1 - Side A)
PD-6049-B-CS-6 KENDUN-B(Variant 1 - Side B)
PD-1-6049 - AS PRC-R-1-1Runout side A
PD-1-6049 - BS PRC-R-1-1Runout side B
PD-1-6049 - BS PRC-2-1-1 KENDUN-B THE WASPVariant 1 - Side A
PD-1-6049 - AS PRC-2-11-11 KENDUN-BVariant 1 - Side B
PD-6049 - AS PRC-2 KENDUN-B THE WASPVariant 2 - Side A
PD-6049 - BS PRC-2-1-11 KENDUN-BVariant 2 - Side B
PD-6049-A-CS-5 KENDUN THE WASPSide A runout, variant 1
PD-6049-B-CS-6 KENDUNSide B runout, variant 1
PD-6049-A-CS-4 KENDUN-A SX THE WASP SSide A runout, variant 2
PD-6049-B-CS-6 KENDUN-B SX 1 SSide B runout, variant 2
PD-6049-AS-PRC-2-11-1 KENDUN B PRC THE WASPRunout side A
PD-6049-BS-PRC-2-2-2 KENDUN-B PRCRunout side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | Oyster OYA.2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Australia | Oyster OYA 2001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Belgium | Oyster 4 C 064-96787First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Brazil | Oyster OYL-42001 / Oyster XOYL 42001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Denmark | Oyster 6C 062-96787 / Oyster 5C062-96787First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | Oyster 2C 068-96787 / Oyster 2C 068-96.787First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | France | Oyster 2C 068-96 787First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | Oyster 1C 062-96 787 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-96 787LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1975 | Germany | Oyster 1C 062-96 787 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-96 787First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Guatemala | EMI 3365First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Israel | Purple Records OYA 2001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Italy | Oyster 3C 064-96787First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Polydor MP 2502LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1975 | Malaysia | Oyster OYA2001LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1975 | Mexico | Oyster SLEM 628First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Polydor MPX 4023LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 1981 | Japan | Polydor 23MM 0021LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Polydor 2490 141 / Polydor 24 90 141LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Polydor 23MM 0021LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 9225LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 9225LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1983 | Greece | Polydor 2490 141LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | UK | Oyster SPELP 7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Polydor 24 90 141LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Polydor 24 90 141LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Spain | Polydor 24 90 141LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Polydor PD 6049LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Polydor PD 6049 / Polydor 422-825 089-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Japan | Polydor 18MM 0539LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П93-00531LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | UK | Back On Black RCV022LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | UK | Back On Black RCV022LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited |
| 2010 | UK | Back On Black RCV022LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2011 | UK | Back On Black RCV022LPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2012 | US | Wax Cathedral MELT-008 / Polydor B0016181-01LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2013 | US | Wax Cathedral MELT-008 / Polydor B0016181-01LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | Europe | Polydor 5353586LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australasia | Oyster 2391 190 / Polydor 2391 190LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Austria | Polydor 2391 190LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Oyster SPELP 7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Polydor 2391 190LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Polydor 2391 190LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2391 190LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2929 096LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Oyster 1C 072-96 787 / EMI Electrola 1C 072-96 787LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2929 096LP, Album, Mispress, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Mispress, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2929 096LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2929 096LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2929 096LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2391 190LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2929 096LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2929 096LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
132 vinyl pressings of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow are listed here, from 34 countries, released between 1975 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in UK, US, Israel, Canada and more. One of them is Oyster OYA 2001, released September 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use OYA 2001, PD 6049, OYA.2001, MP 2502) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, KENDUN-A OYA 2001 A-1U WASP and KENDUN-B OYA 2001 B-1U. 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.
