Vinyl pressings
by Roxy Music · 1974
Country Life 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.
23 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 13 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.
ILPS 9303 A2Variant 1, A-side runout
ILPS 9303 B1Variant 1, B-side runout
ILPS 9303 A-2 1 M AVariant 2, A-side runout
ILPS 9303 B-1 4 G AVariant 2, B-side runout
ILPS 9303 A-3 RO 1A-side runout, stamped, variant 1
ILPS 9303 B-1 : GAP 1B-side runout, stamped, variant 1
ILPS 9303 A-2 ·.· cɔA-side runout, stamped, variant 2
ILPS 9303 B-1 4 TB-side runout, stamped, variant 2
ILPS 9303 A-2 O H ·.· 2A-side runout stamped variant 1
ILPS 9303 B-1 O LG 4B-side runout stamped variant 1
ILPS 9303 A-2 T R 2 ·.·A-side runout stamped variant 2
ILPS 9303 B-1 LT 3B-side runout stamped variant 2
ILPS 9303 A-2 [3 dots] W ◌Side A runout, stamped; "W" etched
ILPS 9303 B-1 S 4Side B runout, stamped; "S" etched
ILPS.9303-ASide A label
ILPS.9303-BSide B label
ILPS 9303 A-2 OP 2Runout, A-side, stamped
ILPS 9303 B-1 OA 5Runout, B-side, stamped
SMX 45443 2ARunout (Etched) Side 1
SMX 45444 2BRunout (Etched) Side 2
SMX45443Label Side 1
SMX45444Label Side 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 | Australia | Island Records L 35359First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Austria | Island Records 88 370 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Benelux | Island Records ILPS 9303 / Island Records 88 370 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | ATCO Records SD 36-106First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | ATCO Records SD 36-106First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | ATCO Records SD 36-106First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Island Records 9101 638First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | Island Records 88 370 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Ireland | Island Records ILPS 9303First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19303First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Island Records ILS-80070LP, Album, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Island Records L 35359First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Scandinavia | Island Records ILPS 9303 / Island Records ILPS.9303First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Scandinavia | Island Records ILPS 9303First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Scandinavia | Island Records ILPS 9303 / Island Records ILPS.9303First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | US | ATCO Records SD 36-106 A / ATCO Records SD 36-106LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1983 | Portugal | Polydor 2310 539LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 9109LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue · Promo, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue · Promo, Limited |
| 1985 | Japan | Polydor 20MM 9109LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 1986 | Europe | EG 207 947LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Spain | EG LL -207 947 / Virgin LL-207 947LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | EG EGLP 16 / Virgin EGLP 16LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Japan | Virgin 25VB-1142 / Virgin 25VB-1142LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | Greece | EG VG 50349LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1988 | Japan | EG VJL-158 / Virgin VJL-158LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1988 | Japan | EG VJL-158 / Virgin VJL-158LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | Virgin 509992 43649 11LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2009 | Europe | Virgin 509992 43649 11LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Worldwide | Virgin EMI Records ROXYLP4 / Virgin EMI Records 0602537848775LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Worldwide | Virgin RMLP4 / UMC RMLP 4LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | Polydor 2310 539LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Benelux | Island Records 88 370 IT / Island Records ILPS 9303LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | ATCO Records SD 36-106LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | ATCO Records SD 36-106LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Canada | ATCO Records SD 36-106LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Canada | ATCO Records SD 36-106LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Canada | ATCO Records SD 36-106LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Polydor 2310 539LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Polydor 2310 539LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2344 088LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2459 344LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 88 370 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Island Records 88 370 IT / Island Records ILPS 9303LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Polydor 2302 051LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | Island Records L 35359LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
105 vinyl pressings of Country Life are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1974 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, Australia, Austria, Benelux and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9303, released November 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9303, L 35359, 88 370 XOT, SD 36-106) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9303 A2 and ILPS 9303 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.
