Vinyl pressings
by Santana · 1979
Marathon was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
37 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 25 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.
PAL-36154-1K ♡ Pogo [Artisan logo] ʃ1Side A runout etched, variant 1
PBL-36154-1B ♡ Pogo ʃJ [Artisan logo]Side B runout etched, variant 1
PAL-36154-1G 1AB ♡ Pogo [Artisan logo] ʃJSide A runout etched, variant 3
PBL-36154-1C ♡ Pogo [Artisan logo] ʃJSide B runout etched, variant 3
1S PAL - 36154 - 1K ♡ Pogo [Artisan logo] JG A10Side A runout, variant 1
S S PBL - 36154 - 1B ♡ Pogo JG [Artisan logo] A2Side B runout, variant 1
PAL - 36154 - 1G JG ♡ Pogo [Artisan logo]Side A runout, variant 2
PBL - 36154 - 1C ♡ Pogo JG [Artisan logo]Side B runout, variant 2
P PAL - 36154 - 1K ♡ Pogo JH D [Artisan logo]Side A runout
P PBL - 36154 - 1B ♡ Pogo JH A1 [Artisan logo]Side B runout
AL 36154Side A label
BL 36154Side B label
T1 PAL-36154-1E ♡ Pogo JG [Artisan logo]Side A runout, variant 1
T1 PBL-36154-1F ♡ Pogo JG [Artisan logo]Side B runout, variant 1
T1 PAL-36154-1E ♡ Pogo JG [Artisan logo] A oSide A runout, variant 2
T1 PBL-36154-1F ♡ Pogo JG o [Artisan logo]Side B runout, variant 2
o TX p PAL-36154-1J ♡ Pogo [Artisan logo] ʃHSide A runout
l T PBL-36154-1G ♡ Pogo [Artisan logo] ʃHSide B runout
AL36154Side A label
BL36154Side B label
(A Side Etch + Stamp Variant 1): PAL - 36154 - 1D ♡ Pogo
(B Side Etch + Stamp Variant 1): PBL - 36154 - 1D ♡ Pogo
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Brazil | CBS 138168First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Colombia | CBS 14-1308First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Costa Rica | CBS 100.505First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86098 / CBS 86098First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | CBS CBS 86098 / CBS 86098First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Israel | CBS CBS 86098First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Italy | CBS CBS 86098First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 1628First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 1628First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Mexico | CBS CLS-5665First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | CBS FC 36154First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | CBS 32527First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 237362First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Peru | CBS Columbia S.E. 8463 / CBS Columbia SE-8463First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Portugal | CBS S 86098First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Spain | CBS CBS 32527LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Friday Music FRM-36154LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2018 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2243 / Columbia MOVLP2243LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Unknown | Friday Music 829421036159LP | LP |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2243LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | CBS 32527LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS 32527 / CBS CBS 32527LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | CBS 32527LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | CBS CBS 32527LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | CBS 32527LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 36154LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
49 vinyl pressings of Marathon are listed here, from 27 countries, released between 1979 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Columbia FC 36154, released September 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FC 36154, S CBS 86098, CBS 86098, 120.052) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PAL-36154-1K ♡ Pogo [Artisan logo] ʃ1 and PBL-36154-1B ♡ Pogo ʃJ [Artisan logo]. 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.
