Vinyl pressings
by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 · 1969
Crystal Illusions was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 17 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.
A&M SP4293-17 △13658 8A-Side Runout - Variant 1
A&M SP4294-17 △13658-X 3B-Side Runout - Variant 1
A&M SP4293-17 MR(circled) △13658 ⑤A-Side Runout - Variant 2
A&M SP4294-15 MR(circled) △13658-X ④B-Side Runout - Variant 2
P o A+M SP 4293-3Runout Side A, etched [P & o, stamped]
P o A+M SP 4294-3Runout Side B [P & o, stamped]
SP-4293Label Side A
SP-4294Label Side B
SP-4293Label Side 1
SP-4294Label Side 2
o T 1 A&M SP4293-8Runout A, variant 1
o T 1 A&M SP4294-8Runout B, variant 1
T 1 A&M SP4293-7 CSRunout A, variant 2
T 1 A&M SP4294-7 CSRunout B, variant 2
A+M SP4293-2 C 2 P oSide A runout
A+M SP4294-3 C 2 P oSide B runout
SP-4293Side A label
SP-4294Side B label
ϟ A&M SP 4293-14 A2A-side runout, variant 1
S A&M SP4294-12 C4B-side runout, variant 1
S A&M SP 4293-14 A6A-side runout, variant 2
S A&M SP4294-13 C5B-side runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Argentina | A&M Records 5077 / A&M Records 5077/6077First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | Australia | A&M Records SAML-933,393 / A&M Records SAML-933,393First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Brazil | A&M Records A&M 2036First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4197First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4197First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4197First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Chile | A&M Records SP-4197 / A&M Records SP 4197First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Colombia | A&M Records CL.29First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | France | A&M Records 212 070 / A&M Records 212070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | A&M Records 212 070First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | A&M Records 212 070 / A&M Records 212.070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Italy | A&M Records SP 4197 / A&M Records SP-4197First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Japan | A&M Records AML 36First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Japan | A&M Records AML 36First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | New Zealand | A&M Records SAML-933393First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Uruguay | A&M Records SP-4294 / A&M Records SP 4294LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Italy | A&M Records SLAM 47.043LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Australia | World Record Club S/5542 / World Record Club S-5542LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1976 | Australia | World Record Club R-01049 / World Record Club S/5542LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Pickwick SPC-3736 / A&M Records SPC-3736LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | A&M Records SP 4197 / A&M Records SP 4.197LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Mexico | A&M Records AML/S - 1032LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Pickwick SPC-3736LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Venezuela | A&M Records LPS-77501LP, Album | LP, Album |
41 vinyl pressings of Crystal Illusions are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1969 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4197.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4197, AMLS 948, 5077, SAML-933,393) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A&M SP4293-17 △13658 8 and A&M SP4294-17 △13658-X 3. 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.
