Vinyl pressings
by Shakti · 1977
A Handful Of Beauty was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 10 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.
AL 34372-1ARunout, variant 1, Side A
BL 34372-1BRunout, variant 1, Side B
AL 34372-1F S1 C 12Runout, variant 2, Side A - etched
BL 34372-1F S1 A 10Runout, variant 2, Side B - etched
AL 34372-1E SXT S2 TRunout Side A
BL 34372-2B 1TRunout Side B
AL 34372Label Side A
BL 34372Label Side B
P AL34372-1A 1Runout A, variant 1
1 BL34372-1B PRunout B, variant 1
P AL34372-1A 1 4 BRunout A, variant 2
1 BL34372-1B PRunout B, variant 2
p AL34372-1B 1 3A-Side Runout Etching
BL 34372-1B pB-Side Runout Etching
AL 34372A-Side Label
BL 34372B-Side Label
CBS-S-81664-A-1 A 2Runout A
CBS-S-81664-B-1 B 3Runout B
S 81 664 A°Label A
S 81 664 B°Label B
AL 34372Side A label
BL 34372Side B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Argentina | CBS 119729 / CBS 119.729First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Europe | CBS CBS 81664 / CBS 81664First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | CBS 81664First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 512First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 512First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Scandinavia | CBS PC 34372 / CBS 34372LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1977 | South Africa | CBS ASF 1959First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Spain | CBS S 81664First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | CBS S 81664 / CBS 81664First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Columbia PC 34372First yearLP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Columbia PC 34372 / Columbia 34372First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Uruguay | CBS 119.729First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Columbia PC 34372First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Columbia PC 34372 / Columbia 34372First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Columbia PC 34372 / Columbia 34372First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | South Africa | CBS STR 30008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Europe | CBS CBS 32211 / CBS 32211LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Greece | CBS CBS 32211LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Sun J-9 / Sun J9LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 234976LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32211 / CBS 32211LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32211 / CBS 32211LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | CBS 32211LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | CBS CBS 32211LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
24 vinyl pressings of A Handful Of Beauty are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1977 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Canada, Argentina and more. One of them is Columbia PC 34372, released March 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PC 34372, S 81664, 119729, CBS 81664) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL 34372-1A and BL 34372-1B. 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.
