Vinyl pressings
by Sly & The Family Stone · 1973
Fresh was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 15 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.
S 2 PAL-32134-2F o STERLING RLRunout A, variant 1
S 2 PBL-32134-2F o STERLING RLRunout B, variant 1
S PAL-32134-1E 0 STERLING RL AvRunout A, variant 2
S 2 PBL-32134-1F o B2 STERLING RLRunout B, variant 2
o T1 PAL-32134-2C STERLING RLVariant 1 - Side A Etched
o T1 PBL-32134-1C STERLING RLVariant 1 - Side B Etched
o T1 PAL-32134-2D STERLING RLVariant 2 - Side A Etched
o T1 PBL-32134-2D STERLING RLVariant 2 - Side B Etched
PAL-32134-2B XSide A runout
o PBL-32134-2B STERLING RLSide B runout
ᴘ PAL-32134-2B STERLING RL o BRunout variant 1, side A
ᴘ P BL 32134-2G 1 BRunout variant 2, side B
ᴘ PAL-32134-2B STERLING RLRunout variant 2, side A
PBL-32134-2B STERLING RLRunout variant 2, side B
EPC S 69039 A1Runout, Side A, Stamped
EPC S 69039 B1Runout, Side B, Stamped
S EPC 69039 ALabel, Side A
S EPC 69039 BLabel, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australasia | Epic ELPS 3667First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australasia | Epic ELPS 3667First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Brazil | Epic 144113 / Epic 32134First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Epic KE 32134First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Colombia | Epic 11261First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Europe | Epic EPC 69039First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Greece | Epic EPC 69039First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Greece | Epic EPC 69039LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1973 | Italy | Epic EPC 69039First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Epic ECPL-92First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Epic ECPM-96LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1973 | Japan | Epic ECPM-96LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | Netherlands Antilles | Epic EPC69039First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Epic SBPC474129First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | CBS/Sony Records Inc. KE 32134First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | UK | Edsel Records XED 232LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Edsel Records XED 232LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5148 / Epic LP 5148LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2007 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5148 / Epic LP 5148LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP638LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2017 | US | Epic 88985431601LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5148 / Sundazed Music 712473LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 2023 | US | Legacy 196587410315LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Taiwan | First Record FL-2370LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Epic KE 32134LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
35 vinyl pressings of Fresh are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1973 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Italy, Australasia and more. One of them is Epic KE 32134.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KE 32134, EPC 69039, S EPC 65444, ELPS 3667) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S 2 PAL-32134-2F o STERLING RL and S 2 PBL-32134-2F o STERLING RL. 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.
