Vinyl pressings
by Styx · 1976
Crystal Ball was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 14 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.
1XS AMSP4945 S1.SXVariant 1, runout side A
T1 AMSP4946, F11, CVariant 1, runout side B
1S AM SP 4945 S1• SXT C15Variant 2, runout side A
T1 AM SP4946 T•11• 4 CVariant 2, runout side B
T SP 4945-T2 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
T1 SP 4946-T1 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
SP 4945-T3 STERLING B T1Runout side A, variant 2
SP 4946-T3 STERLING J T1Runout side B, variant 2
SP 4945 M2 RE-1 MR △21327 (1) STERLINGA Side Runout Variant 1
SP 4946 M2 RE-1 MR △21327-X STERLINGB Side Runout Variant 1
SP 4945 M2 RE-1 (MR) △21327 (4) STERLING 1A Side Runout Variant 2
SP 4946 M2 RE-1 (MR) △21327-X (4) STERLINGB Side Runout Variant 2
P SP 4945-P1 5 C 2 sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢVar. 1, Side A the standalone 5 looks to be a mirror image of a 5
P SP 4946 P1 A 7 sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢVar. 1, Side B
P SP 4945-P1 5 sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢVar. 2, Side A the standalone 5 looks to be a mirror image of a 5
P SP 4946 P1 C2 sᴛᴇʀʟɪɴɢVar. 2, Side B
1S AM-SP-4945 S2Runout Side A
1S AM-SP-4946 S4Runout Side B
A&MSP4945-RC-2 ISide A runout, variant 1
A&MSP4946-RC-1 ISide B runout, variant 1
A&M SP4945-RC-1 I A2ASide A runout, variant 2
A&M SP4946-RC-1 I A1ASide B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Australia | A&M Records L 36041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Brazil | A&M Records SA&M 2191First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604 / A&M Records SP 4604LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604 / A&M Records SP 4604LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604 / A&M Records SP 4604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | South Korea | A&M Records SEL-200 539LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | A&M Records AMNP 131LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | A&M Records SP-3218LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Germany | A&M Records 393 218-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Germany | A&M Records 393 218-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Australia | A&M Records L-19134LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | A&M Records B0022022-01LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4604LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | A&M Records AMLH 64604LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | A&M Records AMLH 64604LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Mozambique | A&M Records AMLS 64604LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-4604 / A&M Records SP 4604LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-4604LP, Album | LP, Album |
64 vinyl pressings of Crystal Ball are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1976 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4604, released October 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4604, AMLH 64604, L 36041, SA&M 2191) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1XS AMSP4945 S1.SX and T1 AMSP4946, F11, C. 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.
