US
October 13, 1987- Label and catalog number
- A&M Records SP 5181
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo · Green Sleeve
- Runout / matrix
SP0-5181-A-SH2-DMM Δ 17726 | MASTERDISK 3-3A Side Etch
SP0-5181-B-DMM-SH1 | MASTERDISK - DMM 2-3 Δ 17726-XB Side Etch
Vinyl pressings
Free As A Bird
by Supertramp · 1987
53 pressings21 countriesArt RockPop RockProg RockRock
Free As A Bird was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of Free As A Bird
47 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 16 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.
UK
1987- Label and catalog number
- A&M Records AMA 5181
- Format
- LP, Album · Green Cover
UK
1987- Label and catalog number
- A&M Records AMA 5181
- Format
- LP, Album · Blue Cover
UK
1987- Label and catalog number
- A&M Records AMA 5181
- Format
- LP, Album · Pink Cover
- Runout / matrix
△17726 1-4 AMA 5181-A-DMM-SHI MASTERDISK-DMM P2Runout, Side A - etched
1-4 △17726-X AMA 5181-B-DMM-SHI MASTERDISK-DMMRunout, Side B - etched
UK
1987- Label and catalog number
- A&M Records AMA 5181
- Format
- LP, Album · Yellow Cover
US
1987- Label and catalog number
- A&M Records SP 5181
- Format
- LP, Album · Pink Sleeve
- Runout / matrix
(SP 05181-A)A Side Label
(SP 05181-A)B Side Label
SP0-5181-A-SH2-DMMA Side Run Out Groove
SP0-5181-B-SH2-DMMB Side Run Out Groove
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 53 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s51 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australia | A&M Records RML 53249 / A&M Records SP 5181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Australia | A&M Records RML 53249First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Brazil | A&M Records 395 181-1 / A&M Records 395181-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Brazil | A&M Records 395 181-1 / A&M Records 395181-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | A&M Records SP 9502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | A&M Records SP 9502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | A&M Records SP 9502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | A&M Records SP 9502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | A&M Records SP 9502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Ecuador | A&M Records LP-88043 / A&M Records SP - 5181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 395 181-1 / A&M Records 395181-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 395 181-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 395 181-1 / A&M Records 395181-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 395 181-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 395181-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
1990s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Italy | DeAgostini IGDA 1197/198 / A&M Records IGDA 1197/198LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
2020s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Europe | A&M Records 000602475456407 / UMe 000602475456407LP | LP |
Tracklist
- A1It's Alright4:57
- A2Not The Moment4:34
- A3It Doesn't Matter4:49
- A4Where I Stand3:38
- A5Free As A Bird4:20
- B1I'm Beggin You5:27
- B2You Never Can Tell With Friends4:14
- B3Thing For You3:59
- B4An Awful Thing To Waste7:47
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Free As A Bird are there?
53 vinyl pressings of Free As A Bird are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1987 and 2026.
When was Free As A Bird first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in US, UK, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is A&M Records SP 5181, released October 13, 1987.
How do I tell if my copy of Free As A Bird is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP 5181, AMA 5181, C28Y3207, RML 53249) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SP0-5181-A-SH2-DMM Δ 17726 | MASTERDISK 3-3 and SP0-5181-B-DMM-SH1 | MASTERDISK - DMM 2-3 Δ 17726-X. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Free As A Bird on vinyl worth?
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.
