Vinyl pressings
by Ten Years After · 1972
Alvin Lee & Company was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
26 pressings came out in 1972, 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.
ZAL-11155.P-1W M 1 JTSide A runout
ZAL-11156.P-1W BK 1 JTSide B runout
ZAL.11155PSide A label in parentheses
ZAL.11156PSide B label in parentheses
ZAL-11155.P-1WRunout, side A, stamped
ZAL-11156.P-1WRunout, side B, stamped
ZAL.11155Plabel, side A
ZAL.11156Plabel, side B
ZAL-11155 . . ̶S̶A̶H̶S̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶9̶ AL 1-12·72Side A runout, variant 1
ZAL-11156 . . ̶S̶A̶H̶S̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶9̶ AL 1-12·72Side B runout, variant 1
ZAL-11155 ̶S̶A̶H̶S̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶8̶ AL 1-12·72 Z ZSide A runout, variant 2
ZAL-11156 ̶S̶A̶H̶S̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶9̶ AL 1-12·72Side B runout, variant 2
̶S̶A̶H̶S̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶8̶ -W ZAL 11155Runout Side A
̶S̶A̶H̶S̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶9̶ -W ZAL-11156Runout Side B
ZAL 11155 WLabel Side A
ZAL 11156 WLabel Side B
ZAL-11155-PH-2-1-1 S̶A̶S̶H̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶8̶ -2 PRRunout A, variant 1
ZAL-11156-PH-1-1-11 PR S̶A̶S̶H̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶8̶Runout B, variant 1
ZAL-11155-PH-2-1-1 S̶A̶S̶H̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶8̶-2-1-1 PRRunout A, variant 2
ZAL-11156-PH-1-1-1 PR S̶A̶S̶H̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶9-1-1-1 PRRunout B, variant 2
ZAL-11155 Best 1-12-72Side A, variant 1
ZAL-11156 Best 1-12-72Side B, variant 1
ZAL-11155 ̶̷̶S̶̷̶A̶̷̶H̶̷̶S̶̷̶ ̶̷̶1̶̷̶6̶̷̶0̶̷̶8̶̷̶ Best 1-12-72Side A, variant 2
ZAL-11156 S̶A̶H̶S̶ ̶1̶6̶0̶9̶ Best 1-12-72Side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Belgium | Deram SML 1096 YFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Belgium | Deram 258.053 B / 258.053 YFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Deram XDES 18064First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | France | Deram 258.053 BFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Deram 258.053 BFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Deram SML 1096First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Greece | Deram SML 1096First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | India | Deram SML 1096 / Deram SML.1096First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Italy | Deram SMLI 1096First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Japan | Deram DL-38First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Deram DL-38First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Japan | Deram DL-38 DJFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Deram 6376 300.1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Deram 6376 300First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Deram SML 1096First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Deram SML 1096LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Colombia | DERAM XDES 18064LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Deram 258.053 BLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Deram 291 033LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Deram 258.053 BLP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Nova 6.21592 AOLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Nova 6.21592 ASLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Israel | PAX ISK 1098LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
46 vinyl pressings of Alvin Lee & Company are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1972 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in UK, US, Belgium, Canada and more. One of them is Deram SML 1096, released March 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SML 1096, XDES 18064, SML 1096 Y, 258.053 B / 258.053 Y) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZAL-11155.P-1W M 1 JT and ZAL-11156.P-1W BK 1 JT. 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.
