Vinyl pressings
by The Crusaders · 1977
Free As The Wind 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.
18 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 12 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.
T1 BT 6029A TH1 A7Side A Runout, etched (variant 1)
T1 BT 6029B TH2 B7Side B Runout, etched (variant 1)
T1 BT 6029A TH1 DSide A etched (variant 2)
T1 BT 6029B TH2 B7Side B etched (variant 2)
1 A [Union Jack] BT 6029 ARunout A
1 A [Union Jack] BT 6029 BRunout B
BT 6029-AMatrix A, on label
BT 6029-BMatrix B, on label
1S BT B̶P̶ 6029 A 1A SM1 A10Runout A, variant 1
1S BT B̶P̶ 6029 B• 1A SM1 B5Runout B, variant 1
1S BT B̶P̶ 6029 A 1B SM2Runout A, variant 2
1S BT B̶P̶ 6029 B1B CS2Runout B, variant 2
BT-6029-A P2 B̶P̶ ̶6̶0̶2̶9̶ ̶A̶ ̶P̶2̶Side A runout, variant 1
B̶P̶ ̶6̶0̶2̶9̶ ̶B ̶P̶1 BT-6029-B P1Side B runout, variant 1
B̶P̶-̶6̶0̶2̶9̶-̶A̶ ̶P̶1̶ BT-6029-A P1Side A runout, variant 2
B̶P̶-̶6̶0̶2̶9̶-̶B̶ ̶P̶2̶ ̶B̶T̶-̶6̶0̶-̶2̶ BT-6029-B P2Side B runout, variant 2
BT 6029•A•E•977Matrix A on label
BT 6029•B•E•978Matrix B on label
ABCL.5226AA-side label
ABCL.5226BB-side 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 | Australia & New Zealand | Blue Thumb Records BT 6029 / ABC Records BT-6029First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Brazil | ABC Blue Thumb 6.31-404-004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Canada | ABC Blue Thumb 9307-6029First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | MCA Records MBT 6029 / Blue Thumb Records MBT-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | France | ABC Blue Thumb 68.049 / ABC Blue Thumb 68 049First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Blue Thumb Records 28 981 XOT / ABC Records 28 981 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | MCA Records 201 804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | ABC Records BLT 469First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Mexico | Discos Musart, S.A. De C.V. EDI-60359First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | South Africa | ABC Blue Thumb ABCL 266First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Spain | ABC Records 28 981 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Spain | ABC Records 17.1215/0 / Mediterraneo 17.1215/0First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | ABC Records ABCL-5226First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | ABC Blue Thumb BT-6029First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | ABC Blue Thumb BT-6029First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-37073 / Blue Thumb Records MBT 6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MBT 6029 / Blue Thumb Records MBT-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA 37073 / MCA Records MCA-37073LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37073 / ABC Records BT-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records BT-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | ABC Records BT-6029 / MCA Records BT-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37073 / ABC Records BT-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37073 / ABC Records BT-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | MCA Records MCL 1764LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | MCA Records 250 776-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | MCA Records 250 776-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Japan | MCA Records P-11520LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 0062.711LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Coral MCA 37073LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
40 vinyl pressings of Free As The Wind are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1977 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Japan, Australia & New Zealand and more. One of them is ABC Blue Thumb BT-6029.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BT-6029, ABCL-5226, YX-8099-AU, BT 6029) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 BT 6029A TH1 A7 and T1 BT 6029B TH2 B7. 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.
