Vinyl pressings
by The Crusaders · 1978
Images was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
25 pressings came out in 1978, 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 BA-6030A-1 BRunout A variant 1
T1 BA-6030B-2 A2Runout B variant 1
T1 BA 9̶0̶3̶0̶ A-1 6030Runout A variant 2
T2 BA 9̶0̶3̶0̶ B-1 6030Runout B variant 2
BA 6030 A·1C A7 SSide A runout
BA-6030-B-1B H3 2SSide B runout
BA-6030-ASide A matrix center label (in parentheses)
BA-6030-BSide B matrix center label (in parentheses)
BA-6030-A Δ 23421(5)Side A runout, etched [variation 1]
BA-6030-B Δ 23421-X (1)Side B runout, etched [variation 1]
BA-6030-A Δ 23421/(4)Side A runout, etched [variation 2]
BA-6030-B Δ 23421-X(2)Side B runout, etched [variation 2]
B-KEEL BA-6030-ASide A runout
A [Union Jack, Stamped] BA-6030-BSide B runout
B-ONE KEEL• BA-6030-ARunout side A, etched, variant 1
AB-ONE [Union Jack Stamp] BA-6030-BRunout side B, etched, variant 1
B-TWO KEEL• BA-6030-ARunout side A, etched, variant 2
A TWO [Union Jack Stamp] BA-6030-BRunout side B, etched, variant 2
BA-6030-A-1A S2Runout, side A, variant 1
BA-6030-1A E S2Runout, side B, variant 1
1S BA-6030-A-1BRunout, side A, variant 2
1S BA-6030-B2Runout, side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | ABC Blue Thumb BA-6030First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | ABC Blue Thumb 9307-6030First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MBA-6030First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | ABC Blue Thumb B.A 6.030First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Blue Thumb Records 26211 XOT / Blue Thumb Records 26 211 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | MCA Records 201 687 / MCA Records 201 687 320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Blue Thumb Records BLT 499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | New Zealand | ABC Blue Thumb BA 6030First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Philippines | MCA Records MCA 5489-9 / Blue Thumb Records BA-6030First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | South Africa | MCA Records ML4369First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | South Africa | ABC Records ABCL 349First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Spain | ABC Records 17.1385/6 / Mediterraneo 17.1385/6First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | ABC Records ABCL-5250First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | MCA Records ABCL 5250LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1978 | UK | ABC Records ABCL-5250First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | ABC Blue Thumb BA-6030LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | UK | MCA Records MCL 1625LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | UK | MCA Records MCL 1625LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | MCA Records 250 777-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Japan | MCA Records P-11521LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Japan | MCA Records P-11521LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | MCA Records 201 687 / MCA Records 201 687 320LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Coral CR-20159 / MCA Coral MCA 3856LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
38 vinyl pressings of Images are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1978 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is ABC Blue Thumb BA-6030.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BA-6030, ABCL-5250, YX-8142-AU, 9307-6030) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 BA-6030A-1 B and T1 BA-6030B-2 A2. 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.
