Vinyl pressings
by Traffic · 1970
John Barleycorn Must Die was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1970, 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.
ILPS 9116 A/2 UAS 5504 A 6.3.70 RC STERLINGSide A runout, etched [STERLING stamped], variant 1
ILPS 9116 B/2 UAS 5504 B 6.3.70 LH STERLINGSide B runout, etched [STERLING stamped], variant 1
ILPS 9116 A2 UAS 5504 A 6.3.70 RC STERLING LHSide A runout, etched [STERLING stamped], variant 2
ILPS + 9116 + B 4Side B runout, etched, variant 2
ILPS 9116 A/2 UAS 5504 A 6.3.70 RC STERLING LHVariant 1 side A runout
ILPS 9116 B/2 UAS 5504 B 6.3.70 RC STERLING LHVariant 1 side B runout
ILPS 9116 A/2 UAS 5504 A 6.3.70 RC STERLING LHVariant 2 side A runout
ILPS 9116 B/2 UAS 5504 B 6.3.70 AM STERLING LHVariant 2 Side B runout
ILPS 9116 A/2 UAS 5504 A 6 3 70 RC STERLING LHSide A, etched, STERLING stamped, variant 1
ILPS 9116 B/2 UAS 5504 B 6 3 70 AM STERLING LHSide B, etched, STERLING stamped, variant 1
ILPS 9116 A/2 UAS 5504 A 6 3 70 RC STERLING LH ARACIONSide A, etched, STERLING stamped, variant 2
ILPS 9116 B/2 UAS 5504 B 6 3 70 AM STERLING LHSide B, etched, STERLING stamped, variant 2
ILPS 9116. 5 (inverted) UAS 5504 A 6.4.70 AM-1 STERLING LHSide A dead wax
ILPS 9116. UAS 5504 B 6.4.70 AM-1 STERLING LH 5 (inverted)Side B dead wax
ILPS + 9116 + A4
ILPS + 9116 + B4
UAS 5504 A RC-1 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
UAS 5504 B RC-1 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
UAS 5504 A1 (2) III AM STERLING LHSide A runout, variant 2
UAS 5504 B 2 IV RC-1 STERLINGSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Island Records SFL-933909 / Island Records SIL-933,909First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Australia | Island Records SFL-933909 / Island Records SIL-933,909First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Polydor 2334 013First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Polydor 2334 013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Polydor 2334 013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1970 | France | Island Records 6 405 007 / Island Records 6405 007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | Island Records 6339 016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | Island Records 6339 016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Greece | Philips 6343011 / Philips 6343 011First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | India | Island Records ILPS 9116First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Israel | Island Records 6339 016 / Island Records ILPS 9116First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Italy | Island Records 6339 016 NFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Island Records SFX - 7205First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Island Records SFX - 7205First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Island Records SIL-933909 / Island Records ILPS.9116First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Island Records 20S-96LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Spain | Island Records 25114-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Venezuela | Island Records ILPS-10.014LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Japan | Island Records 20S-96LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1981 | Brazil | Island Records 203 246LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | South Africa | Island Records ILPS 29116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Zimbabwe | Island Records ILPS 29116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | Island Records 90058-1 / Island Records 7 90058-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | South Africa | Island Records ILPH 29116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Spain | Island Records 25.114-I / Island Records 25114-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Island Records 90058-1 / Island Records 7 90058-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Australia | Island Records ILPS 9116 / Festival Records L 19075LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | Italy | Island Records ORL 19116 / Island Records ILPS 19116LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | South Korea | Island Records OLW-489 ILPM-9116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | South Korea | Island Records 842 780-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | Island Records 0042284278010LP, Reissue, Limited Edition, Album · Limited | LP, Reissue, Limited Edition, Album · Limited |
| 2008 | Europe | Island Records 0042284278010LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Worldwide | Island Records 775 125-6 / UMC 00602577512568LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Island Records SFL-933909 / Island Records ILPS.9116LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Island Records L-33,909 / Island Records SFL-933909LP, Album, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISM 9116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISL 9116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISM 9116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ILPS 9116LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ILPS 9116LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISM-9116 / Island Records ISM 9116LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ILPS-9116LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Island Records 842 780-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| ? | Germany | Island Records ILPM 9116 / Island Records 88 018 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 88 018-270 / Island Records 88 018 ETLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 6339 016LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 88 018-270 / Island Records 88 018 ETLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 88 018 ET / Island Records ILPS 9116LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
157 vinyl pressings of John Barleycorn Must Die are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1970 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9116, released July 1, 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9116, ILPS-9116, UAS 5504, SFL-933909) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9116 A/2 UAS 5504 A 6.3.70 RC STERLING and ILPS 9116 B/2 UAS 5504 B 6.3.70 LH STERLING. 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.
