Vinyl pressings
by Traffic · 1971
The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
28 pressings came out in 1971, 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.
ILPS 9180 A-2U RD STERLING LH 1Runout stamp side A var. 1
ILPS 9180 B-1U G STERLING LH 1Runout stamp side B var. 1
ILPS 9180 A-2U L STERLING LH 1Runout stamp side A var. 2
ILPS 9180 B-1U R STERLING LH 1Runout stamp side B var. 2
SW-1-9306 Z5 1 ✲ STERLING LHRunout A, variant 1
SW-2-9306 Z6 1 ✲ STERLING LHRunout B, variant 1
SW-1-9306 Z6 2 ✲ STERLING LHRunout A, variant 2
SW-2-9306 Z6 1 ✲ STERLING LHRunout B, variant 2
SW-1-9306 Z3#2 ─◁ STERLING LHRunout side A, variant 1
SW-2-9306 Z4#3 ─◁ STERLING LHRunout side B, variant 1
SW-1-9306 Z11 ─◁ STERLING 2 LHRunout side A, variant 2
SW-2-9306 Z4 #5 ─◁ STERLING LHRunout side B, variant 2
SW-1-9306 Z1 #1 LHSide A Etched
SW-2-9306 Z1 LHSide B Etched
STERLING 0Side A & B Stamped
SW-1-9306 Z2 #1 LHSide A Etched, variant 2
SW-1-9306 Z3 #2 —◁ STERLING LHSide A runout, variant 1
SW-2-9306 Z4 —◁ STERLING LHSide B runout, variant 1
SW-1-9306 Z4 #2 —◁ STERLING LHSide A runout, variant 2
SW-2-9306 Z4 —◁ STERLING LHSide B runout, variant 2
(A Side label): SW 1-9306
(B Side label): SW 2-9306
(Side A Etched): º 1 SW 9306 A 1A SX T B2
(Side B Etched): TXS º 1 SW 9306 B 1B B1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Argentina | Island Records 0005 744First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Australia | Island Records SIL 934388First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Polydor 2334 026LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1971 | Canada | Island Records ILPS 9180First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Polydor 2334 026First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Denmark | Island Records ILPS 9180First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Island Records 6396.010First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Island Records 85 807 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Island Records 85 807 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9180 / Island Records ILPS-9180First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | Israel | Island Records ILPS 9180First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19180First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Island Records ILPS 9180First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Island Records ILPS 9180 / Island Records ILPS-9180LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Island Records SIL-934388 / Island Records ILPS 9180First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Island Records 20S-97LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | Island Records ILPS 9180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Japan | Island Records 20S-97LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1983 | South Africa | Island Records ILPH29180 / Island Records ILPH 29180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Island Records 90026-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Island Records 90026-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | US | Island Records 90026-1 / Island Records 7 90026-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | US | Island Records 90026-1 / Island Records 7 90026-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | US | Island Records 90026-1 / Island Records 7 90026-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Brazil | Island Records 604.7224 / Island Records 23.516LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Island Records 90026-1 / Island Records ST-IL-825060-SPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Italy | Island Records ORL 19180LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Island Records ILPM 9180LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | US | Island Records A1-90026LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-209 / Island Records MFSL 1-209LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Europe | Island Records 00422 84277914LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Friday Music FRM-9180LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | US | Friday Music FRM-9180 / Island Records FRM-9180LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Unknown | Island Records 775 125-8 / UMC 775 125-8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | US | Friday Music FRM-9180 / Island Records FRM-9180LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Island Records ILPS 9180 / Island Records SIL-934388LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Island Records SIL 934388 / Island Records ILPS 1980LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 202 529LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 604.7224 / Island Records 23.516LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records XILP 9180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISL-9180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISM 9180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records XILP 9180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ISM-9180 / Island Records ISL-9180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records XILP 9180LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Island Records ILPS 9180LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 807 / Island Records 85 807 ITLP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 807 XOT / Island Records 85 807 ITLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85807 ITLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 85 807 ITLP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
131 vinyl pressings of The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1971 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in UK, US, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Island Records ILPS 9180, released November 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9180, SW-9306, 0005 744, SIL 934388) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9180 A-2U RD STERLING LH 1 and ILPS 9180 B-1U G STERLING LH 1. 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.
