Vinyl pressings
by Uriah Heep · 1977
Firefly 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.
33 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 18 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.
I-22 ILPS 9483 A1 PN–A EGRunout side A, hand etched, variant 1
I-141̷ ILPS 9483 B1 EGRunout side B, hand etched, variant 1
I-28 ILPS 9483 A1 PN-A EGRunout side A, hand etched, variant 2
I-13 ILPS 9483 B1 EGRunout side B, hand etched, variant 2
O WB BS-1-3013 JW2Side A, runout, etched, variant 1
O BS-2-3013 JW2Side B, runout, etched, variant 1
0 BS-1-3013 JW 1 ²Side A, runout, variant 2
0 BS-2-3013 JW2 # 1Side B, runout, variant 2
BS-1-3013 WW2 —◁Side A, variant 1, etched
BS-2-3013 WW2 /-S #2 —◁Side B, variant 1, etched
BS-1-3013 WW1#2 AA —◁Side A, variant 2, etched
BS-2-3013 WW2 AA —◁Side B, variant 2, etched
* BS-1-3013 LW1 3side one, runout
* BS-2-3013 LW2 1side two, runout
BS-1-3013 LN1 .. - * 2Side I runout
BS-2-3013 LW2 . - *Side II runout
S MX183657 24-483-1Runout A, Stamped
S MX183658 24-483-2Runout B, Stamped
MX183657Label A
MX183658Label B
SMX51519 2ARunout A, Etched
SMX51520 2ARunout B, Etched
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 | Bronze 24 483First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Australia | Bronze L-36,401First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Austria | Bronze 28 520 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 3013 / Bronze BS 3013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Bronze BRO 2020 / Bronze BRO 2.020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Bronze 28 520 XOT / Bronze 28 791 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Bronze 28 520 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Bronze 28 520 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1977 | Germany | Bronze 28 791 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Bronze 28 520 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| 1977 | Germany | Bronze 28 791 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Greece | Bronze 14C 064-99258First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Greece | Bronze 14C 064-99258LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1977 | Italy | Bronze BROL 34483First yearAlbum, LP | Album, LP |
| 1977 | Italy | Bronze ILPS 19483First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Japan | Bronze VIP-4141 / Bronze BRON-4141LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Brazil | Bronze 2409 308LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Germany | Bronze 28 520 XOTLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1985 | Germany | Bronze 28 791 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1985 | Germany | Bronze 28 520 XOTLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1987 | Germany | Bronze 28 791 / Bronze 28 791 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Castle Classics CLALP 190LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | SNC Records ME-2019LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UK & Europe | BMG BMGRM098LP / Sanctuary BMGRM098LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 791 XOTLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 791 XOTLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | South East Asia | Music Girl US - 667LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Bronze BRNA 483LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Bronze BRNA 483LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
51 vinyl pressings of Firefly are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1977 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK, US, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is Bronze ILPS 9483.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9483, BS 3013, 24 483, L-36,401) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, I-22 ILPS 9483 A1 PN–A EG and I-141̷ ILPS 9483 B1 EG. 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.
