Vinyl pressings
by Uriah Heep · 1975
Return To Fantasy was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
37 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 20 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 9335 A-1 RARunout side A variant 1
ILPS 9335 B-1 GD 1Runout side B variant 1
ILPS 9335 A-1 G 1Runout side A variant 5
ILPS 9335 B-1 G 1Runout side B variant 5
ILPS 9335 A-3URunout side A stamped variant 1
ILPS 9335 B-3URunout side B stamped variant 1
ILPS 9335 A-3U P 1Runout side A stamped variant 2
ILPS 9335 B-3U R 1Runout side B stamped variant 2
ILPS 9335 A-1 M 1Runout Side A
ILPS 9335 B-1 M , ‘ , 1Runout Side B
ILPS.9335-ALabel Side A
ILPS.9335-BLabel Side B
TI BS 2869 41092-1-2Side A Runout etched ,variant 1
TI BS 2869 41093-1-2Side B Runout etched ,variant 1
TI BS 2869 41092-1-2 C8Side A Runout ,variant 2
TI BS 2869 41093-1-1 Sterling C4Side B Runout ,variant 2
BS 2869 41092-1B A3 1SSide 1 Etched
BS 2869 41093-1B B3 S2Side 2 Etched
STERLINGSide 1 Stamped
(S41,092)Side 1 Label
BS 2869 41092-1A A6 1SSide A runout etched
BS 2869 41093-1B D2 1SSide B runout etched
(S41,092)Side A label
(S41,093)Side B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | Bronze 24-335First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Austria | Bronze 89 065 XOT / Bronze ILPS 9665First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Brazil | Bronze 810 006 / Bronze 810.006First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2869 / Bronze BS 2869First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2869 / Bronze BS 2869First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | Bronze BRO 2010First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | Bronze BRO 2010First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Greece | Island Records 2J 064-97352First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Israel | Bronze ILPS 9335First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Israel | Bronze ILPS 9335First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Italy | Bronze ILPS 19335First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Italy | Bronze ILPS 19335LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1975 | Mexico | Ariola LA-087First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Netherlands | Bronze 89 065 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Netherlands | Bronze 89065 XOT / Bronze 89 065 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Japan | Bronze VIP-4164LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Brazil | Bronze 240.9306LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Germany | Bronze 28 783-270 / Bronze 28 783 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Castle Classics CLALP 175LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Russia | SNC Records ME 2041LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | SNC Records ME 2041LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | SNC Records ME 2041LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | BMG BMGRM092LP / Sanctuary BMGRM092LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT538LP/#8 / Uriah Heep Picture Disc Series #8LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Austria | Bronze 28 783 / Bronze 28 783 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 783 / Bronze 28 783 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 783 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 783 XOTLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Island Records 2J 064-97352LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Greece | Island Records 2J 064-97352LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Netherlands | Bronze 28 783 XOT / Bronze 89 065 XOTLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Korea | Moon Hoa Kong Up Sa PM 161LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | Life Studio 54 Life 354LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Legacy Records LLM3018 / Legacy Records LLM 3018LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | BMG BMGCAT538LP/PDLP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| ? | UK | Bronze ILPS 9335LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Zimbabwe | Bronze ILPS 9335LP, Album | LP, Album |
66 vinyl pressings of Return To Fantasy are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1975 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in UK, US, Japan, Germany and more. One of them is Bronze ILPS 9335.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9335, BS 2869, P-8580B, 89 065 XOT) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9335 A-1 RA and ILPS 9335 B-1 GD 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.
