Vinyl pressings
by Uriah Heep · 1973
Sweet Freedom was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
39 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 21 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 9245 A-1Side A runout, variant 1
ILPS 9245 B-1Side B runout, variant 1
ILPS 9245 A-1 G 1Side A runout, variant 2
ILPS 9245 B-1 G 1Side B runout, variant 2
ILPS 9245 A-2Side A runout, stamped
ILPS 9245 B-2Side B runout, stamped
ILPS 9245 A-1Side A runout, variant 1
ILPS 9245 B-1Side B runout, variant 1
ILPS 9245 A-1 OO 4Side A runout, variant 2
ILPS 9245 B-1 M R 2Side B runout, variant 2
ILPS 9245 A-2Side A runout
ILPS 9245 B-2Side B runout
ILPS 9245-ALabel side A
ILPS 9245-BLabel side B
ILPS 9245 ASide A runout
ILPS 9245 BSide B runout
BS 2724 40544-1CRunout Side A
BS 2724 40545-1CRunout Side B
BS 2724 40544-1D STERLINGRunout Side A, Variant 1
BS 2724 40545-1C STERLINGRunout Side B, Variant 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Austria | Island Records 87 232 IT / Bronze 87 232 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Bronze BS 2724 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2724First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Bronze BS 2724 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2724First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Denmark | Bronze ILPS 9245First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Denmark | Bronze ILPS 9245First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Island Records 6499 656 / Bronze 6499 656First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Island Records 87 232 IT / Bronze 87 232 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Bronze 28 777 XOT / Bronze ILPS 9245LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9245 / Bronze ILPS 9245First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9245 / Bronze ILPS 9245First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Israel | Bronze ILPS 9245 / Bronze DD 30883First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19245 / Bronze ILPS 19245First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19245 / Bronze ILPS 19245First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Bronze 87 232 IT / Island Records 87 232 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Bronze 6357 224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Brazil | Bronze 204.210LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Germany | Bronze 28 777 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Mexico | Ariola LA-92LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | Germany | Bronze 28 777 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1989 | UK | Legacy Records LLM3016LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Castle Classics CLALP 183LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | SNC Records ME 2037LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Europe | Earmark 41056LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UK & Europe | BMG BMGRM090LP / Sanctuary BMGRM090LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT536LP / BMG 4050538689839LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2023 | UK | BMG BMGCAT536LPLP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Austria | Bronze 28 777 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | Bronze 204 210LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2724 / Bronze BS 2724LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Bronze YZ-46-BZPLP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Sampler, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Sampler, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 87 232 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 777 XOTLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 777 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 777 XOT / WEA 893104LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 777 XOTLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 777 XOTLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Bronze ILPS 9245LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9245LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Greece | Island Records ILPS 9245LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Bronze BROL 34245LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Bronze BROL 34245LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
85 vinyl pressings of Sweet Freedom are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1973 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Bronze ILPS 9245, released September 3, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9245, ILPS-9245, BS 2724, YZ-46-BZ) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9245 A-1 and ILPS 9245 B-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.
