Vinyl pressings
by Uriah Heep · 1972
The Magician's Birthday was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 14 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 9213 A-1U OV G. KONGSide A runout variant 1
ILPS 9213 B-1U O11 G. KONGSide B runout variant 1
ILPS 9213 A-1U GO G. KONGSide A runout variant 2
ILPS 9213 B-1U GO G. KONGSide B runout variant 2
ILPS 9213 A-1ᴝ G A G. KONG 1Runout A-side
ILPS 9213 B-1u G L G. KONG 2Runout B-side
ILPS-9213-ALabel A-side
ILPS-9213-BLabel B-side
ILPS 9213 A-1U G. KONGSide A runout, variant 1
ILPS 9213 B-1U G. KONGSide B runout, variant 1
ILPS 9213 A-1⊃ G. KONG G 1Side A runout, variant 2
ILPS 9213 B-1U G. KONG A 1Side B runout, variant 2
5 B(crossed out) ⅠLPS 9213 A-1U G. KONG 4Side A runout, stamped, "5" "B"(crossed out) "I" "G. KONG" etched
ⅠLPS 9213 B-1U 5 G. KONG 4Side B runout, stamped, "I" "G. KONG" etched
SRM-1-652A CS5 MS 1 S G.K. B9Side A Runout, Variant 1
SRM-1-652B CS5 MS 1 S G.K. A3Side B Runout, Variant 1
SRM-1-652A CS6 MS 1 S G.K. A1Side A Runout, Variant 2
SRM-1-652B CS5 MS 1 S G.K. A2Side B Runout, Variant 2
SRM-1-652A-CP3Runout Side A (Stamped)
SRM-1-652B-CP3Runout Side B (Stamped)
MS 2 G.K. C3Runout Side A (Etched)
MS P G.K. F2Runout Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Canada | Mercury SRM.1.652 / Bronze SRM.1.652LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1972 | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-652 / Bronze SRM.1.652First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-652First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-652 / Mercury SRM 1652LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1972 | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-652 / Bronze SRM 1-652First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Denmark | Island Records ILPS 9213 / Bronze ILPS 9213First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | France | Island Records 6396 021 / Bronze 6396 021First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Island Records 86 456 IT / Bronze 86 456 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Island Records 86 456 IT / Bronze 86 456 ITFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Israel | Island Records ILPS 9213First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Italy | Island Records ILPS 19213 / Bronze ILPS 19213First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Bronze 86 456 IT / Island Records 86 456 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Bronze 6357 218First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Bronze 6357 218First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Scandinavia | Island Records ILPS 9213 / Bronze ILPS 9213First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Guatemala | Bronze BLP-69LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Mercury SRM 1-652 / Mercury SRM-1-652LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Germany | Bronze 28 769 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | Bronze VIP-4163LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | Mercury SRM-1-652LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Brazil | Bronze 2409 305LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Europe | Bronze 28 769 / Bronze 28 769 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Greece | Bronze 812298-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Greece | Bronze 812298-1LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 1986 | UK | Castle Classics CLALP109 / Castle Classics CLALP 109LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | South Africa | Teal Trutone Music MMTL 1537LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | SNC Records ME 2043LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1993 | Russia | SNC Records ME 2043LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Wax Cathedral MELT-007LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited |
| 2013 | US | Wax Cathedral MELT-007 / Universal Music Special Markets MELT-007LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | UK | BMG BMGRMO88LPLP | LP |
| 2015 | US | Sanctuary BMG15080V / BMG BMG15080VLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | Europe | BMG BMGRM088LP / Sanctuary BMGRM088LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | Europe | BMG BMGRM088LP / Sanctuary BMGRM088LPLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | UK | BMG BMGCAT493LPLP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2021 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT535LPLP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc |
| 2021 | USA & Europe | BMG BMGCAT493LP / Sanctuary BMGCAT493LPLP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT535LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Bronze ILPS 9213 / Bronze HM212LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Unknown | Mercury SRM 1-652LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Austria | Bronze 86 456 XOT / Bronze 86 456 ITLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Austria | Bronze 28 769 XOT / Bronze 28 769 ITLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | Island Records 410.021LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-652LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Mercury MIP-1-9458LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-652LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Mercury MIP-1-9458LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-652LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-652LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 769 XOTLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Germany | Bronze ILPS 9213LP, Album, Repress, Mispress | LP, Album, Repress, Mispress |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 769 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Bronze 28 769 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
132 vinyl pressings of The Magician's Birthday are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1972 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in UK, US, South Africa, Japan and more. One of them is Bronze ILPS 9213, released November 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ILPS 9213, SRM-1-652, SRM 1-652, YZ-1-BZ) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ILPS 9213 A-1U OV G. KONG and ILPS 9213 B-1U O11 G. KONG. 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.
