Vinyl pressings
by Utopia · 1974
Todd Rundgren's Utopia was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
26 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 12 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.
BR-6954 31824-1B STERLING RL SVariant 1: A Side
BR-6954 31825-1B STERLING RL S 2Variant 1: B Side, S upside down
\ BR-6954 S 31824-1A STERLING RLVariant 2: A Side
S BR-6954 31825-1A STERLING RLVariant 2: B Side
BR-6954 T1 31824-1F RL STERLINGSide A etched, variant 1
BR-6954 T1 31825-1F RL STERLINGSide B etched, variant 1
BR-6954 T1 31824-1F STERLING RL C7Side A etched, variant 2
BR-6954 T1 31825-1F STERLING RL C4Side B etched, variant 2
BR-6954 (31824-W1)-WB#2 —◁Side A Etched, variant 1
BR-6954 T1 31825-1F RL —◁Side B Etched, variant 1
SIDE 1 BR6954 (31824-W1)Side A Etched, variant 2
SIDE 2 BR6954 (31825-W1) #2Side B Etched, variant 2
BR-6954 31824-1D RL 2AVariant 1: Runout side A hand-etched
BR-6954 BR-31825-1CVariant 1: Runout side B hand-etched, second BR scratched out
STERLINGRunout side A stamped
BR-6954 31824-1D STERLING RLVariant 2, etched, Sterling stamped
BR-6954 31824-1D STERLING RLSide A Etched, STERLING stamped, Variant 1
BR-6954 ̷ ̷̶̷B̷̶̷R̷̶̷ 31825-1D STERLING RLSide B Etched, STERLING stamped, Variant 1
BR-6954 ̷ ̷̶̷B̷̶̷R̷̶̷ -31825-1CSide B Etched, Variant 2
BR-6954 31824-1D STERLING RL 2D PSide A Etched, STERLING 2D P stamped, Variant 3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Unknown | Bearsville BEA 55 501 / Bearsville BR 6954LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1974 | Canada | Bearsville BR 6954First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Bearsville BR 6954First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Europe | Bearsville BEA 55501First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | France | Bearsville 55 501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Bearsville BEA 55 501First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Germany | Bearsville BEA 55 501 / Bearsville BR 6954First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Italy | Bearsville K 55501 (BR 6954)First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Italy | Bearsville BRLP 6954First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8521WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8521WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Bearsville BEA 55501First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Bearsville BEA 55501LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS 6954First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records HWBS 321-71First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | Bearsville BR 6954LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | US | Bearsville RNLP 70865 / Rhino Records RNLP 70865LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2515LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2515LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2024 | Europe | Rhino Records RCV1 70865 / Bearsville 603497822072LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2024 | US | Rhino Records RCV1 70865 / Bearsville 60349782207LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Bearsville 55 501LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Bearsville BEA 55 501 / Bearsville BR 6954LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bearsville 200 753LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Bearsville 200 753 / Bearsville 200.753LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
41 vinyl pressings of Todd Rundgren's Utopia are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1974 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Bearsville BR 6954, released October 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BR 6954, K55501, BEA 55501, 55 501) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BR-6954 31824-1B STERLING RL S and BR-6954 31825-1B STERLING RL S 2. 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.
