Vinyl pressings
by William Ackerman · 1983
Past Light was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 6 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.
WH-1028-A-PP1 1168-A1 Au♂Runout side A, variant 1
WH-1028-B-PP1 1168-B1 Au♂Runout side B, variant 1
WH-1028-A-PP2 1168-A2 Au♂Runout side A, variant 2
WH-1028-B-PP2 1168-A2 Au♂Runout side B, variant 2
WH-1028 A-RT1.. MasI 17936 (3)Side A runout
WH-1028 B-RT1.. MasI 17937 (3)Side B runout
WH-1028 A SH3 8703 1-2Side 1, Etched
WH-1028-BSH7-FS SLM 8703-XSide 2, Etched
WH-1028 A SH3 SLM△8703 1-1 4-EMW-4Variant Side 1, Etched
WH-1028-BSH7-ES SLM△8703-X 1-6Variant Side 2, Etched
△ 5910 1-1 WH-91028-A INT. SH1 -SLM [trumpet logo]Side A runout area
WH91028-B-PP1 [trumpet] ➁ 1168-B1Side B runout area
WH-91028-A INT. ②̶ SH1 .2 [trumpet stamp] -SLM △ 5910 1-2 CRSide A runout area
WH9̶1028-B-PP1X [trumpet stamp] ②1168-B1 Au♂ CRSide B runout area
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Australia & New Zealand | Windham Hill Records L43012First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Windham Hill Records WH-91028First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Windham Hill Records WH-91028First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | Windham Hill Records AMWH 61028First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | Windham Hill Records TA-C-1028First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Germany | Windham Hill Records 371 028-1 / A&M Records 371 028-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Germany | Windham Hill Records 6.25993 / Windham Hill Records 6.25993 APFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Japan | Windham Hill Records WHP-28007First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Japan | Windham Hill Records WHP-28007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | US | Windham Hill Records WH-1028First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Windham Hill Records WH-1028First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | US | Windham Hill Records WH-1028First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1986 | Japan | Windham Hill Records C28Y5005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Windham Hill Records WH-1028LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
14 vinyl pressings of Past Light are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1983 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is Windham Hill Records WH-1028, released September 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WH-1028, L43012, WH-91028, AMWH 61028) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WH-1028-A-PP1 1168-A1 Au♂ and WH-1028-B-PP1 1168-B1 Au♂. 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.
