Vinyl pressings
by Windham Hill Artists · 1985
A Winter's Solstice was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 5 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-1045-A-SH4 SLM △10681 1-1-SMI-2Runout, side A, Variant 1
WH-1045-B-SH4 SLM △10681-X 1-1-SMI-4Runout, side B, Variant 1
WH-1045A-SH2 SLM △10681 1-1 21445Runout, side A, Variant 2
WH-1045B- SH2 SLM △10681-X 1-1 21446Runout, side B, Variant 2
WH-1045-A-SH5 SLM △ 10681 1-1-SMI-4 D emw DRunout, side A, variant 1
WH-1045-B-SH4 SLM △ 10681-X 1-1-SMI-4 D emw DRunout, side B, variant 1
WH-1045-A-EUR2 m1 [EDP logo] 2-EMW-2Runout, side A, variant 2
WH-1045-B-SH2 SLM △ 10681-X 1-1-SMI-1 3-EMW-3Runout, side B, variant 2
WH 91045 Az G. [CR (In a circle)]Side 1 Etched, CR stamped
CR WH-91045-B-SH5 SLM △ 10681-X 1-2Side 2 Etched, dash over 9, CR above cat#
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Australia & New Zealand | Windham Hill Records L-43025First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | Canada | Windham Hill Records WH-91045 / Windham Hill Records WH 91045First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | Germany | Windham Hill Records 371045-1 / A&M Records 371045-1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | Japan | Windham Hill Records WHP-28034First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | US | Windham Hill Records WH-1045First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | US | Windham Hill Records WH 91045First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | US | Windham Hill Records WH-1045First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1985 | Japan | Windham Hill Records WHP-28034First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | Germany | Windham Hill Records TA-C-1045 / Windham Hill Records 6.26278 APLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1986 | Japan | Windham Hill Records C28Y5036LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | South Korea | Windham Hill Records SEL-RA 1087 / WH 1045LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Windham Hill Records WH-1045LP, Compilation, Remastered, Repress | LP, Compilation, Remastered, Repress |
12 vinyl pressings of A Winter's Solstice are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1985 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Windham Hill Records WH-1045.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WH-1045, WH 91045, L-43025, WH-91045) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WH-1045-A-SH4 SLM △10681 1-1-SMI-2 and WH-1045-B-SH4 SLM △10681-X 1-1-SMI-4. 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.
