Sad Wings of Destiny

Judas Priests seminal album Sad Wings of Destiny is the bands second album, released in 1976.

The cover art for the record titled Fallen Angels, was illustrated by Patrick Woodroffe is best known for introducing the pitchfork like symbol which would come to be known as the "Judas Priest cross" as worn by the angel.

Sad Wings of Destiny was the second and final album made while under contract with Gull Records, an independent English company. Despite critical acclaim, the band was suffering financially due to lack of support by the label. Shortly after changing management the band severed ties with Gull as was signed to Columbia records. Consequently, the band lost all rights to the recording on the first two albums as well as any demos made during the sessions while under contract wit Gull. Sad Wings of Destiny was initially published  and distributed by Janus records when release in the U.S.

Whilst the band lost royalty to recording royalties, they obtained copyright ownership of the songs themselves, many of which became staples in the bands live show. "Victim of Changes," "Tyrant," "THE Ripper," "Genocide, " all appear on Unleashed in the East,  a live album released by CBS in 1979. "Diamonds and Rust" a Joan Baez song initially recorded for Sad Wings of Destiny but left off the album was re-recorded for Sin After Sin, their first release for CBS, and also on Unleashed. Gull later released the original version of Diamond and Rust on a Greatest Hits album.

Tracklist:
Victim of Changes
The Ripper
Dreamer Deceiver
Deceiver
Prelude
Tyrant
Genocide
Epitaph
Island of Domination

• Sad Wings of Destiny - Gull - GULP 1015, UK, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny - "Tristes Alas DEl Destino" - Gull - 17.1086, LP 088. Spain, 1976 
• Sad Wings of Destiny (Gatefold)- "Tristes Alas DEl Destino" - Gull - 17.1086, LP 088. Spain, 1976 
• Sad Wings of Destiny (8-track) - Janus Records - 8098-7019-H, US, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny (cass) - Gull GRT 5098, US, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny (cass) - Gull ZCGULP 1015, UK, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny (cass) - Attic- CAT 1157, Canada, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny (cass) - Attic CAT 1157, Canada, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny (cass) - Attic CAT 1157, Canada, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny (cass) - Attic CAT 1157, Canada, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - GULP 1015, Italy, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - SLP 79 RC250, UK, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Attic - LAT 1157, Canada, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - GULP 1015, Scandinavia, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Penguin - 30.000 Greece, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Grass Roots - GRF 1002, Australia, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - INT 163.303, Germany, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Janus 9098-7019, Canada, 1976 
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP- Gull - GULP 22002 , France, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - GULP 1015, New Zealand, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - 1015, UK, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Janus - JSX 7019, US, 1976 (1st American release)
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Attic- LAT 51157, Canada, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - GULP 1015, Sweden, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull SLP 79, UK, 1976, (*Partially Mixed)
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Janus - JSX 7019, US, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Janus - JSX 7019, US, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Janus - JSX 7019, US, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP =Janus - JSX, 9098-7019, Canada, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Janus - JSX 7019, US, 1976
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - UK, GULP 1015, UK, 1976 (RED VINYL)
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - GULP 1015 / XZAL1437 4P, UK, 1976 (Test Press)
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull  - GULP 1015 (Test Press)
• Sad Wings of Destiny (Cass) -  Milan - SC 79, France, 1976 
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gallo - ML4083, Zimbabwe, 1977
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - ML 483, South Africa, 1977
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - GP 464, Japan, 1977 (Promo)
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - VIP 6993- Japan, 1978
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - (RE) - VIP 6993 - Japan, 1978
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - GULP 1015, UK, 1979
• Sad Wings of Destiny (8-Track) - Ovation - OV8 1751, US, 1980
• Sad Wings of Destiny (Cass-RE) - Ovation- OV1751, US, 1980
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Ovation - OV1751, Canada, 1980
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Ovation - OV1751, Canada, 1980
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Ovation - OV1751, Canada, 1980
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Ovation - OV1751, US, 1980 
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Ovation - OV1751, US, 1980
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Friends Records - FRLP 9905, Netherlands, 1981
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - (Pic) - SPI, France, 1983
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - RCA - RPL-2125, Japan, 1983
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - RCA - RPL - 2125, Japan, 1983 
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - RCA - AL1-4747, 1983
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Gull - 1015, US, 1983
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - (RE- Green) - Line Records- LILP 4.00112, Germany, 1984
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - (RE- White) - Line Records - LILP 4.00112, Germany, 1984
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Interfusion - L38329, GRF 1002, Australia, 1985
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Ariola, Gull, 206472- SLP79, France, 1985
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - RCA/Victor - SRPR 009 - AYL 1-4747, South Korea, 1986
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - RCA - JRPL 3383, AYL - 1-4747, South Korea, 1986
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Line Records - LICD 9.00112, Germany, 1987
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Line Records - LICD 9.00112, Germany, 1987
• Sad Wings of Destiny (Cass) - Victoria - VMC 120, Spain, 1987
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - RCA 4747 2R. US, 1988
• Sad Wings of Destiny (Cass) - Triada T-009, Poland, 1988
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Helidon/ Bad-Ming-Ton - 7.551458, Yugoslavia, 1989
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Gull/ Metal Mania - TECP-25386, Japan, 1990
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - Stiletto- 492.037, Brazil, 1991
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Transluxe - 57802-02, US, 1995
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD  - Repertoire - REP 4552-WY, Germany, 1995
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - GO ON /Deluxe, 3006-2, Scandinavia, 1996
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Paradoxx Music - 1309084-1, Brazil, 1997
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Snapper - SMMCD-562,UK, 1998 
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Gull - TECW21-858, Japan, 1999
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Koch Records- KOC-CD, 8067, US, 2000
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD -  Imperial - TEC-24074, Japan, 2001
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Victor - VCP - 61651, Russia, 2002
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD- Snapper Claasic- SDPCD120, UK, 2003
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD - Victor - VICP63279, Japan, 2006
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP (Ltd.180 Gram) - Koch Records, KO-LP 4580, US, 2008
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - (Orange) - Back on Black - BOBV250LP, UK, 2010 
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - (Ltd. 180 Gram) Back on Black - BOBV250LP, UK, 2010
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - (Ltd RED) Back on Black BOBV250LP, UK, 2010
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP - (YELLOW) Back on Black- BOBV250LP, UK, 2010
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD (Ltd. Platinum SHM, K2HD Mastering), Japan, 2014
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP (Ltd. 180 Gram REP2235, UK, 2015
• Sad Wings of Destiny CD (Ltd. K2H) - Victor - VICP 65426, Japan, 2016
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP (Ltd. 180 Gram Silver) Repertoire - Rep 2401, Europe, 2018
• Sad Wings of Destiny LP (Ltd. Red) Koch - LP 4580 US, 2018

"Tristes Alas Del Destino"

Spanish Gatefold Version

 

Two Test Pressings

French Picture disc

 

1976 Red version

Australian pressing