Vinyl pressings
by "A Chorus Line" Original Broadway Cast · 1975
A Chorus Line - Original Cast Recording was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1975, 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.
MAL-33581-1H 1TSide A runout, variant 1
PXT MBL-33581-1A 5Side B runout, variant 1
AL 33581Side A label
BL 33581Side B label
P XT MAL 33581-1G 1 3Side A runout, variant 1
MBL-33581-1F ƧT BSide B runout, variant 1
MAL 33581-1AB P-XTSide A runout, variant 2
0 MBL 33581-1F ST D13Side B runout, variant 2
MAL-33581-1HVariant 1, runout, stamped, side A
BL-33581-1EVariant 1, runout, stamped, side B
MAL 33581-1BVariant 2, runout, stamped, side A
MBL 33581-1AVariant 2, runout, stamped, side B
MAL 33581-1B COLUMBIA NY PSide A stamped
MBL 33581-1BB PSide B stamped
MAL 33581-1L S I BSide 1 runout stamped, S I B etched, variant 1
MBL 33581-1D S I 22Side 2 runout stamped, S I 22 etched, variant 1
MAL 33581-1D S 2 A 1 oSide 1 runout stamped, S 2 A 1etched, variant 2
MAL 33581-1D S I B 7 oSide 2 runout stamped, S I B 7 etched, variant 2
MAL 33581-1J P PPVariant 1, runout, stamped (except PP etched), side A
MBL 33581-1G PP PVariant 1, runout, stamped (except PP etched), side B
MAL 33581-1KVariant 2, runout, stamped, side A
MBL 33581-1GVariant 2, runout, stamped, side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | CBS SBP 234739 / CBS PS 33581First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 234739First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | UK | CBS S 70149First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581 / Columbia PS 33581First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | US | Columbia MAL 33581First yearLP, Advance, Album, Promo, Quadraphonic · Promo | LP, Advance, Album, Promo, Quadraphonic · Promo |
| 1975 | US | CBS Masterworks HS 43581First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Columbia Masterworks KSQ 33581First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1978 | Spain | CBS S70419LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | CBS Masterworks HS 43581LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Columbia Masterworks JS 33581LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Columbia Masterworks JS 33581 / Columbia Masterworks 33581LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Masterworks Broadway 83689-1 / Sony Music 83689-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | CBS Masterworks PS 33581LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS S 70149LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | CBS S 70149LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | CBS Masterworks JS 33581 / Columbia Masterworks 33581LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks JS 33581LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks JS 33581 / CBS Masterworks JS 33581LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks JS 33581 / CBS Masterworks JS 33581LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks JS 33581 / CBS Masterworks JS 33581LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks JS 33581 / Columbia Masterworks PS 33581LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | CBS Masterworks JS 33581LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks PS 33581 / Columbia Masterworks JS 33581LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | CBS JS 33581 / Columbia JS 33581LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | CBS JS 33581LP, Album | LP, Album |
34 vinyl pressings of A Chorus Line - Original Cast Recording are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1975 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia Masterworks PS 33581, released July 21, 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PS 33581, HS 43581, KSQ 33581, MAL 33581) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MAL-33581-1H 1T and PXT MBL-33581-1A 5. 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.
