Vinyl pressings
by Albert Hammond · 1972
It Never Rains In Southern California was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 8 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.
MUM S 65320 A2 8 Λ S̶6̶5̶3̶2̶1̶ A̶3̶Runout A side
MUM S 65320B1 22 ΛRunout B side
S MUM 65320 AºLabel, side A
S MUM 65320 BºLabel, side B
MUM S 65320 S̶6̶5̶3̶2̶1̶ A̶3̶Side A runout, etched
MUM S 65320B1Side B runout, etched
KZ 31905Side A label
KZ 31905Side B label
MUM S 65320 A2 S̶6̶5̶3̶2̶1̶ A̶3̶ ∴ 2Side A runout, stamped
MUM S 65320B1 ∴ 2Side B runout, stamped
KZ 31905Side A label
KZ 31905Side B label
1 AL-31905-3B o SHALOMRunout A variant 1
S 1 BL 31905-3B o A2Runout B variant 1
1 AL-31905-3B o SX SHALOMRunout A variant 2
S 1 BL 31905-3A o SX A2Runout B variant 2
A MX167419 S*BP234257-1Side A Runout
A MX167420' SBP234257-2Side B Runout
MX167419Side A Label
MX167420Side B Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Australia | CBS SBP 234257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Australia | CBS SBP 234257 / CBS KZ 31905First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | MUMS Records KZ 31905First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | MUMS Records KZ 31905LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1972 | Japan | Epic ECPL-78First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Japan | Epic ECPL-78First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Epic EPC 65320 / Epic EPC 65 320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Epic EPC 65320 / Epic KZ 31905First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Epic EPC 65320 / Epic EPC 65 320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 474067First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Spain | Epic EPC 65320 EFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Spain | Epic EPC 65320 EFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Taiwan | Liming Record LM-2525LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1972 | UK | MUMS Records MUM 65320 / Mums Records S MUM 65320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | UK | MUMS Records MUM 65320 / Mums Records S MUM 65320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | CBS/Sony KZ 31905LP, Album | LP, Album |
22 vinyl pressings of It Never Rains In Southern California are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1972 and 1974.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is MUMS Records MUM 65320.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MUM 65320, KZ 31905, SBP 234257, ECPL-78) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MUM S 65320 A2 8 Λ S̶6̶5̶3̶2̶1̶ A̶3̶ and MUM S 65320B1 22 Λ. 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.
