Vinyl pressings
by Alice Cooper · 1973
Billion Dollar Babies was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
43 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 28 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.
S40,396Matrix Side A
S40,397Matrix Side B
BS-2685 A 40396 -4BSide A runout, variant 1
BS-2685 B 40397-4CSide B runout, variant 1
BS-2685 T2 40396-1E D 18Side A runout etched (except "D" Stamped),variant 1
BS-2685 T1 40397-1ESide B runout etched,variant 1
BS-2685 2T 40396-1F C 9Side A runout etched (except "C" Stamped),variant 2
BS-2685 40397-1E T1Side B runout etched,variant 2
S BS-2685 A 40396-4A A6Side A runout, variant 1
S BS-2685 B 40397-4B B6Side B runout, variant 1
S BS-2685 A 40396-4B C5Side A runout, variant 2
BS-2685 B 40397-4A A10Side B runout, variant 2
BS-2685 40396-4FSide A runout, etched, var. 1
BS-2685 40397-4FSide B runout, etched, var. 1
BS-2685 40396-4ESide A runout, etched, var. 2
BS-2685 40397-4ESide B runout, etched, var. 2
BS-2685 A 40396 -4ASide A runout, hand-etched
BS-2685 1 40396 -4BSide B runout, hand-etched
K 56013 A2 PNRunout, A-side, variant 1
K 56013 B3Runout, B-side, variant 1
K 56013 A1 B 37Runout, A-side, variant 2
K 56013 B2 B 12 PNRunout, B-side, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australasia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Austria | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 013 / Warner Bros. Records (BS2685)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Barbados | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records WBLP-5040 / Continental WBLP-5040First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Colombia | Warner Bros. Records WEA 10505First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | El Salvador | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | El Salvador | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56 013First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56 013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 013First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 013 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 013First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records WS 0391 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2685First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records LB 56013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1986 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Russia | Santa Records П93 00689-90 / Santa Records ATR 30261-2LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | Rhino Records R1-2685LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Rhino Records R1 2685 / Rhino Vinyl R1 2685LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 2685LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Rhino Records R1 725031 / Warner Records 603497832422LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, All Media, Deluxe Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, All Media, Deluxe Edition |
| 2024 | US | Rhino Records R1 725031LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, All Media, Deluxe Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, All Media, Deluxe Edition |
| 2024 | US | Rhino Records R1 725031LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, Stereo, All Media, Deluxe Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, Stereo, All Media, Deluxe Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records WBLP 5.040 / Continental WBLP 5040LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 56 013 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 013LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 013 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2685LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records K 56 013 / Warner Bros. Records 56 013LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records BS 2685 / Warner Bros. Records K 56013LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56013LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
131 vinyl pressings of Billion Dollar Babies are listed here, from 37 countries, released between 1973 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, France, Netherlands and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BS 2685, released February 25, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BS 2685, WB 2685, K56013, K 56013) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S40,396 and S40,397. 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.
