Vinyl pressings
by Alice Cooper · 1973
School Days (The Early Recordings) 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.
10 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 7 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.
MX170927 2WS2549-1Side A stamped
MX170928 2WS2549-2Side B stamped
MX170929 2WS2549-3Side C stamped
MX170930 2WS2549-4Side D stamped
STS-1051-A( Crossed out ) WEA /A 39631-A WS 1840 DSide 1
STS 1051-B 1B( Crossed out ) WEA WS 1840 39632-BSide 2
WEA WS-1845 39648 A - ICSide 3
WEA WS-1845 39649 B - ICSide 4
MX170927 2WS2549-1Side A stamped
MX170928 2WS2549-2Side B stamped
MX170929 2WS2549-3Side C stamped
MX170930 2WS2549-4Side D stamped
WB66021A-1Etched on Side A
WB66021B-2Etched on Side B
WB66021-3-Etched on Side C
WB66021-4-Etched on Side D
STS-1051-A WEA /A 39631-A WB 1840Runout side A, variant 1
WEA PF 39632 IIIRunout side B, variant 1
WEA WS-1845 39648 A - ICRunout side C, variant 1
WEA WS-1845 39649 B - ICRunout side D, variant 1
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 | Unknown | Warner Bros. Records 2WS-2549First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 2WS-2549First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records WBLP-5.069First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | France | Warner Bros. Records 66021 / Warner Bros. Records WS1845LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Compilation | LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Compilation |
| 1973 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 021 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1845First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66021 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1845LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66021 / Warner Bros. Records WB 66 021First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 021 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1845First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Israel | Warner Bros. Records K 66021First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records K 66021First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 66021 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1845LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1973 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records 500 25/26First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66021LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, All Media, Compilation | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, All Media, Compilation |
| 1973 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66021LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66021LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Compilation | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, Album, Reissue, All Media, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66021LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
19 vinyl pressings of School Days (The Early Recordings) are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1973 and 1974.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in Germany, Australia, Brazil, France and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 2WS-2549.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2WS-2549, WB 66 021, WBLP-5.069, WB 66021) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MX170927 2WS2549-1 and MX170928 2WS2549-2. 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.
