Vinyl pressings
by Ambrosia · 1978
Life Beyond L.A. was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 11 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.
BSK-1-3135 WW-1 #2 TML-S ━◁Runout Side A Variant 1
BSK-2-3135 WW-1 #2 TML-S ━◁Runout Side B Variant 1
BSK-1-3135 WW-1 TML-S ━◁Runout Side A Variant 2
BSK-2-3135 WW-1 TML-S ━◁Runout Side B Variant 2
BSK-1-3135 JW-1 #6 0A Side runout, var. 1
BSK-2-3135 JW-2 #2 TML-M 0B Side runout, var. 1
BSK-1-3135 JW-1 #2 0A Side runout, var. 2
BSK-2-3135 JW-1 #2 TML-M 0B Side runout, var. 2
BSK-1-3135 LW-1 TML-M #88 2 ✲A side runout
BSK-2-3135 LW-3 #88 TML-M 2 ✲B side runout
BSK-1-3135 WW-1 #3 TML-S • ─◁Side A runout etched, TML stamped, variant 1
BSK-2-3135 WW-1 #2 TML-S • ─◁Side B runout etched, TML stamped, variant 1
BSK-1-3135 WW-1 #2 TML-S • ─◁Side A runout etched, TML stamped, variant 2
BSK-2-3135 WW-1 TML-S • ─◁Side B runout etched, TML stamped, variant 2
BSK-1-3135 LW-2 #64 MR ✲ ◁ 23955 ①Side A Runout - Etched
BSK-2-3135 LW-5 #64 MR ✲ ◁ 23955-X ①Side B Runout - Etched
TML-SSide A & B Runout (Stamped)
BSK-1 3135-LW-'2' TML-SVar. 1 Runout side A
BSK-2-3135 LW-3 • • TML-MVar. 1 Runout side B
BSK-1 3135-LW-1 1 TML-M ✲Var. 2 Runout side A
BSK-2-3135 LW-3 • • 1 TML-M ✲Var. 2 Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3135First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 36.092First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records K 56525First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3135First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3135First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 525First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10563WFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10563WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC1405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records S 90.083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 56525First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 56525First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1978 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3135First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3135First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3135LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56525LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56525LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | US | Nautilus Recordings NR 23 / Warner Bros. Records NR 23LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 49LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
31 vinyl pressings of Life Beyond L.A. are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1978 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3135.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3135, K 56525, 36.092, WB 56 525) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BSK-1-3135 WW-1 #2 TML-S ━◁ and BSK-2-3135 WW-1 #2 TML-S ━◁. 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.
