Vinyl pressings
by Aretha Franklin · 1969
Soft And Beautiful was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1969, 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.
XSM139348-1A P A1Side A stamped, variant 1
XSM139349-1A P A3Side B stamped, variant 1
XSM139348-1BSide A stamped, variant 2
XSM139349-1BSide B stamped, variant 2
XSM139348-1B A 10Run-out side A / stamped
XSM139449-1B A 5Run-out side B / stamped
XSM139448-1C 1 S oRunout side A, variant 1
XSM139449-1C 1 oRunout side B, variant 1
XSM139448-1C 1 S C4 oRunout side A, variant 2
XSM139449-1C 1 A5 oRunout side B, variant 2
xsm139348-1c 1s c7 oRunout side A, variant 1
XSM139449-1C A5 oRunout side B, variant 1
XSM 139448Side A label
XSM 139449Side B label
A MX159164 SBP233652-1Side 1
A MX159165 SBP233652-2Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Australia | CBS SBP 233652 / CBS CS9776First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia CS 9776First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | CBS S 63580 / CBS 63580First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Italy | CBS CBS S 63580First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9776First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9776First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9776First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9776First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9776LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9776LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9776LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
11 vinyl pressings of Soft And Beautiful are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1969 and 1970.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, Australia, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Columbia CS 9776.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CS 9776, SBP 233652, S 63580, CBS S 63580) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XSM139348-1A P A1 and XSM139349-1A P A3. 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.
