Vinyl pressings
by Ashton & Lord · 1974
First Of The Big Bands was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1974, 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.
TPS 3507 A - 1U GOOD LORD IT'S ASHTONSide A
TPS 3507 B - 1U PORKY + TONYSide B
TPS 3507 A-1U G 1 GOODLORD ITS ASHTONSide A runout, variant 2
TPS 3507 B-1U G 1 PORKY + TONYSide B runout, variant 2
BS- 2778 40739-I 1CARunout side A, variant 1
BS-2778 40740-I 1C ARunout side B, variant 1
BS- 2778 40739-I I A SXT B2Runout side A
BS- 2778 40740-I I A SXT A2Runout side B
S1 BS-2778 40739-1 1C A1Side A runout
S1 BS-2778 40740-1 1C A1Side B runout
S40,739Side A label
S40,740Side B label
BS-2778 40739-I I A A1 sRunout Side A, variant 1
BS-2778 40740-I I C A2 s 1Runout Side B, variant 1
BS-2778 40739-1 1 A A 1 S 1Runout Side A, variant 2
BS-2778 407401 1C A 2 S 1Runout Side B, variant 2
YHARX1053 TPS 3507 A RMCSide A - all stamped except RMC which is etched
YHARX1054 TPS 3507 B RMCSide B - all stamped except RMC which is etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | Purple Records TPS 3507First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | France | Purple Records 2 C064 - 95592 / Purple Records 2C 064 - 95.592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Purple Records 1C 062-95 592First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Hong Kong | Purple Records PS 3507First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Italy | Purple Records 3C 062 - 95592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Purple Records TPS 3507First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | South Africa | Purple Records TPSJ(L) 3507 / Purple Records TPSJ (L) 3507First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Spain | Purple Records 1 J 062-95592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | Purple Records TPS 3507 / Purple Records 0C 062 ◦ 95592First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | Purple Records TPS 3507 / Purple Records 0C 062 ◦ 95592LP, Single Sided, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2778 / Purple Records BS 2778First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2778First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2778 / Purple Records BS 2778First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2778First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Venezuela | Purple Records PLPS-4006First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Germany | Line Records OLLP 5323 AS / Line Records OLLP 5323LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Line Records LILP 4.00119LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
19 vinyl pressings of First Of The Big Bands are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1974 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Australia, France and more. One of them is Purple Records TPS 3507.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TPS 3507, BS 2778, 2 C064 - 95592, 1C 062-95 592) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TPS 3507 A - 1U GOOD LORD IT'S ASHTON and TPS 3507 B - 1U PORKY + TONY. 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.
