Vinyl pressings
by Barry Sadler · 1966
Ballads Of The Green Berets was first pressed on vinyl in 1966. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1966, the album's first year, in 6 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.
SPRM-6183--2S H AStamped side A
SPRM-6184--2S H AStamped side B
SPRM-6183Label side A inside parenthesis
SPRM-6184Label side B inside parenthesis
SPRS-6185--4SRunout side A - Variant 1
SPRS-6186--5SRunout side B - Variant 1
SPRS-6185--4S I B3Runout side A - Variant 2
SPRS-6186--5S I A5Runout side B - Variant 2
SPRS-6185-S1 H ASide A runout
SPRS-6186-S1 H ASide B runout
SPRS-6185Side A label
SPRS-6186Side B label
SPRM-6183--6S g3 RA side run-out stamped, variant 1
SPRM-6184--7S A1 RB side run-out stamped, variant 1
SPRM-6183--6S B2 RA side run-out stamped, variant 2
SPRM-6184--3S B2 RB side run-out stamped, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Germany | RCA Victor LSP-3547First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Rhodesia | RCA Victor 38,082 / RCA Victor LPM 3547First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | UK | RCA Victor RD 7794First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LPM-3547 / RCA Victor LPM-3547RE2First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LSP 3547First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LPM-3547 / RCA Victor LPM-3547RE2First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LPM-3547 / RCA Victor LPM-3547REFirst yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LPM-3547 / RCA Victor LPM-3547REFirst yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Australia | RCA LSP 3547First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | RCA Victor LPM-3547 / RCA Victor LPM-3547RE2First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-3547First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LPM-3547 / RCA Victor LPM-3547RE2First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LSP-3547 / RCA Victor LSP 3547First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LSP-3547 / RCA Victor LSP 3547First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | RCA Victor LSP-3547 / RCA Victor LSP 3547First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | South Africa | RCA Victor 38-219LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | RCA Victor LSP-3547 / RCA Victor LSP 3547LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-3547 / RCA Victor LSP 3547LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | RCA International NL 83547 / RCA NL 83547LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Haishan Records HS-407LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
22 vinyl pressings of Ballads Of The Green Berets are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1966 and 1976.
The earliest pressings are from 1966, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor LPM-3547, released January 20, 1966.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LPM-3547, LSP-3547, LSP 3547, RD 7794) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SPRM-6183--2S H A and SPRM-6184--2S H A. 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.
