Vinyl pressings
by Bill Cosby · 1969
The Best Of Bill Cosby 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.
7 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 3 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.
S39515A Side Label
S39516B Side Label
39515 WS1798A-1B º 1 SA Side Etch
39516 WS1798B-1D º 1 SB Side Etch
39515 WS1798A -1FSide A Etched
B 6 P oSide A Stamped
39516 WS1798B -1FSide B Etched
o 3 PSide B Stamped
S39515A Side Label
S39516B Side Label
39515 WS1798A -1CA Side Etch
39516 WS1798B -1FB Side Etch
S39515
S39516
MX160759 WS1798-1Side 1 stamped
MX160760 WS 1798-2Side 2 stamped
MX160759Label Side A
MX160759Label Side B
39515-3 ACR G MSide A etch
ACR 39516 G MSide B etch
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 | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records ST-91772LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1798First yearLP, Compilation, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1798 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1798First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Promo · Promo, Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Promo · Promo, Club edition |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1798 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1798First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1798First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1971 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 107 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1798LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WSC 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records WS 1798LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798 / Warner Bros. Records 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1798LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | New Zealand | $ound Value AXIS 146 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records AXIS 146LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | World Record Club SLZ 8385LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
45 vinyl pressings of The Best Of Bill Cosby are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1969 and 1974.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, Australia, Canada. One of them is Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1798, released August 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 1798, WS 1798) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S39515 and S39516. 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.
