Vinyl pressings
by Bill Cosby · 1965
Why Is There Air? was first pressed on vinyl in 1965. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1965, 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.
Ƨ º 9031 W-1606-A 1-J A1A Side runout, variant 1
Ƨ º 9032 W1606-B 1G-2 A1B Side runout, variant 1
S o 9031 W 1606 1H A16A Side runout, variant 2
S 1 9032 1M W-1606-B o C10B Side runout, variant 2
9031 W-1606-A 1-JA Side runout
Ƨ º 9032 W1606-B 1G-B Side runout
9031 W-1606-A 1-J ºA Side runout, variant 1
1 9032 1K W-1606-B o / |B Side runout, variant 1
Ƨ 9031- W-1606-A- 1-K II IIII II II I I IIII I I III II I IRunout A
9032 W - 1606-B 1-A II IIII II II III I IIII I I III II I IRunout B
9031Label A
9032Label B
39031 WS-1606 A lE A Tside A runout etched
39032 WS-1606 B lB A Tside B runout etched
39031 WS-1606 A 1CSide A Runout (Variation 1)
39032 WS-1606 B 1CSide B Runout (Variation 1)
o 9031 1AA W-1606-A PSide A runout etched (o P stamped), variant 1
o 9032 W-1606-B -1J PSide B runout etched (o P stamped), variant 1
o 9031- W1606 A 1L- o 2 PSide A runout etched (o P stamped), variant 2
o 9032 W-1606-B -1J B 3 PSide B runout etched (o P stamped), variant 2
39031 WS-1606 A lD oside A runout etched
39032 WS-1606 B ID oside B runout etched
S39031side A label
S39032side B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records W 1606First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1965 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records W 1606First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1606First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-556 / 中聲 CSJ 556LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1606First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1606First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606 / Warner Bros. Records 1606First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606 / Warner Bros. Records 1606First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606 / Warner Bros. Records 1606First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1606LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1967 | Taiwan | NAN-KOU NKA-1051LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1606LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records W 1606LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1606LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1606LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1606LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records W 1606LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records ST-93360 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1606LP, Album, Club Edition, Repress, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Repress, Stereo · Club edition |
25 vinyl pressings of Why Is There Air? are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1965 and 1968.
The earliest pressings are from 1965, in US, Australia, Canada. One of them is Warner Bros. Records W 1606, released August 1965.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use W 1606, WS 1606) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Ƨ º 9031 W-1606-A 1-J A1 and Ƨ º 9032 W1606-B 1G-2 A1. 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.
