Vinyl pressings
by Bob James · 1976
Three was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
35 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 14 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.
P RVG•87723 A-8 I VAN GELDERRunout Side A, variant 1
P RVG•87723•B-8• I VAN GELDERRunout Side B, variant 1
P RVG•87723•A-14• I VAN GELDERRunout Side A, variant 2
P RVG•87723•B-12• I VAN GELDER 1ΛRunout Side B, variant 2
RVG 87723 ALabel Side A
RVG 87723 BLabel Side B
CTI6063 A 18C1Runout Side A
CTI6063 A 19C2Runout Side B
CTI 6063Label Side A
CTI 6063Label Side B
VAN GELDERRunout stamp
RVG 87723 ALabel Side A
RVG 87723 BLabel Side B
RVG 87723-A-10-1ALabel Side A variant
RVG-87723 A-8Side A Runout - Etched
RVG-87723-B-8Side B Runout - Etched
P VAN GELDERSide A and Side B - Stamped
RVG 87723 ASide A Label
TI RVG 87723 - A 9 VAN GELDERSide A runout etched, variant 1
TI RVG 87723 B - 9 VAN GELDERSide B runout etched, variant 1
TI RVG 87723 - A 9 VAN GELDER CSide A runout etched, variant 2
TI RVG 87723 B - 9 VAN GELDER DSide B runout etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Canada | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Colombia | CTI Records 63-004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | CTI Records CTI 6063 / CTI Records 0006063First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | CTI Records CTI 6063 / CTI Records CTI 6063 (0649)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Israel | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Italy | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Jamaica | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Japan | CTI Records CTI 6063 / CTI Records GP-3060First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | CTI Records GP-3060 / CTI Records GP 3060First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Mexico | Gamma GX 01-876First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | New Zealand | CTI Records CTI 6063First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | South Africa | CTI Records GSL 98LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Canada | Tappan Zee Records FC 36837LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Tappan Zee Records 20AP 2007 / CBS/Sony 20AP 2007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Mexico | CBS CLS-5717LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Tappan Zee Records FC 36837LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Tappan Zee Records FC 36837LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Canada | Tappan Zee Records FC 36837LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Tappan Zee Records PC 36837LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | US | Columbia PC 36837 / Tappan Zee Records PC 36837LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Venezuela | CBS JZ-20.033LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | UK | Essential! Records ESM LP 428LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 237673LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Kelly KY-2001LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 84822 / CBS S CBS 84822LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 84822LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Tappan Zee Records PC 36837LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | CTI Records CTI 6063LP, Album | LP, Album |
55 vinyl pressings of Three are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1976 and 1996.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Canada, Colombia and more. One of them is CTI Records CTI 6063, released September 3, 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CTI 6063, 6063, 63-004, GX 01-876) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P RVG•87723 A-8 I VAN GELDER and P RVG•87723•B-8• I VAN GELDER. 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.
