Vinyl pressings
by Bud Shank · 1966
California Dreamin' 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.
18 pressings came out in 1966, the album's first year, in 7 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.
WP-1845-A-1 A1 RRunout Side A
WP-1845-2̶ B-1 A1 RRunout Side B
WP 1845 AMatrix on label side A
WP 1845 BMatrix on label side B
WPS-21845-1-SIDE1 I A1Side A runout
WPS-21845-2-SIDE2 A2 ISide B runout
WP-1845-1Runout side A
WP-1845-2Runout side B
WP 1845Label side A
WP 1845Label side B
WP-1845-1Runout side A
WP-1845-2Runout side B
WPS-21845-A-/ A1 REtched side A
WPS-21845-BB-1 A: REtched side B
WP-1845-1-SIDE1 A1 ISide 1 Runout area
WP-1845-2-SIDE 2 A1 ISide 2 Runout area
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 | Australia | Festival Records FL31985First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Australia | Festival Records SFL931985First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | World Pacific Records WPS-21845First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | World Pacific Records WP-1845First yearLP, Album, Styrene, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Styrene, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Italy | Ricordi International MIR 23-001First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Italy | Ricordi International MIR 23-001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Netherlands | Fontana 888 025 TYFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | South Africa | World Pacific Records WPL 1018First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | UK | Fontana TL.5371 / Fontana 688 025 TLFirst yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | UK | Fontana STL5371 / Fontana STL.5371First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | World Pacific Records WP-1845 / World Pacific Records WP 1845First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | World Pacific Records WS-21845First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Stereo, Promo · Promo |
| 1966 | US | World Pacific Records WPS-21845 / World Pacific Records WS-21845First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | World Pacific Records WP-1845First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | World Pacific Records WP-1845First yearLP, Album, White Label, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, White Label, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Sunset Records SLS-96,050 / Sunset Records SLS-96050LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | Sunset Records SLS-96,050 / Sunset Records SLS-96050LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | World Pacific Records WPS-21845LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
21 vinyl pressings of California Dreamin' are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1966, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is World Pacific Records WP-1845.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WP-1845, WPS-21845, WS-21845, TL.5371) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WP-1845-A-1 A1 R and WP-1845-2̶ B-1 A1 R. 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.
