Vinyl pressings
by Captain Beefheart · 1974
Bluejeans & Moonbeams was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1974, 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.
V 2023 A-2UA-Side run-out, stamped
V 2023 B-1UB-Side run-out, stamped
PN -2A-Side run-out, hand-etched
V 2023 A-4UStamped runout variation A-side
I SRM 1-1018 A-5 US◎ A1Side A, etched, ['US◎' stamped] Variant 1
I SRM 1-1018 CSI-B US◎ A2Side B, etched, ['US◎' stamped] Variant 1
S I SRMI-1018 A6 [USO Mark Stamped]Side A Variant 2
S I SRMI-1018 CSI-B [USO Mark Stamped] A2Side B Variant 2
| SRM 1-1018 A-5 ASide 1 variant 1, Etched
| SRM 1-1018 CSI-B SX DSide 2 variant 1, Etched
USOBoth Sides variant 1, Stamped
| SRM 1-1018 A-5 ASide 1 variant 2, etched
z XST SRM 1-1018 A5 [United Sound logo stamp] AA side runout
XS \ SRM 1-1018 CSI-B [United Sound logo stamp] CB side runout
z XST SRM 1-1018 A5 [United Sound logo stamp] A3A-side runout
XS \ SRM 1-1018 CSI-B [United Sound logo stamp] C1B-side runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-1018First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | France | Virgin XBLY 840.057 / Virgin 840 057First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Virgin 88 473 IT / Virgin V2023First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Mercury 6338 548First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | Not On Label (Captain Beefheart) V 2023LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-1-1018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM 1-1018First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-1-1018LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM 1-1018 / Mercury SRM-1-1018First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM 1-1018 / Mercury SRM-1-1018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM 1-1018 / Mercury SRM-1-1018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | Virgin V2023 / Virgin V 2023First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Spain | Virgin 88473-ILP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB LP 5534 / Virgin V-2023LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Virgin V 2023LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Italy | Virgin OVED 19LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK | Virgin OVED 19LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Virgin OVED 19LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | US | Mercury SRM 1-1018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1382 / Universal Music MOVLP1382LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Past & Present Records OVED 19 / Virgin OVED 19LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| ? | US | Mercury SRM 1-1018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
24 vinyl pressings of Bluejeans & Moonbeams are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1974 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Canada, France and more. One of them is Virgin V2023, released November 9, 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V2023, SRM 1-1018, SRM-1-1018, XBLY 840.057) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V 2023 A-2U and V 2023 B-1U. 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.
