Vinyl pressings
by Captain Beefheart · 1972
The Spotlight Kid was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 8 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.
MS-2050 31324-1 [Artisan logo]Side A, variant 1
MS 2050 31325-1 [Artisan logo]Side B, variant 1
MS-2050 31324-1 1 [Artisan logo]Side A, variant 2
MS-2050 31325-1 [Artisan logo]Side B, variant 2
T 1 MS2050 31324-1-1 A 8Side A runout, etched ["A" stamped]
T 1 MS-2050 31325-1-2 A 7Side B runout, etched ["A" stamped]
[artisan drum logo]Both runouts, stamped
31,324Side A label
S 1 MS2050-A 31324-1A B6A Run-out, etching
S / MS-2050-B 31325-1AB A4B Run-out, etching
[artisan drum logo]A + B Run-outs, stamped
31,324Side A label
MS2050 31324-1 [Artisan logo] PSide A, etched, exc. logo and 'P'
MS-2050 31325-1 [Artisan logo]Side B, etched, exc. logo
31,324Side A, label
31,325Side B, label
MS2050-A 31324-1A BA Run-out, etching
MS-2050-B 31325-1BB Run-out, etching
[artisan drum logo]A + B Run-outs, stamped
31,324Side A label
MS-2050-A 31324-1A (Artisan Logo)Side A Runout [Artisan Logo] [variant 1]
MS-2050-B 31325-1B (Artisan Logo)Side B Runout [Artisan Logo] [variant 1]
MS-2050-A 31324-1A (Artisan Logo) B2Side A Runout [Artisan Logo] [variant 2]
MS-2050-B 31325-1B (Artisan Logo) A3Side B Runout [Artisan Logo] [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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Australia | Reprise Records MS 2050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Australia | Reprise Records MS 2050 / Reprise Records MS-2050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Brazil | Reprise Records RLLP-2014 / Reprise Records RLLP-2.014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2050 / Reprise Records 2050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | France | Reprise Records 44162 / Reprise Records N° 44 162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Reprise Records 44162 (2050) / Reprise Records N° 44 162First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | France | Reprise Records 44162 / Reprise Records N° 44 162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 44 162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 44 162First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | South Africa | Reprise Records RRC 2050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Reprise Records MS 2050First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Reprise Records MS 2050LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1972 | US | Reprise Records MS 2050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Reprise Records MS 2050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Reprise Records MS 2050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Greece | Reprise Records 44162LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Reprise Records 44162LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | US | Reprise Records MS 2050LP, Reissue, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Reissue, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2009 | US | Reprise Records MS 2050LP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2009 | US | Reprise Records MS 2050LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Reprise Records 0349791110LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2016 | US | Rhino Records R1-2050LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Worldwide | Reprise Records RCV1 726084 / Reprise Records 603497827657LP, Album, Reissue, LP, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2050LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records R1-2050 / Reprise Records R1 2050LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Reprise Records 44162 / Reprise Records N° 44 162LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
35 vinyl pressings of The Spotlight Kid are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1972 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Reprise Records MS 2050.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MS 2050, K44162, RLLP-2014, 44162) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MS-2050 31324-1 [Artisan logo] and MS 2050 31325-1 [Artisan logo]. 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.
