Vinyl pressings
by Carole King · 1972
Rhymes & Reasons 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.
38 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 19 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.
ODE SP 77031 RE 2 P3Runout side A, variant 1
ODE SP 77032 RE-2 P3Runout side B, variant 1
ODE SP 77031 RE 2 P2 22 V pRunout side A, variant 2
ODE SP 77032 RE-2 P4 VRunout side B, variant 2
ODE SP 77031 RE2 P2Variant 1 A Side
ODE SP 77032 RE2 P4Variant 1 B Side
ODE SP 77031 RE2 P3Variant 2 A Side
ODE SP 77032 RE2 P5Variant 2 B Side
SMAS 1 94866 X4 #2Variant 1 - Side A runout
SMAS 2 94866 R3 #1Variant 1 - Side B runout
SMAS-1-94866 W3 #1Variant 2 - Side A runout, etched
SMAS 2 94866 R3 #1Variant 2 - Side B runout, etched
ODE SP 77031 RE-2 A15Runout A variant 1
ODE SP 77032 RF-2 M5Runout B variant 1
SP xxxxx xx x77016 SP 77031-2Runout A variant 2
SP x xxxxx x77016 SP 77032-1Runout B variant 2
ODE SP 77031 RE-2 M1 (MR) △17379 (2)Runout A, variant 1
ODE SP 77032 RE-2 M2 EXT. (MR) △17379-X (2-2)Runout B, variant 1
ODE SP 77031 RE-2 M2 EXT. (MR) △17379 (2-1)Runout A, variant 2
ODE SP 77032 RE-2 M2 EXT. (MR) △17379-X (2-2)Runout B, 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 | Argentina | A&M Records SP 77032First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Argentina | A&M Records 5251 / Ode Records 5251First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Australia | Ode Records ODL 34708 / Ode Records ODL-34,708First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Barbados | Ode Records SP-77016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Ode Records SP-77016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Ode Records SP-77016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP-77016First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records Ode SP77016 / Ode Records Ode SP77016First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1972 | Colombia | A&M Records ECI109First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | A&M Records 86 448 IT / Ode Records 86 448 ITFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Greece | A&M Records AM 206 / Ode Records ODE 77016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | India | Ode Records SP-77016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Italy | A&M Records SLAM67016 / Ode Records SLAM67016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Ode Records AML 165 / A&M Records AML 165First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Ode Records AML 165 / A&M Records AML 165First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Epic ELPS 3846LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| ? | Canada | Ode Records SP-77016 / Ode Records SP 77016LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Japan | Epic 20-3P-104 / Ode Records 20-3P-104LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | New Zealand | Epic ELPS 3846 / Ode Records ELPS 3846LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
57 vinyl pressings of Rhymes & Reasons are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1972 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Ode Records SP-77016.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-77016, Ode SP 77016, SP77016, SP 77016) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ODE SP 77031 RE 2 P3 and ODE SP 77032 RE-2 P3. 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.
