Vinyl pressings
by Carpenters · 1972
A Song For You 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.
57 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 24 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.
A&M SP 3531-TSRunout side A, variant 1
A&M SP 3532-TIRunout side B, variant 1
A&M SP 3531-T1 D4 T1Runout side A, variant 2
A&M SP3532-T1 D T1Runout side B, variant 2
A&M SP 3531-F12 T1Side A runout, variant 1
A&M SP 3532-T2 H C1 T1Side B runout, variant 1
A&M SP 3531-T3 L 5 T1Side A runout, variant 2
A&M SP3532-T3 B 7 T1Side B runout, variant 2
A&M SP3531-P2Side A runout etched
A&M SP3532-P2Side B runout etched
SP-3531Side A label
SP-3532Side B label
A&M SP3531-M1 (MR) △17035(1)A, variant 1
A&M SP3532-M2 (MR) △17084-X 5/30/72B, variant 1
A&M SP3531-M1 (MR) △17035(1)A, variant 2
A&M SP3532-M1 (MR) △17035-X (5)B, variant 2
A&M SP3531-M5 -REPL. (MR) △17176Side A, etched, (MR) stamped
A&M SP3532-M6 (MR) △17176-X (7R)Side B, etched, (MR) stamped
A&M SP3531-P1Run-out etching side A variant 1
A&M SP3532-P2Run-out etching side B variant 1
p A+M SP3531-P2 2 CRun-out etching side A variant 2
p A+M SP3532-P1 C 5Run-out etching side 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 | Unknown | A&M Records SP 3511First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1972 | Unknown | DYMO A&M SP-3511 / DYMO RLP 511LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1972 | Argentina | A&M Records 6237First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Argentina | A&M Records 5237First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Argentina | A&M Records 6237First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Australia | A&M Records SAML 934561 / A&M Records SAML-934,561First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Australia | A&M Records L-34561 / A&M Records SAML-934 561First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Australia | A&M Records L-34,561 / A&M Records SAML934561First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Barbados | A&M Records SP 3511First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Brazil | A&M Records SAM-2087 / A&M Records SA&M-2087First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3511First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3511LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1972 | Canada | A&M Records SP-3511First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Chile | A&M Records (S) A&M – 30037First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Chile | A&M Records (S) A&M - 30037LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | South Korea | A&M Records SEL-RA464LP | LP |
| 1981 | South Korea | Sung Eum Limited SEL-200 464LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | Japan | A&M Records C25Y3118LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1986 | Japan | A&M Records C25Y3118LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | A&M Records B002634001 / UMeLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | A&M Records AMLS 63511 / A&M Records SP-3511LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Brazil | A&M Records 31C 064 60871LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP 3511 / A&M Records SP-3511LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 86 207 XOT / A&M Records 86 207 ITLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 61 572LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 86 207 XOTLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 61 572LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 86 207 ITLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Greece | A&M Records A&M 204 / A&M Records AMLH 63511LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | A&M Records A&M 204 / A&M Records AMLH 63511LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Mozambique | A&M Records AMLS 63511LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | A&M Records AMLS 63511LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | A&M Records 393511-4LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | A&M Records AMLS 63511LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Uruguay | A&M Records SAML-70556LP, Album | LP, Album |
100 vinyl pressings of A Song For You are listed here, from 28 countries, released between 1972 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong, Japan and more. One of them is A&M Records SP 3511, released June 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP 3511, SP-3511, AMLS 63511, AML-135) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A&M SP 3531-TS and A&M SP 3532-TI. 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.
