Vinyl pressings
by Carpenters · 1978
Christmas Portrait was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 15 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-5189-R1-11-11 PRCVariant 1 Side A Etched
A&M SP-5190-PRC3-1-1Variant 1 Side B Etched
A&M SP-5189-R1-1-111 PRCVariant 2 Side A Etched
A&M SP-5190-R1-1-1 PRCVariant 2 Side B Etched
PXT A&M SP5189-P1Side 1 (etched)
T1 A&M SP5190-T1Side 2 (etched)
SP-5189Side 1 label
SP-5190Side 2 label
A 3 A&M SP 3210AVariant 1- A Side Stamp
A&M A 4 SP 3210BVariant 1- B Side Stamp
A&M SP5189-RCA-1Variant 2- A Side Etched
A&M SP5190-RCA-1Variant 2- B Side Etched
A&M SP5189-M3 MR △23794 ⓷Side A Runout Etched, Variant 1
A&M SP5190-M1 MR △23794-X ⓵Side B Runout Etched, Variant 1
A&M SP5189-M2 MR △23794 ⓷Side A Runout Etched, Variant 2
A&M SP5190-M1 MR △23794-X ⓵Side B Runout Etched, Variant 2
A&M SP-5189-P1Side A Etched
A&M SP-5190-P2Side B Etched
SP-5189Side A Label
SP-5190Side B Label
A&M SP5189-R1-11-11 1 PRCSide A Runout / Etched
A&M SP5190-M4 IUT MR △23794-X RICH. PRCSide B Runout / Etched
SP-5189Side A Label
SP-5190Side B Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | A&M Records 9168LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | A&M Records L 36720First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Brazil | A&M Records 31C 064 61916First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Brazil | A&M Records 31C 064 61916LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4726First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4726First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4726First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4726First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4726First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Ecuador | A&M Records LP-880240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Europe | A&M Records AMLH 64726First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Greece | A&M Records AMLH 64726First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-6029First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-6029First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | A&M Records L 36720First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-6029LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-6029LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | A&M Records SP-3210 / A&M Records SP-4726LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1985 | US | A&M Records SP-5171LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | US | A&M Records SP-5171LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Japan | A&M Records C28Y3093LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Japan | A&M Records C28Y3093LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1987 | Germany | A&M Records 394 726-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Brazil | A&M Records 394 726-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1988 | Greece | A&M Records 394726LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 1988 | Greece | A&M Records 394726-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4726LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | A&M Records 394 726-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3210LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3210LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3210LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-4726LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3210LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-4726LP, Album | LP, Album |
56 vinyl pressings of Christmas Portrait are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1978 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4726, released October 13, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4726, AMLH 64726, L 36720, 31C 064 61916) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A&M SP-5189-R1-11-11 PRC and A&M SP-5190-PRC3-1-1. 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.
