Vinyl pressings
by Charles Mingus · 1977
Three Or Four Shades Of Blues was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 7 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.
ST-A773891 B AT GP (PR) <-Runout A, variant 1
ST-A-773892-A AT GP (PR)Runout B, variant 1
ST-A-773891B @tGP (PR)Runout A, variant 2
ST-A-773892-A @tGP (PR)PRunout B, variant 2
ST-A-773891B BBetched side 1, last 2 "B"s are faint
ASPetched in script, side 1 possibly incorrect about the characters
PRC (PR)etched, side 1, separated by some space
ST-A-773892-A AAetched, side 2, last two letters faint
ST-A-773891BB MR △22506 (2) (PR)Runout side A
ST-A-773892-AA MR △22506-X (1) (PR)Runout side B
ST-A-773891-SPLabel A
ST-A-773892-SPLabel B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Brazil | Atlantic 50.010First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Atlantic SD 1700First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Atlantic ATL 50 390First yearLP | LP |
| 1977 | France | Atlantic ATL 50 390First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Atlantic ATL 50 390 / Atlantic SD 1700First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Atlantic ATL 50 390 / Atlantic SD 1700LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1977 | Italy | Atlantic W 50390First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Atlantic P-10410A / Atlantic SD 1700First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Atlantic P-10410A / Atlantic SD 1700First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Atlantic SD 1700First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Atlantic SD 1700First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Atlantic SD 1700First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Atlantic SD 1700First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Brazil | Atlantic 50.010LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Spain | Atlantic S 90.041LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Europe | Atlantic ATL 50 390 / Atlantic SD 1700LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
16 vinyl pressings of Three Or Four Shades Of Blues are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1977 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, Brazil, Canada, France and more. One of them is Atlantic SD 1700.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SD 1700, 50.010, ATL 50 390, W 50390) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-A773891 B AT GP (PR) <- and ST-A-773892-A AT GP (PR). 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.
