Vinyl pressings
by Charlie Parker · 1977
The Very Best Of Bird 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.
8 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 3 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.
2WB-1-3198 WW1runout A, hand-etched, variant 1
2WB-2-3198 WW1runout B, hand-etched, variant 1
2WB-3-3198 WW1runout C, hand-etched, variant 1
2WB-4-3198 WW1runout D, hand-etched, variant 1
2WB-1-3198-WW3. -"[stick figure]" -------◁Side A runout, etched
2-WB-2-3198 WW2 #4 -------◁Side B runout, etched
2WB-3-3198 WW1 #4Side C runout, etched
2WB-4-3198 WW2 #2 •-------◁Side D runout, etched
2WB-1-3198 REC.1 - JW2 #2runout A, hand-etched
2WB-2-3198 JW1#4runout B, hand-etched
Side-3- 2WB-3-3198 JW2-REC.2 #3runout C, hand-etched
2WB-4-3198 #4 WW1 Orunout D, hand-etched
2WB-1-3198-WW1 ---◁Side A runout, variant 1
2-WB-2-3198 WW ---◁Side B runout, variant 1
2WB-3-3198 WW1Side C runout, variant 1
2WB-4-3198 WW1 ---◁Side D runout, variant 1
MX186213 2WB-1-3198 LW1 2 ✳runout A, hand-etched, variant 2
MX186214 2WB-2-3198 LW2 . 1 ✳runout B, hand-etched, variant 2
MX186215 2WB-3-3198 LW2. 1 ✳runout C, hand-etched, variant 2
MX186216 2WB-4-3198 LW2. 2 ✳runout D, hand-etched, variant 2
2WB 3198-SIDE1-1A-2X Q ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ DMSide A runout [etched, inverted Q]
2WB 3198-SIDE2-1A-2X Q ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ DMSide B runout [etched, inverted Q]
2WB-3198-SIDE3-1A-2X Qu O DMSide C runout [etched, inverted Qu]
2WB-3198-SIDE4-1A-2X Qu DMSide D runout [etched, inverted Qu]
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 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198 / Warner Bros. Records 2WB 3198First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198 / Warner Bros. Records 2WB 3198First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198 / Warner Bros. Records 2WB 3198First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WB 3198First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198 / Warner Bros. Records 2WB 3198First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198 / Warner Bros. Records 56.004/5LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 081 / Warner Bros. Records WB 66 081-0LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 081-0LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 081LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198 / Warner Bros. Records 2WB 3198LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
13 vinyl pressings of The Very Best Of Bird are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1977 and 1978.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, Australia, Canada. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 2 WB 3198.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2 WB 3198, 2WB 3198) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 2WB-1-3198 WW1 and 2WB-2-3198 WW1. 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.
