Vinyl pressings
by Chet Atkins · 1976
Chester & Lester was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1976, 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.
APL1-1167A 1S I A1 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide A runout, variant 1
APL1-1167B 1S I A3 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide B runout, variant 1
APL1-1167A 3S I A2 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide A runout, variant 2
APL1-1167B 1S I A2 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide B runout, variant 2
APL1 1167A 3S ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K ɪ A2Runout side A, variant 1
APL1 1167B 1S ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K ɪ A2Runout side B, variant 1
APL1 1167A 3S 4S ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K 1 A1Runout side A, variant 2
APL1 1167B 3S 4S ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K I A1Runout side B, variant 2
LSA 3290•A•1E AIP 'W' PN-ARunout A side, etched
LSA 3290•B•1E AIJ 'W'Runout B side, etched
LSA 3290•A•1E AIB 'W' PN-AA side runout
LSA 3290•B•1E AIB 'W'B side runout
APL1-1167 A TXSide A runout
APL1-1167-B 2 TXDHSide B runout
APL1-1167-ASide A label
APL1-1167-BSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1-1167First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | RCA APL1-1167First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Israel | RCA Victor APL1-1167First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | RCA RVP-6054First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1976 | Japan | RCA RVP-6054First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | South Africa | RCA Victor APL1-1167First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | RCA Victor LSA 3290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | UK | RCA Victor LSA 3290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | RCA APL1-1167 / RCA Victor APL1-1167First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | RCA Victor APL1-1167 / RCA APL1-1167First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | RCA Victor APL1-1167LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | US | RCA AHL1-1167LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | RCA AYL1-3682LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | RCA AYL1-3682LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | RCA AYL1-3682LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Exhibit Records eXLP-44061LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
16 vinyl pressings of Chester & Lester are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1976 and 2012.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA APL1-1167.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use APL1-1167, LSA 3290, RVP-6054) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APL1-1167A 1S I A1 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K and APL1-1167B 1S I A3 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K. 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.
