Vinyl pressings
by Chick Corea · 1981
Three Quartets was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 13 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.
#2 [W over M logo] 38709-A HS-1-3552 WISide A runout, variant 1
#4 [W over M logo] 38709-B HS-2-3552 WISide B runout, variant 1
HS-1-3552 W2 [W over M logo] 38709-A Mo#2 #3Side A runout, variant 2
HS-2-3552 W2 [W over M logo] 38709·B Mo#4 #1Side B runout, variant 2
BSK H̶S̶-1-3552 W2 [W over M logo] 38709-A #1Runout side A
BSK H̶S̶-2-3552 W1 #3 Mo# 4 [W over M logo] 38709-BRunout side B
K + 56908+A W-1A-side runout, etched
K + 56908+B W-3B-side runout, etched
K 56908 AA-side label
K 56908 BB-side label
XBS-3552-ASide A runout, variant 1
XBS-3552-BSide B runout, variant 1
XBS-3552-A QSide A runout, etched, variant 2
XBS-3552-B QSide B runout, etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 80617First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 26.041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records XBS 3552First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Colombia | Warner Bros. Records 23(1031)00264First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Israel | Warner Bros. Records BAN 56908First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10998WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10998WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Mexico | Warner Bros. Records LWB-6048First yearLP | LP |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records S 90.451First yearLP | LP |
| 1981 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 56908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | US | Stretch Records SLP-9002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 908LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
19 vinyl pressings of Three Quartets are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1981 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Argentina, Brazil and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3552.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3552, K 56908, 80617, 26.041) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, #2 [W over M logo] 38709-A HS-1-3552 WI and #4 [W over M logo] 38709-B HS-2-3552 WI. 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.
