Vinyl pressings
by City Boy · 1978
Book Early 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.
35 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 17 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.
9102028 1Y // 4 STR 11 4Side A runout, stamped
9102028 2Y // 4 STR 11 4Side B runout, stamped
STRAWBERRYSide A & B runout, etched
9102028 1Y // 4 STR 11 5side A, variant 2
SRM-1-3737 RE A13Side A (variant 1)
SRM-1-3737 B4Side B (variant 1)
SRM-1-3737 RE A14Side A (variant 2)
SRM-1-3737 B3Side B (variant 2)
SRM-1-3737 RE A13Runout side A, hand etched
SRM-1-3737 B4Runout side B, hand etched
SRM-1-3737 ALabel side A
SRM-1-3737 BLabel side B
1S SRM-1-3737 A5 B2Side A Runout
1S SRM-1-3737 B6 B6Side B Runout
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 | Australia | Mushroom International L 36719First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-3737First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Vertigo 9102 026First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Vertigo 6360 163First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | Vertigo 6360 163LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1978 | Greece | Vertigo 6360 163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Ireland | Philips 9102 028First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Israel | Vertigo 6360 163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Vertigo RJ-7522First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Vertigo RJ-7522First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | Vertigo RJ-7522First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Vertigo 6360 163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Vertigo 6360 163First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Vertigo 6360 163 / Vertigo 6360163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Scandinavia | Vertigo 6360 163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
39 vinyl pressings of Book Early are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1978 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Vertigo 9102 028.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9102 028, 9102 026, SRM-1-3737, L 36719) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 9102028 1Y // 4 STR 11 4 and 9102028 2Y // 4 STR 11 4. 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.
