Vinyl pressings
by Claudine Longet · 1968
Love Is Blue was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1968, 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.
SP 4183 (RE-1)-8 T oRunout side A, variant 1
SP 4184 (RE-1)-8 T oRunout Side B, variant 1
SP 4183 RE-1-1ARunout side A, variant 2
SP 4184 RE-1-1ARunout side B, variant 2
p o A+M SP 4183(RE-1)-2 A 4A-Side Runout Etching
p A+m SP 4184 (RE-1)-1 1 o A 5B-Side Runout Etching
SP-4183A-Side Label
SP-4184B-Side Label
A&M-SP-4183-RE-1)15 Δ11616Etched, side 1
A&M-SP-4184-RE-1(15) Δ11616-XEtched, side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Australia | Universal Record Club SU-952First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Australia | A&M Records AML-32,852First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Australia | A&M Records SAML 932852 / A&M Records SAML 932,852First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Brazil | A&M Records AM 2023First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Brazil | A&M Records AM 2023First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4142First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | A&M Records 212 037First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Japan | A&M Records AML 17First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Mexico | A&M Records AMS 1006First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | A&M Records SAML 932852First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Philippines | A&M Records SP 4142First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | South Africa | A&M Records SAS 42 / A&M Records SAS-42First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | South Africa | A&M Records LAM 2042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | A&M Records AML 915First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | US | A&M Records SP 4142 / A&M Records SP-4142First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | World Record Club S/5345 / World Record Club S-5345LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| 1975 | Australia | World Record Club R-00944 / World Record Club S/5345LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1976 | Australia | World Record Club R-00944 / World Record Club S/5345LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| 1977 | Australia | World Record Club R-00944 / World Record Club S/5345LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | South Korea | A&M Records SEL-RA1190LP | LP |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Japan | A&M Records LEX 9312LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Jamaica | A&M Records SP-4142LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Lebanon | A&M Records AMLP 1001LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
31 vinyl pressings of Love Is Blue are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1968 and 1994.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is A&M Records SP 4142.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP 4142, AML 915, SU-952, AML-32,852) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SP 4183 (RE-1)-8 T o and SP 4184 (RE-1)-8 T o. 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.
