Vinyl pressings
by Deep Purple · 1972
Purple Passages was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1972, 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.
2LS -2644-A 40248-1ADisc 1, Side 1 variant 1
2LS -2644-D 40251-1BDisc 1, Side 4 variant 1
2LS -2644-B 40249-1BDisc 2, Side 2 variant 1
2LS -2644-C 40250-1BDisc 2, Side 3 variant 1
2LS-2644 A 40248-1A A9 S1Runout side A, variant 1
2LS-2644 B 40249-1A S1Runout side B, variant 1
2LS-2644 C 40250-1B B3 S1Runout side C, variant 1
2LS-2644 D 40251-1A B2 S1Runout side D, variant 1
2LS-2644 40248-1 A3Runout side A, variant 1
2LS-2644 40249-1Runout side B, variant 1
2LS-2644 40250-1Runout side C, variant 1
2LS-2644 40251-1Runout side D, variant 1
P 2LS-2644 A 40248-1Runout Side A
P 2LS-2644 B 40249-1Runout Side B
P 2LS-2644 C 40250-1Runout Side C
P 2LS-2644 D 40251-1Runout Side D
T1 2LS-2644 40248-1-1 C4Runout Side A [Etched]
T1 2LS-2644 40249-1-1Runout Side B [Etched]
T1 2LS-2644 40250-1-1 CRunout Side C [Etched]
T1 2LS-2644 40251-1-1 C3Runout Side D [Etched]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1972 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | Venezuela | Purple Records PLPSB-4001First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | South Korea | High Stereo Light 1195LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1972 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-1241-1LP, Unofficial Release, Compilation · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Compilation · Unofficial |
| 1974 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5171～2WLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5171-2WLP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-4603~4WLP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P6319-20WLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light BR-128 / High Stereo Light BR 128LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
29 vinyl pressings of Purple Passages are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1972 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in Canada, US, Venezuela. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 2LS 2644, released November 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2LS 2644, PLPSB-4001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 2LS -2644-A 40248-1A and 2LS -2644-D 40251-1B. 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.
