Vinyl pressings
by Donovan · 1968
The Hurdy Gurdy Man 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.
16 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 10 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.
o XSB137970-1A 1 P A 1Runout A - Variant 1 stamped
o XSB137971-1A 1 P A 5Runout B - Variant 1 stamped
XSB137970-1CRunout A - Variant 2
XSB137971-1ARunout B - Variant 2
º XSB137970-1C Ƨ 1A Side Stamped, exc Ƨ etch
º XSB137971-1E Ƨ 1B Side Stamped, exc Ƨ etch
XSB 137970A Side Label
XSB 137971B Side Label
o XSB137970-1C Ƨ A4Runout side A, variant 1
o XSB137971-1D I Ƨ B1Runout side B, variant 1
o XSB13790-1C BRunout side A, variant 2
o XSB137971-1A 1 S D4Runout side B, variant 2
XSB137970-1B I T ⚘Runout A, variant 1
XSB 137971-1C I T 10 A ⚘Runout B, variant 1
o XSB137970-1B I T A2Runout A, variant 2
o XSB137971-1C I T ALRunout B, variant 2
XEM 137968-1ARunout A - Variant 1 stamped
XEM 137969-1ARunout B - Variant 1 stamped
XEM 137968Side A label
XEM 137969Side B label
A MX158582 ELPS3563-1Side 1 runout stamped
A MX158583 ELPS3563-2Side 2 runout Stamped
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 | Epic ELPS-3563First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Canada | Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | France | Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Epic BN 26420 / Epic BN 26 420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP-50045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Epic BN S-26420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Epic BN S-26420 / Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Epic BN S-26420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Scandinavia | Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | South Africa | CBS ASF 1320 / CBS ASF.1320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26420First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP440 / Epic MOVLP440LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2013 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5432 / Epic LP 5432LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 2018 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5432 / Epic LP 5432LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Italy | Epic BN 26420 / Epic 19075853171LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2019 | UK | The state51 Conspiracy CON235LPLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | France | Klimt Records MJJ448CGLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Epic IMP6055 / Impex Records IMP6055LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2025 | UK | The state51 Conspiracy CON1017LPLP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Mono · Mono, Limited | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Mono · Mono, Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Epic ELPS - 3563 / Epic ELPS 3563LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Epic ELPS-3563LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Epic BN 26420 / Epic BN S-26420LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic PE 26420LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26420LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26420LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Epic PE 26420 / Epic E 26420LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26420LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic PE 26420LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26420 / Epic PC 26420LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26420LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26420LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26420LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26420LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Uruguay | CBS 26420LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
41 vinyl pressings of The Hurdy Gurdy Man are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1968 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, Australia, Canada, France and more. One of them is Epic BN 26420, released October 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BN 26420, ELPS-3563, SONP-50045, BN S-26420) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, o XSB137970-1A 1 P A 1 and o XSB137971-1A 1 P A 5. 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.
