Vinyl pressings
by Dr. John · 1969
Babylon was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 4 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 ST C681441-2A CT 1 TSide A runout stamped, 1 T etched
O ST C681442-2A CT 1 TSide B runout stamped, 1 T etched
ST-C-681441CTSide A label
ST-C-681442CTSide B label
ST-C-681441-B AT RG WRunout side A, variant 1
ST-C-681442-B AT RG WRunout side B, variant 1
ST-C-681441-A AT LW RG WRunout side A, variant 2
ST-C-681442-A AT LW RG WRunout side B, variant 2
ST-C-681441-RE- B AT △12628 WSide A runout etched
ST-C-681442 - B AT △12628-X RG WSide B runout etched
MR [Circled]Side A and B runout stamped
ST-C-681441-MOSide A label
ST-C-681441-A AT W
ST-C-681442-A AT W
228018 A//1 1 1 5Runout A Side, Stamped
228018 B//1 1 1 6Runout A Side, Stamped
SD 33270 S1A side
SD 33270 S2B side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Canada | ATCO Records SD 33-270First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | ATCO Records SD 33-270First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | ATCO Records SD 33 270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | ATCO Records SD 33 270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | ATCO Records SD 33-270First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | ATCO Records SD 33-270First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | ATCO Records SD 33-270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | ATCO Records 228018 / ATCO Records 228 018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Australia | Atlantic SD 33 270LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | US | Get On Down GET52717 / ATCO Records GET52717LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | ATCO Records MOVLP2553 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP2553LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2020 | US | Get On Down GET52737 / ATCO Records GET52737LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Atlantic SD 33-270LP, Album | LP, Album |
13 vinyl pressings of Babylon are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1969 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Canada, Germany. One of them is ATCO Records SD 33 270.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SD 33 270, SD 33-270, 228018) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, o ST C681441-2A CT 1 T and O ST C681442-2A CT 1 T. 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.
