Vinyl pressings
by Earth, Wind & Fire · 1971
The Need Of Love was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 2 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.
WS-1958 2 40007-1 ASide A runout, variant 1
WS-1958 40008-1 [Artisan Logo] 5 PSide B runout, variant 1
P WS-1958 40007-1 A0Side A runout, variant 2
WS-1958 P 40008-1 [Artisan Logo] 11Side B runout, variant 2
TI WS-1958 40007-1-1 [Artisan Logo]Side A runout
TI WS-1958-40008-1-1 [Artisan Logo]Side B runout
S40007Side A label
S40008Side B label
WS-1958-A I 40007-1B (A) AA side runout
S 2 WS-1958-B 40008-1B (A) A/B side runout
S40007A-Side Label
S40008B-Side Label
WS-1958-A I 40007-1B [Artisan Logo] A2 SA side runout
WS-1958-B 40008-1B [Artisan Logo] B IB side runout
S40007A-Side Label
S40008B-Side Label
WS-1958-A I 40007-1B [Artisan Logo] ASide A runout
WS-1958-B 40008-1B [Artisan Logo] B ISide B runout
S40007Side A label
S40008Side B label
T1 WS-1958 40007-1-1 [Artisan Logo] CA-Side Runout Etching
T1 WS-1958 40008-1-1 [Artisan Logo] CB-Side Runout Etching
S40007A-Side Label
S40008B-Side Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Barbados | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records WBLP 5.007LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 161 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1958LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 161 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1958LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-4707WLP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1979 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-4707WLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 1979 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 161 (WS 1958)LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 081227944759LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 1958LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 161 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1958LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 161 (WS 1958)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 161 (WS 1958)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 161LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1958LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
23 vinyl pressings of The Need Of Love are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1971 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, Barbados. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WS 1958, released November 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1958) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WS-1958 2 40007-1 A and WS-1958 40008-1 [Artisan Logo] 5 P. 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.
