Vinyl pressings
by Edwin Hawkins Singers · 1969
Oh Happy Day 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.
58 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 17 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.
PBS20001-A P̶B̶M̶S̶ ̶P̶B̶S̶ ̶2̶2̶0̶0̶1̶A̶-̶1F sSide A run-out, etched, variant 1
PBS-20001-B P̶B̶M̶S̶ ̶P̶B̶S̶ ̶2̶2̶0̶0̶1̶B̶-1E sSide B run-out, etched, variant 1
PBS20001-A P̶̷̷̶̶̶̷̷̶B̶̷̷̶̶̶̷̷̶M̶̷S̶ ̶P̶B̶S̶ ̶2̶2̶0̶0̶1̶B̶-̶1G SSSSSide A run-out, etched, variant 2
PBS20001-B P̶̷̷̶̶̶̷̷̶B̶̷̷̶̶̶̷̷̶M̶̷S̶ ̶P̶B̶S̶ ̶2̶2̶0̶0̶1̶B̶-̶1G SSSSSide B run-out, etched, variant 2
PBS-20001-A RL SS SSide A Runout, etched
PBS-20001-B P̶B̶M̶S̶ ̶P̶B̶S̶ ̶2̶2̶0̶0̶1̶B̶-1E SSide B Runout, etched
PBS 20,001 ASide A Label
PBS 20,001 BSide B Label
p o PBS 20001A-1D 2A Side Etched
p PBS 20001B-1B 2B Side Etched
PBS 20,001 AA Side Label
PBS 20,001 BB Side Label
PBS20001A-1H ARPRunout A
PBS20001B-1H ARPRunout B
PB 20,001 ALabel A
PB 20,001 BLabel B
PBS20001A-1H ARPRunout, side A, etched, ARP stamped
PBS20001B-1H ARPRunout, side B, etched
PB 20,001 ALabel side A
PB 20,001 BLabel side B
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 | Unknown | Buddah Records 201 048First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Unknown | Buddah Records 201 048First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Australia | Buddah Records BUD-020First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Brazil | Buddah Records BUCS 22.003First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Canada | Buddah Records PAVILION 20,001XFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Canada | Buddah Records BDGT. 69XFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | France | Buddah Records 610032 / Buddah Records 610 032First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Buddah Records 610032First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | France | Buddah Records 610032First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Buddah Records 610 032First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | France | Buddah Records 610032 / Buddah Records 610 032First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Buddah Records 610032 / Buddah Records 610 032First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Buddah Records 610032 / Buddah Records BUDDAH 610 032First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | France | Buddah Records 610032 / Buddah Records BUDDAH 610 032First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | Germany | Buddah Records 201 048First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Italy | Buddah Records 2011 2027", Repress | 7", Repress |
| 1977 | UK | Buddah Records BDS 4637", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1977 | UK | Buddah Records BDS 4637", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Reissue · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1977 | UK | Buddah Records BDS 4637", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | US | Buddah Records BG 97", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1984 | US | Buddah Records BG 97", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Buddah Records 610 0327", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | France | Buddah Records BE 6100327", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | France | Not On Label HPBS 100017", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| ? | Nigeria | Polydor 201 0487", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| ? | Peru | Buddah Records BR 4015 F7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| ? | US | Buddah Records OHD-17" | 7" |
| ? | US | Radio Active Gold RD-517", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | US | Collectables Col.35097", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | US | Radio Active Gold RD-517", 45 RPM, Promo, Reissue · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
74 vinyl pressings of Oh Happy Day are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1969 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, France, Austria and more. One of them is Pavilion Records PBS 20,001, released April 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PBS 20,001, PB 20,001, PB20,001P, RD-51) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PBS20001-A P̶B̶M̶S̶ ̶P̶B̶S̶ ̶2̶2̶0̶0̶1̶A̶-̶1F s and PBS-20001-B P̶B̶M̶S̶ ̶P̶B̶S̶ ̶2̶2̶0̶0̶1̶B̶-1E s. 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.
