Vinyl pressings
by Emerson, Lake & Palmer · 1978
Love Beach was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
27 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 20 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.
ST-A-784185-A ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. (PR)Runout side A
ST-A-784186-D (PR)P ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Runout side B
ST-A-784185-PRLabel side A
ST-A-784186-PRLabel side B
ST-A - 784185 - A (PR) ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. OT PRCSide A runout, var 1
ST-A - 784186 - D ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. MS PRCSide B runout, var 1
ST-A-784185-AAA++-1-11 OT (PR) PRC ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side A runout, var 2
ST-A-784186-DDD+5-1-11 PRC (PR) TO MS ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side B runout, var 2
ST-A-784185-A / / Ⅰ GOL ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. TO MS (PR) GDRunout side A, variant 1
ST-A-784186-D Ⅰ GOL (PR) GD ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. SM OTRunout side B, variant 1
ST-A-784185-A / Ⅰ GOL ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. (PR) GD TORunout side A, variant 2
ST-A-784185-A 111 Ⅰ GOL (PR) GD ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. TO MSRunout side B, variant 2
ST-A-784185-A IGOL ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. OT (PR)GDRunout side A, etched (exc. ATLANTIC...), var. 1
ST-A-784186-D 2 IGOL (PR)GD ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. SM OTRunout side B, etched (exc. ATLANTIC...), var. 1
ST-A-784185-Label side A
ST-A-784186-Label side B
ST-A-784185-A A MR △ 23950 ② ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. (PR)Side A runout
ST-A-784186-DD ② MR △ 23950-X ⓾ (PR) ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Side B runout
ST-A-784185-MOMO added to Matrix codes printed on labels
ST-A-784185-A 71 I GOL (PR) GD ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. MSA-Side Runout Etching
ST-A-784186-D I GOL (PR) GD ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. ƧM OTB-Side Runout Etching
ST-A-773809-A-Side Label
ST-A-784186-B-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Atlantic SD 19211First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Austria | Ariola 200 249 / Ariola 200 249-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Brazil | Atlantic 30.090First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Colombia | Atlantic 23(7031)00123First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Atlantic 50 552 / Atlantic 50.552First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | France | Atlantic 50 552 / Atlantic 50.552First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Ariola 38 299 4LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Germany | Ariola 200 249LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1978 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | Ariola 200 249 / Ariola 200 249-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Israel | Atlantic BAN 50552First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Ricordi MAL 2019First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Atlantic P-10603AFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Atlantic P-10603AFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Mexico | Atlantic LWA 5325First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Atlantic SD 19211First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Italy | Ricordi ORL 8681LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | UK, Europe & US | BMG BMGCATLP10A / BMG BMGCATLP10BLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2017 | UK, Europe & US | BMG BMGCATLP10 / Manticore BMGCATLP10LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Music Hall 14.458 / Atlantic 14.458LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| ? | US | Atlantic SD 19211LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
39 vinyl pressings of Love Beach are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1978 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Canada, South Africa and more. One of them is Atlantic SD 19211, released November 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SD 19211, K 50552, KSD 19211, ATC9712) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-A-784185-A ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. (PR) and ST-A-784186-D (PR)P ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.. 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.
