Vinyl pressings
by Eric Burdon & The Animals · 1968
Love Is 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.
8 pressings came out in 1968, 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.
SE-4591-2 SIDE-1 MGS-1812-2 (block-shaped "S")Side A, runout, variant 1
SE-4591-2 SIDE-2 MGS-1813 (block-shaped "S")Side B, runout, variant 1
SE-4591-2 SIDE-3 MGS-1814 (block-shaped "S")Side C, runout, variant 1
SE-4591-2 SIDE-4 MGS-1815-1 (block-shaped "S")Side D, runout, variant 1
SE-4591-2 SIDE-1 MGS-1812Side A, Runout
SE-4591-2 SIDE-2 MGS-1813Side B, Runout
SE-4591-2 SIDE-3 MGS-1814Side C, Runout
SE-4591-2 SIDE-4 MGS-1815Side D, Runout
SE-4591-2 SIDE-1 MGS-1812Side A etched
SE-4591-2 SIDE-2 MGS-1813Side B etched
SE-4591-2 o SIDE-3 MGS-1814Side C etched, except "o"
o SE-4591-2 SIDE-4 MGS-1815Side D etched, except "o"
SE-4591-2 SIDE-1 MGS-1812-2Side A etched
SE-4591-2 SIDE-2 MGS-1813-2Side B etched
SE-4591-2 SIDE-3 MGS-1814-2Side C etched
SE-4591-2 SIDE-4 MGS-1815Side D etched
2 XMG 285-1
2 XMG 286-1
2YMG.285-1Stamped Side One
2YMG.286-1Stamped Side Two
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 | MGM Records SE 4591/2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | MGM Records SE 4591First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE-4591-2First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE-4591-2First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE-4591-2First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE-4591-2First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | MGM Records MGM C 8105First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | MGM Records MGM CS 8105First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Brazil | MGM Records LP 31009LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | Brazil | MGM Records LP-31.009LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1969 | Canada | MGM Records SE-4591-2LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | France | Barclay XBLY 0921045 / Barclay XBLY 0921046LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | MGM Records 665 109/110LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | MGM Records 665 109/110LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1969 | Mexico | MGM Records 660056/57LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Taiwan | World Record SLW-1734 / World Record SLW-1735LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1972 | UK | MGM Records 2619 002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | Germany | MGM Records 2642 001LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Germany | MGM Records 2642 001LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Japan | MGM Records 35MM 0135/6LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Germany | MGM Records 2642 001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Polydor 823 004-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Polydor 823 004-1 / Polydor 823 004-1 YLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | MGM Records 2642 001LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | MGM Records 665 109/110 / MGM Records 2613 001LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | MGM Records 2642 001LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Polydor 823 004-1 / Polydor 823 004-1 YLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MGM Records 2619 002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MGM Records 2619 002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
33 vinyl pressings of Love Is are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1968 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, New Zealand. One of them is MGM Records SE-4591-2.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SE-4591-2, MGM C 8105, MGM CS 8105, SE 4591/2) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SE-4591-2 SIDE-1 MGS-1812-2 (block-shaped "S") and SE-4591-2 SIDE-2 MGS-1813 (block-shaped "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.
