Vinyl pressings
by Eric Burdon & The Animals · 1968
The Twain Shall Meet 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.
25 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 15 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-4537 SIDE 1 MGS-1364 REV 41 [Block-shaped S]Runout A variant 1
SE-4537 SIDE 2 MGS-1365 32 [Block-shaped S]Runout B variant 1
SE-4537 SIDE 1 MGS-1364 REV-1 11 [Block-shaped T]Runout A variant 2
SE-4537 SIDE 2 MGS-1365-112 [Block-shaped T]Runout B variant 2
SE-4537 SIDE 1 MGS-1364 REVA-Side Etched
SE-4537 SIDE 2 MGS-1365B-Side Etched
SE-4537 SIDE 1 MGS-1364Center Deadwax Side A Etched
SE-4537 SIDE 2 MGS-1365Center Deadwax Side B Etched
SE-4537 SIDE 1 MGS-1364 REV 42 [Block-shaped S]Variant 1: runout A etched, 41 [Block-shaped S] stamped
SE-4537 SIDE 2 MGS-1365 36 [Block-shaped S]Variant 1: runout B etched, 32 [Block-shaped S] stamped
E-4537 SIDE 1 MG-1364 REV 21 [Block-shaped "S"]Runout A
E-4537 SIDE 2 MG-1365 [Block-shaped "S"]Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Australia | MGM Records SE 4537 / MGM Records SE-4537First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Australia | MGM Records SE 4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Brazil | MGM Records LP 31.004 / MGM Records LP-31.004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Brazil | MGM Records LP 31.004First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1968 | Canada | MGM Records SE 4537LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1968 | Canada | MGM Records SE 4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Chile | MGM Records SE4537 / MGM Records SE-4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Germany | MGM Records 665 091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Germany | MGM Records 665 091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Greece | MGM Records 665 091 / MGM Records 665 091First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Italy | MGM Records SMGL 50.009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Italy | MGM Records SMGL 50.009LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1968 | Mexico | MGM Records 660054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | MGM Records SE 4537First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Scandinavia | MGM Records 665 091First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Germany | MGM Records SE4537 / MGM Records SE-4537LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | MGM Records 2354 044Album, LP, Stereo, Reissue | Album, LP, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | MGM Records 24 75 228LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Germany | Polydor 2391 561LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Polydor 2391 561LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Mexico | Polydor 822 288-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | Greece | Polydor 2354044LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | Greece | Polydor 2354044LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 1987 | Greece | Polydor 2354044LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Germany | Polydor 2391 561LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5488 / MGM Records LP 5488LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2019 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5488 / MGM Records LP 5488LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | MGM Records SE 4537LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2391 561Album, LP, Reissue | Album, LP, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2391561LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | MGM Records SE-4537LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
48 vinyl pressings of The Twain Shall Meet are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1968 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is MGM Records SE-4537.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SE-4537, SE4537, E4537, CS 8074) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SE-4537 SIDE 1 MGS-1364 REV 41 [Block-shaped S] and SE-4537 SIDE 2 MGS-1365 32 [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.
