Vinyl pressings
by Faces · 1970
The First Step was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
23 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 12 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-3000-A2 1 JRunout side A etched variant 1
WS-3000-B2 1 HRunout side B etched variant 1
WS-3000-A2 1 PRunout side A etched variant 2
WS-3000-B2 1 NRunout side B etched variant 2
T 1 39662WS1851A-1ASide A runout
T 1 39663 WS-1851-B - 1-ESide B runout
S39662Side A label
S39663Side B label
p 39662 WS1851A-1C A 11Runout side A, variant 1
p 39663 WS18511B-1F A 3Runout side B, variant 1
p 39662 WS1851A -1C A 3Runout side A, variant 2
p 39663 WS1851B -1F A 6Runout side B, variant 2
S39662A Side Label
S39663B Side Label
39662 WS 1851 A-1B S 1A Side Etch
S1 39663 WS 1851 B-1GB Side Etch
S 1 39662 WS1851A-1B ASide A etched, variant 1
S 1 39663 WS-1851B-1GSide B etched, variant 1
1 S 39662 WS1851A-1B B4Side A etched, variant 2
S 1 39663 WS1851B-1GSide B etched, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Argentina | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 3000 / Music Hall 12.940First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1851First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 1851 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1851First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 1851 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1851First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 1851 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1851First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | France | Warner Bros. Records 1851 / Warner Bros. Records WS. 1851First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1851 / Warner Bros. Records 1851First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Italy | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WLS 1851First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records BP-8984First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records BP-8984First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Promo · Promo, Colored vinyl |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS Z 1851First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1106First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records HWBS 321-12 / Hispavox HWBS 321-12First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records HWBS 321-12First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1851 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1851LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | UK | Edsel Records ED 240 / Edsel Records ED240LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Edsel Records ED240 / Edsel Records ED 240LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M215LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 081227943172 / Warner Bros. Records 1851LP, Album, Reissue, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | US | Warner Bros. Records RCV1 1851LP, Album, Reissue, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Worldwide | Rhino Records R1 728527 / Warner Records 603497810642LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1851LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records WS 1851LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBS1851LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | South Korea | Warner Bros. Records 1851 / Life Studio 54 LIFE 147LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Edsel Records ED 240 / Edsel Records ED240LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1851LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1851LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 1851LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records SKAO-93230LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1851 / Warner Bros. Records 1851LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
58 vinyl pressings of The First Step are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1970 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in UK, US, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WS 3000, released March 21, 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 3000, WS 1851, 1851, WLS 1851) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WS-3000-A2 1 J and WS-3000-B2 1 H. 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.
