Vinyl pressings
by Fleetwood Mac · 1973
Penguin was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
28 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 14 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.
K 44235 A 6 D STERLING MS-2138 31566-A-RE-1BSide A runout
K 44235 B 9 A STERLING MS-2138 3⃫1⃫5⃫6⃫6⃫-⃫1⃫ 31567-1B BSide B runout
K 44235 ASide A label
K 44235 BSide B label
K 44235 A 6 B STERLING C MS-2138 31566-A-RE-1BSide A runout
K 44235 B 4 A STERLING D MS-2138 3⃫1⃫5⃫6⃫6⃫-⃫1⃫ 31567-1B BSide B runout
K 44235 ASide A label
K 44235 BSide B label
MS-2138 31566-A-RE-1BSide I etched, variant 1
MS-2138 XXXXXXX 31567-1B BSide II etched, variant 1
I S MS-2138 31566-A-RE-1B A5Side I etched, variant 2
I S MS-2138 XXXXXXX 31567-1B B A7Side II etched, variant 2
T/MS-2138 31566-1 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
T/MS-2138-31567-1C STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
T1 MS-2138 31566-1 STERLING C4Side A runout, variant 2
T1 MS-2318 31567-1 STERLING 6BSide B runout, variant 2
MS-2138 31566-1 STERLING PSide A runout, variant 1
MS-2138 31567-1 X STERLING PSide B runout, variant 1
MS-2138 31566-1 STERLING C 1 PSide A runout, variant 2
MS-2138 31567-1 X STERLING PSide B runout, variant 2
R114519A 1Side 1
R114519B 1Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Barbados | Reprise Records MS 2138First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Brazil | Reprise Records RLLP 2.035 / Reprise Records RLLP-2.035First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Reprise Records REP 44 235 / Reprise Records MS 2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 44 235 / Reprise Records MS 2138First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 44 235 / Reprise Records MS 2138First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | India | Reprise Records MS 2138First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Reprise Records K 44235First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Reprise Records P-8349RFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Japan | Reprise Records P-8349RFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Reprise Records K 44235First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Reprise Records RS 2138First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Spain | Reprise Records REP 44 235 / Hispavox S 50.081First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Reprise Records K 44235LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Reprise Records 44235LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Reprise Records P-6380RLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Reprise Records S 50.081LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Reprise Records S 50.081LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Reprise Records R1 2138LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Reprise Records REP 44 235 / Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 44 235 / Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Reprise Records MS 2138 / WEA MS 2138LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | Reprise Records REP 44 235LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 44235LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Reprise Records K 44235LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Reprise Records MS 2138LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
54 vinyl pressings of Penguin are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1973 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, Australia, Barbados and more. One of them is Reprise Records K 44235, released May 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use K 44235, MS 2138, RLLP 2.035, REP 44 235) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, K 44235 A 6 D STERLING MS-2138 31566-A-RE-1B and K 44235 B 9 A STERLING MS-2138 3⃫1⃫5⃫6⃫6⃫-⃫1⃫ 31567-1B B. 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.
