Vinyl pressings
by Frank Zappa · 1969
Hot Rats was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 10 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.
RS-6356 A 30926 P o A 2Side A, var. 1
RS-6356 B 1̶7̶5̶2̶1̶ 30927 P o A 6Side B, var. 1
RS 6356 A 1̶7̶5̶2̶0̶ 30926 P o 3Side A, var. 2
RS 6356 B 1̶7̶5̶2̶1̶ 30927 P o A 3Side B, var. 2
RS-6356-A S 1̶7̶5̶2̶0̶ 30926-1B A 16Side A variant 1
RS6356B-1A (S) B 6 S1 30927Side B variant 1
S RS-6356-A 1̶7̶5̶2̶0̶ 30826-1B A 14Side A variant 3
RS-6356-B S 1̶7̶5̶2̶1̶ 30927-1ASide B variant 3
T1 RS 6356A 30926-1 oRunout, side A etched, variant 1
T1 RS 6356B 30927-1Runout, side B etched, variant 1
T1 RS 6356A 30926-1 B7Runout, side A etched, variant 2
T1 RS 6356B 30927-1 A17Runout, side B etched, variant 2
RS-6356-A(30926)-1Hand-etched A-side runout
RS-6356 -30927 - 2 F (RE-1)Hand-etched B-side runout
30,926Label A
30,927Label B
P RS - 6356 - A (30926) - 1 Λ CA-Side runout
P RS - 6356 - 30927 - 2 F (RE - 1) D 2B-Side runout
T1 0 RS 6356 A 30926-1 TX :DSide A runout etched, 0, :D stamped
RS-6356⋅30927-2 F (RE-1) :DSide B runout etched, :D stamped
30,926Side A label
30,927Side B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Canada | Bizarre Records RS 6356 / Reprise Records RS 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Colombia | Bizarre Records RS 6356 / Reprise Records RS 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | France | Reprise Records SRV.6108 / Reprise Records RS.6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | France | Reprise Records SRV. 6108 / Reprise Records RS. 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | France | Reprise Records SRV. 6108 / Reprise Records RS. 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | Reprise Records RS 6356 / Bizarre Records RS 6356First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Mexico | Reprise Records GX 01-366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Mexico | Reprise Records GX 01-366First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Mexico | Reprise Records GX 01-366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | South Africa | Reprise Records RRC 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Bizarre Records RS 6356 / Reprise Records RS 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Bizarre Records RS6356 / Bizarre Records RS 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Bizarre Records RS6356 / Reprise Records RS 6356First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Bizarre Records RS 6356 / Reprise Records RS 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Bizarre Records RS 6356 / Reprise Records RS 6356First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Reprise Records RS 6356 / Bizarre Records RS 6356LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Australia | Reprise Records RS 6356 / Bizarre Records RS 6356LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Reprise Records RS 6356 / Bizarre Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | Germany | Reprise Records RS 6356 / Bizarre Records RS 6356LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | Germany | Reprise Records RS 6356 / Bizarre Records RS 6356LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | Italy | Reprise Records SRI 6356LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Bizarre Records RSLP 6356 / Reprise Records RSLP 6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1970 | UK | Bizarre Records RSLP 6356 / Reprise Records RSLP 6356LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | Argentina | Reprise Records 12.927/112.927 / Music Hall 12.927/112.927LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Argentina | Reprise Records 12.927 / Music Hall 12.927LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1971 | Canada | Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | France | Reprise Records 44 078 / Bizarre Records N° 44078LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | France | Bizarre Records 44078 / Reprise Records N° 44078LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | UK | Reprise Records K 44078LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | Reprise Records K 44078LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Brazil | Reprise Records 84.002 / Bizarre Records 84.002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | US | Bizarre Records RS 6356 / Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records BPR 8888-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records BPR 8888LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | France | Reprise Records K 44078-5LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| 2009 | USA & Europe | Reprise Records K 44078-5 / Classic Records RS6356LP, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | LP, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
| 2009 | US | Classic Records RS 6356 / Barking Pumpkin Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | US | Classic Records RS6356 / Barking Pumpkin Records RS6356LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2009 | US | Classic Records RS6356 / Barking Pumpkin Records RS6356LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | US | Classic Records RS6356 / Barking Pumpkin Records RS6356LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Zappa Records ZR 3841-1 / Barking Pumpkin Records ZR 3841-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | US | Zappa Records ZR 3841-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2018 | US | Zappa Records ZR 3841-1 / Universal Music Group International ZR 3841-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | US | Zappa Records ZR 3841-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | Europe | Zappa Records ZR 3841Z-1 / Zappa Records ZR 3841-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | Zappa Records 700205 / Elemental Music 700205LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Music Hall 12927 / Reprise Records 12927LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Australia | Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Austria | Reprise Records 44 078 / Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Belgium | Reprise Records 44078 / Reprise Records REP 44 078LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records RS 6356 / Bizarre Records RS6356LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Bizarre Records RS6356 / Reprise Records RS6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records RS 6356 / Reprise Records RS6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records 59 021LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Reprise Records 44 078 / Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Reprise Records REP 44078 / Reprise Records RS 6356LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 44 078LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Bizarre Records 44 078 / Reprise Records REP 44 078LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records 44 078 / Reprise Records REP 44078LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records 44 078 / Reprise Records REP 44078LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
150 vinyl pressings of Hot Rats are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1969 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Israel, Canada and more. One of them is Bizarre Records RS 6356, released October 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RS 6356, RS6356, RSLP 6356, SRV.6108) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RS-6356 A 30926 P o A 2 and RS-6356 B 1̶7̶5̶2̶1̶ 30927 P o A 6. 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.
