Vinyl pressings
by Gary McFarland · 1965
Soft Samba was first pressed on vinyl in 1965. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1965, the album's first year, in 7 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.
V-8603 64VG-182 1A-Side Runout Etching (variant 1)
V-8603 64VG-183B-Side Runout Etching (variant 1)
[s-shaped block stamp] VAN GELDERA-Side Runout, Stamped (variant 1)
[s-shaped block stamp] VAN GELDERB-Side Runout, Stamped (variant 1)
V6-8603 64VG-582 VAN GELDERSide A runout
V6-8603 64VGS-583 VAN GELDERSide B runout
64 VGS 582Side A label
64 VGS 583Side B label
V6-8603 64VGS-582 VAN GELDER [Block-shaped "S"]Runout side A
V6-8603 64VGS-583 VAN GELDER [Block-shaped "S"]Runout side B
64-VGS-582Label side A
64-VGS-583Label side B
V6-8603 64VGS-582Runout side A
V6-8603 64VGS-583Runout side B
64-VGS-582Label side A
64-VGS-583Label side B
V6-8603 SIDE-1 64VGS-582-RE-1Runout side A (etched)
11 2Runout side A (stamped)
V6-8603 SIDE-2 64VGS-583-RE-1Runout side B (etched)
12 1Runout side B (stamped)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Australia | Verve Records V6-8603First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | Canada | Verve Records V6-8603 / Verve Records V6 8603(E)First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | Japan | Verve Records V6-8603First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | Mexico | Verve Records 70015First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | New Zealand | Verve Records V 8603First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | UK | Verve Records VLP. 9095First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Verve Records V6-8603First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Verve Records V-8603First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1965 | US | Verve Records V6-8603First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Verve Records V6-8603First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Verve Records V-8603First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Verve Records V-8603First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Verve Records V6-8603First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Verve Records V6-8786LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Brazil | Verve Records VELP 78.013LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | Japan | Verve Records MV 2102LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Verve Records VMLP-14057LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Verve Records SMAS-90538 / Verve Records 90538LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
18 vinyl pressings of Soft Samba are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1965 and 1977.
The earliest pressings are from 1965, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Verve Records V-8603, released February 1965.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V-8603, V6-8603, VLP. 9095, 70015) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, V-8603 64VG-182 1 and V-8603 64VG-183. 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.
