Vinyl pressings
by Gentle Giant · 1972
Octopus was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 4 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.
6360080 1Y // 1 ▽ 420Side A, variant 1
6360080 2Y // 1 ▽ 420Side B, variant 1
6360080 1Y // 1 ▽ 420 1 1 2 04Side A runout, stamped, variant 2
6360080 2Y // 1 ▽ 420 1 1 4 04Side B runout, stamped, variant 2
6360080 1Y // 1 ▽ 420 1 3 2 04Side A runout, stamped
6360080 2Y // 1 ▽ 420 1 1 4 04Side B runout, stamped
6360080 1Y // 1 ▽ 420Side A runout, stamped variant 1
6360080 2Y // 1 ▽ 420Side B runout, stamped variant 1
6360080 1Y // 1 ▽ 420 1 1 6 04Side A runout, stamped, variant 2
6360080 2Y // 1 ▽ 420 1 1 2 04Side B runout, stamped, variant 2
A MX168663 6300 080-1Stamped runout side 1
A MX168664 6300 080-2Stamped runout side 2
6300 080-1Label side 1 (displayed on side 2)
6300 080-2Label side 2
10 AA6360080 1Y 320Side A runout
10 AA6360080 2Y //2 320Side B runout
04 6360080 1Y//1▽420 1 3 2Stamped Side A
04 6360080 2Y //1▽420 1 1 1Stamped Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Australia | Vertigo 6360 080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Vertigo 6360 080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Vertigo 6360 080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Vertigo 6360 080First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Italy | Vertigo 6360 080 AFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Italy | Vertigo 6360 080 ALP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1972 | UK | Vertigo 6360 080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Vertigo 6360 080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Vertigo 6360 080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | Vertigo 6360 080LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32022LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32022LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32022LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 32022LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Vertigo 6360 080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Netherlands | Vertigo 6360 080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Liechtenstein | Tapestry Records TPT281LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2015 | Europe | Alucard ALUGGV054LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Alucard ALUGGV61LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia WKC 32022 / Columbia KC 32022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia KC 32022LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Vertigo 6360 080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Vertigo 6360 080LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Vertigo 6360 080LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Vertigo 6360 080LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Liechtenstein | Tapestry Records TPT 281LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
| ? | Liechtenstein | Tapestry Records TPT 281LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial, Test pressing, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial, Test pressing, Limited |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32022 / Columbia 32022LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia KC 32022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32022 / Columbia 32022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32022 / Columbia 32022LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 32022 / Columbia 32022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
43 vinyl pressings of Octopus are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1972 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in UK, Australia, Germany, Italy. One of them is Vertigo 6360 080, released December 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6360 080, 6360 080 A) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6360080 1Y // 1 ▽ 420 and 6360080 2Y // 1 ▽ 420. 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.
