Vinyl pressings
by Gentle Giant · 1972
Three Friends 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.
14 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 8 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.
6360070 1Y// 2∇420 1 1 12A-side runout stamped, variant 1
6360070 1Y// 2∇420 1 1 12B-side runout stamped, variant 1
6360070 1Y// 2∇420 1 1 8 04A-side runout stamped, variant 2
6360070 2Y// 2∇420 1 1 9 04B-side runout stamped, variant 2
6360070 1Y// 2∇420 11 1A-side runout stamped, variant 1
6360070 1Y// 2∇420 11 1B-side runout stamped, variant 1
6360070 1Y// 2∇420 1 1 8 04A-side runout stamped, variant 2
6360070 2Y// 2∇420 1 1 9 04B-side runout stamped, variant 2
6360070 1Y//2▽420 11 7 4A-side stamped, variant 1
6360070 2Y//2▽420 11 4 04B-side stamped, variant 1
6360070 1Y//2▽420 11 3 4A-side stamped, variant 2
6360070 2Y//2▽420 11 3 04B-side stamped, variant 2
P AL 31649-1B DSide A stamped, variant 1
P P BL 31649-1D ∧Side B stamped, variant 1
P AL 31649-1A DSide A stamped, variant 2
P BL-31649-1BSide B stamped, variant 2
o T P AL 31649-1A P XSide A
o P BL-31649-1B P X T cSide B
AL 31649Side A label
BL 31649Side B label
P AL 31649-1C I I ɅISide A runout
P BL 31649-1C I ISide B runout
AL 31649Side A label
BL 31649Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Canada | Columbia KC 31649First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Vertigo 6360 070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Italy | Vertigo 6360 070 LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Italy | Vertigo 6360 070 L / Vertigo 6360070 LFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Spain | Vertigo 63 60 070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Vertigo 6360 070First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31649First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31649First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31649First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31649First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Australia | Vertigo 6360 070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Brazil | Vertigo 6360 070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Vertigo 6360 070LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1972 | UK | Vertigo 6360 070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Vertigo 6360 070First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П94 RAT 30815LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Tapestry Records TPT 271LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2019 | Unknown | Orange 70006LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Alucard ALUGGV60LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia KC 31649LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WKC 31649 / Columbia KC 31649LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WKC 31649 / Columbia KC 31649LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Vertigo 9198 629 / Vertigo 6360 070LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Vertigo 6360 070 LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Vertigo 6360070 A / Vertigo 6360 070 LLP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Vertigo 6360070LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Vertigo 6360 070LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 31649 / Columbia 31649LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 31649LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia KC 31649 / Columbia PC 31649LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 31649 / Columbia 31649LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 31649 / Columbia 31649LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
44 vinyl pressings of Three Friends are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1972 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in UK, US, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Vertigo 6360 070, released April 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6360 070, KC 31649, 6360 070 L, 63 60 070) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6360070 1Y// 2∇420 1 1 12 and 6360070 1Y// 2∇420 1 1 12. 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.
