Vinyl pressings
by George Harrison · 1974
Dark Horse was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 17 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.
SMAS-1-3418-ZIL YEX 941 - 2 U RL 3Side A runout, variant 1
SMAS-2-3418-ZIL YEX 942 - 2 U OR 1Side B runout, variant 1
SMAS-1-3418-ZI2 YEX 941 - 2 U AP 3Side A runout, variant 2
SMAS-2-3418-ZI2 YEX 942 - 2 U OMSide B runout, variant 2
SMAS-2-3418-ZIL YEX 942 - 2 U OR 1Runout B etched / stamped
YEX 942Side B label
SMAS-1-3418-Z5 #2Side 1 runouts (Variant 1)
SMAS-2-3418-Z6 #3Side 2 runouts (Variant 1)
SMAS-1-3418-Z6 #2Side 1 runouts (Variant 2)
SMAS-2-3418-Z6 #4Side 2 runouts (Variant 2)
SMAS-1-3418-Z5 ─◁Side A runout, variant 1
SMAS-2-3418-Z6 ─◁Side B runout, variant 1
SMAS-1-3418-Z6 ─◁Side A runout, variant 2
SMAS-2-3418-Z13 #2 ─◁Side B runout, variant 2
SMAS-1-3418-Z'7 [circled 2]Side 1 (etched)
SMAS-2-3418-Z7 [circled 2]Side 2 (etched)
oSides 1 & 2 (stamped)(lightly)
Sub <--> SMAS 1-3418-Z3 #1Side 1 (etched) Alternate
SMAS-1-3418-Z13 ⦁ ─◁Side A runout, Variant 1
SMAS-2-3418-Z6#4 ⦁ ─◁Side B runout, Variant 1
SMAS-1-3418-Z5 #2 ⦁ ─◁Side A runout, Variant 2
SMAS-2-3418-Z5 #3 ⦁ ─◁Side B runout, Variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | Apple Records PAS 10008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Australia | Parlophone PASA 10008 / Parlophone PASA-10008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Brazil | Apple Records XBTL-1033First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Apple Records PAS 10008LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1974 | Colombia | Apple Records 11348First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Apple Records 1C062-05 774First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Apple Records 1C 062-05 774First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Apple Records 1C 062-05 774First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Greece | Apple Records PAS 10008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Greece | Apple Records PAS 10008LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1974 | Italy | Apple Records 3 C064-05774First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Italy | Apple Records 3C 054 - 05774First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Mozambique | Apple Records PASJ (D) 10008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Apple Records 5C 062-05774First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | South Africa | Parlophone CEY (M) 243First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records SN-16055LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | Music For Pleasure MFP 50510LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Belgium | Music For Pleasure 4M 026-05774 / Parlophone 4M 026-05774LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Belgium | Music For Pleasure 4M 026-05774LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Belgium | Music For Pleasure 4M 026-05774 / Parlophone 4M 026-05774LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Australia | Axis AXIS-6442LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Australia | Axis AX 1007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П94 00601LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1994 | Russia | AnTrop П94 00601 / AnTrop ATR 30173LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Apple Records PAS 10008 / Apple Records 5709034LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Worldwide | Dark Horse Records DH0038 / BMG 4099964011722LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2026 | Worldwide | Dark Horse Records DH0038Z / Dark Horse Records 964206951LP, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 066 05774D / Apple Records SBTL-1033LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Dominican Republic | Apple Records R.I. 13856 / Apple Records Sapcor 37LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Music For Pleasure 2M 026-05774LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Parlophone 1C 064 10 5774 1 / EMI 1C 064 10 5774 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Guatemala | EMI Records PAS 3311LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Israel | Parlophone PAS 10008LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Mozambique | Chrysalis PASJ (D) 10008LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | Apple Records 5C 062-05 774LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Peru | Apple Records ELD 02.08.231LP, Album | LP, Album |
68 vinyl pressings of Dark Horse are listed here, from 32 countries, released between 1974 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, New Zealand, Canada and more. One of them is Apple Records PAS 10008, released December 20, 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PAS 10008, SMAS-3418, S-APPLE-2031, SLEM - 562) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SMAS-1-3418-ZIL YEX 941 - 2 U RL 3 and SMAS-2-3418-ZIL YEX 942 - 2 U OR 1. 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.
