Vinyl pressings
by Head East · 1975
Flat As A Pancake was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. 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 1975, the album's first year, in 5 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.
A&M SP4811-T1 T1Variant 1 Side A Etched
A&M SP4812-T1 T1Variant 1 Side B Etched
T1 A&M SP 4811 - T1Variant 2 Side A Etched
T2 A&M SP 4812 - T2Variant 2 Side B Etched
PANCAKE AEtched Side A
PANCAKE BEtched Side B
KENDUN AStamped both sides
AMSP4811-MI (MR) △11927Variant 1, Runout Side A
AMSP4812-MB-REPL (MR) △11927-X2 Side BVariant 1, Runout Side B
A+M SP 4811-M1 (MR) △11927(1)Variant 2, Runout Side A
A+M SP 4812-M2-REPL (MR) △11927-X (1)Variant 2, Runout Side B
T1 A&M SP 4811 T4 ･Runout side A, variant 1
T1 A&M SP4812-B̵ T5Runout side B, variant 1
T1 A&M SP 4811 T4 ･Runout side A, variant 2
T2 A&M SP4812-B̶̵ T5 C1Runout side B, variant 2
A&M SP4811-P1Side A Etched
A&M SP4812-P1Side B Etched
A&MSP.4811- IND.MR 2 I B2 ESide 1, etched, "MR" in circle scratched over, "I", "B2" stamped - Variant 1
A&M SP-4812- IND-4 I A1 ASide 2, etched, "I", "A1" stamped - Variant 1
A&M SP.4811- IND.MR 2 I B2 HSide 1, etched, "MR" in circle scratched over, "I", "B2" stamped - Variant 2
A&M SP-4812- IND-4 I A2 CSide 2, etched, "I", "A2" stamped - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | A&M Records L 35744First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | New Zealand | A&M Records L 35744First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 64537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | US | Pyramid RecordsFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | A&M Records SP-4537First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | US | A&M Records SP-3196LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4537LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4537LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4537LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3196LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-4537LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-4537LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records A&MSP 3196 (sticker over jacket edge) / A&M Records SP-4537 (label)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
22 vinyl pressings of Flat As A Pancake are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1975 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4537.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4537, AMLH 64537, L 35744) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A&M SP4811-T1 T1 and A&M SP4812-T1 T1. 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.
