Vinyl pressings
by Herbie Hancock · 1969
Fat Albert Rotunda was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1969, 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.
WS-1834-A 39619-3 1A VAN GELDERSide A Runout Etched & Stamped - Variant 1
WS-1834-B 39620-3 1B VAN GELDERSide B Runout Etched & Stamped - Variant 1
S I WS·1834-A 39619-4 1A VAN GELDER A1Side A Runout Etched & Stamped - Variant 2
S I WS·1834-B 39620-4·1A VAN GELDER A2Side B Runout Etched & Stamped - Variant 2
Ƨ I WS-1834-A 39619-4 1A VAN GELDER A5A-Side Runout Etching
S I WS-1834-B 39620-5 1B VAN GELDER A2B-Side Runout Etching
S39619A-Side Label
S39620B-Side Label
S39619Side A Label
S39620Side B Label
S 39619Runout groove side A, H
S 39620Runout groove side B, H
S. 39619Center label side A
S. 39620Center label side B
S-039619-Runout Side A, stamped, variant 1
S-039620-Runout Side B, stamped, variant 1
S-039619- B Manufactured in GermanyRunout Side A, stamped, variant 2
ⅠRunout Side A, etched, variant 2
WS.1834-A 39619-4 1A (scratched) VAN GELDER (stamped)Side 1 runout
WS.1834-B 39620-5 1B (scratched) VAN GELDER (stamped)Side 2 runout
S.39619Side 1 label
S.39620Side 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834 / Warner Bros. Records 1834First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1834 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS. 1834First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1834First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBS 1834First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1834 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records ST-93172LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1834First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Stereo, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1834First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834 / Warner Bros. Records 1834LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1834 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1834 / Warner Bros. Records ST-93172LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1834 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1834 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1834 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1974 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 46039LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K46039LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, White Label, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, White Label, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834 / Warner Bros. Records 1834LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834 / Warner Bros. Records 1834LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 293LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1976 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 293LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1976 | UK & Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 293LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 9362-47540-1 / Warner Jazz 9362-47540-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2006 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2187 / Warner Bros. Records 1834LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2019 | US | Antarctica Starts Here ASH301LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2187 / Warner Records 1834LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Impact Re-Issues WS 1834LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834 / Warner Bros. Records 1834LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 293LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 293LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records BP-8986LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records BP-8986LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Colored vinyl |
| ? | UK | Warner Bros. Records K46039 / Warner Bros. Records K 46039LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 1834 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1834LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1834 / Warner Bros. Records 1834LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
39 vinyl pressings of Fat Albert Rotunda are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1969 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, Canada, France, Germany and more. One of them is Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1834.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1834, 1834, WBS 1834) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WS-1834-A 39619-3 1A VAN GELDER and WS-1834-B 39620-3 1B VAN GELDER. 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.
