Vinyl pressings
by Jefferson Airplane · 1972
Long John Silver 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 7 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.
BARS-8531-1SSide A runout, variant 1
BARS-8532-1SSide B runout, variant 1
BARS-8531-4S-A 1R [United Sound logo]Side A runout, variant 3
BARS-8532-4S-A3A [United Sound logo]Side B runout, variant 3
BARS-8531-3S [United Sound logo] HSide A runout
BARS-8532-3S [United Sound logo] HSide B runout
BARS-8531Side A Label
BARS-8532Side B Label
BARS-8531A Side Label
BARS-8532B Side Label
BARS-8531-3S US⦾ HA Side Etch exc US⦾, H stamps
BARS-8532-3S US⦾ HB Side Etch exc US⦾, H stamps
BARS-8531-1S US⦾ I B1Side A runout, variant 1
BARS-8532-1S US⦾ I B2Side B runout, variant 1
BARS-8531-1S US⦾ I= C4Side A runout, variant 2
BARS-8532-1S US⦾ I- D4Side B runout, variant 2
BARS-8531-2S-A1H [United Sound logo] RSide A runout, var. 1
BARS-8532-4S-A3A [United Sound logo]Side B runout, var. 1
BARS-8531-2S-A2-M [United Sound logo] RSide A runout, var. 2
BARS-8532-4S-A4K [United Sound logo]Side B runout, var. 2
BARS-8531-2S-A2C [United Sound logo] RSide A runout
BARS-8532-4S-A1S [United Sound logo]Side B runout
BARS-8531Side A label
BARS-8532Side 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 | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Israel | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Grunt RCA-6040First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Grunt RCA-6040First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | South Africa | RCA Victor FTR 1007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Grunt FTR-1007 / Grunt FTR 1007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | GruntLP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1972 | US | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Grunt FTR-1007LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Grunt FTR-1007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | Grunt FL-43156LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | US | Grunt RCV1 587284 / Grunt 603497851829LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Grunt FTR 1007LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Grunt NL89133LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Grunt NL89133LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Grunt 26.21175 / Grunt FTR-1007LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Grunt BFL1 0920LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Grunt 26.21175 / Grunt 26.21175 ASLP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Grunt 26.21175 AS / Grunt FTR-1007LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
27 vinyl pressings of Long John Silver are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1972 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Germany, Canada and more. One of them is Grunt FTR-1007.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FTR-1007, RCA-6040, FTR 1007) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BARS-8531-1S and BARS-8532-1S. 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.
