Vinyl pressings
by Joan Baez · 1966
Noël was first pressed on vinyl in 1966. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
33 pressings came out in 1966, the album's first year, in 15 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.
XTV 123040-3 oA side runout etched
VSD 79230B V̶T̶V̶ ̶1̶2̶3̶0̶ 4̶ ̶1̶-3 oB side runout etched
XSV 123040A side label
XSV 123041B side label
VRS 9230A XTV123038-3 Rie JIIIIIIIEtched, Side A runout, variant 1
VRS 9230B Rie TEtched, Side B runout, variant 1 [T is stamped]
o VRS 9230A XTV123038-3 Rie AEtched, Side A runout, variant 2 [o is stamped]
o VRS 9230B XTV123039-3 Rie A5Etched, Side B runout, variant 2 [o is stamped]
SP-04809-A-S3 SXSide A
SP-04809-B-S1 SXSide B
VSD 79230 A XTV 123040-3 0A side runout - etched, exc. o is stamped
VSD W̶P̶S̶ 79230 B-- RB side runout - etched, exc. o is stamped
VSD 79230 A XTV 123040-3 R A4 o \Side A runout variant
VSD 79230 B XTV 123041-3 R A1 \ oSide B runout variant
VSD 79230 A RA side runout etched
VSD 79230 B RB side runout etched
VRS 9230A RSide A runout, etched
VRS 9230B RSide B runout, etched
VRS-9230-ASide A label
VRS-9230-BSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Argentina | Vanguard 90.087First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Australia | Vanguard VRS 9230 / Vanguard VRS-9230First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Australia | Vanguard VRS 9230First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Australia | Vanguard VRS 9230First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Australia | Vanguard VSD 79230First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Austria | Amadeo AVRS 9215 St / Amadeo AVRS 9215First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1966 | Austria | Amadeo AVRS 9215 St / Amadeo AVRS 9215First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | Vanguard VSD 79230First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | Vanguard VSD 79230First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | Vanguard VRS 9230First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Canada | Vanguard VSD 79230First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Chile | Vanguard 70 . 087 / Vanguard 70.087First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1966 | France | Vanguard AVRS 9215 St / Vanguard AVRS 9215First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Germany | Vanguard VSD 79230 / Vanguard VSD-79230First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Italy | Vanguard SVAL 33.007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | South Africa | Vanguard VAC 79230LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | Vanguard VSD-79230LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Vanguard VSD-79230LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Vanguard VSD-79230 / Vanguard VRS • 9230LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1970 | US | Vanguard VSD-79230LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Vanguard VSD-79230 / Vanguard VRS • 9230LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1972 | UK | Vanguard VRS 8506LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1972 | UK | Vanguard VRS 8506 / Vanguard VSD 79230LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Vanguard GP 339LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1975 | Mexico | Clave CCL-188 / Gamma CCL-188LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Philippines | Vanguard VSD-79230LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Vanguard VSD 79230 / Vanguard VSD-79230LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Vanguard VSD-79230LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Vanguard VSD-79230LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1979 | Japan | Vanguard GXC-127LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | South Korea | Vanguard HVL-3011LP | LP |
| 1981 | Portugal | Vanguard CL 73156LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1981 | Portugal | Vanguard VAN 54-4LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Portugal | Vanguard 626810LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | UK | Vanguard VFLP 5107LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | US | Vanguard VSD-79230LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Vanguard 70.087 / Vanguard 79.230LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Argentina | Music Hall 90.087LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | France | Amadeo AVRS 9215 St / Amadeo AVRS 9215 GULP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Vanguard VSD 23018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Vanguard AVRS 9215 StLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| ? | France | Vanguard VSD 23018LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Vanguard AVRS 9215 St / Vanguard AVRS 9215LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Vanguard 519215 / Vanguard 519.215LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Vanguard 0062.190LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Amadeo AVRS 9215 St / Amadeo 909 215 ABYLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Amadeo AVRS 9215 St / Amadeo 909 215 ABYLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | Vanguard HVAS 471-05 / Vanguard HVA 471-05LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | Sweden | Amadeo AVRS 9215 St / Amadeo AVRS 9215 GULP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Switzerland | Amadeo AVRS 9215 StLP, Album, Special Edition | LP, Album, Special Edition |
| ? | Switzerland | Amadeo AVRS 9215 StLP, Album, Special Edition | LP, Album, Special Edition |
75 vinyl pressings of Noël are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1966 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1966, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Vanguard VSD 79230.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VSD 79230, VRS-9230, VSD-79230, VRS-79230) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XTV 123040-3 o and VSD 79230B V̶T̶V̶ ̶1̶2̶3̶0̶ 4̶ ̶1̶-3 o. 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.
