Vinyl pressings
by John Hartford 路 1971
Aereo-Plain was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 3 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.
S 1 WS 1916-A Side One 39879-1B MPaulSide A runout
1 WS 1916-B Side II 39880-1A MPaulSide B runout
S39879Side A label
S39880Side B label
WS 1916 Side One 39879-1 Mpaul PSide A runout, variant 1
WS 1916 Side II 39880-1 Mpaul PSide B runout, variant 1
P WS 1916 Side One 39879-1 1 Mpaul A1Side A runout, variant 2
P WS 1916 Side II 39880-1 1 1 Mpaul A1Side B runout, variant 2
WS 1916 \ T Side One 39879-1-1 MpaulSide A runout
WS 1916 Side II T \ 39880-1-1 MpaulSide B runout
WS 1916-A 饾憜饾憱饾憫饾憭 饾憘饾憶饾憭 39879-1ASide A etching, variant 1
WS 1916-B 饾憜饾憱饾憫饾憭 饾惣饾惣 39880-1BSide B etching, variant 1
WS 1916-A 饾憜饾憱饾憫饾憭 饾憘饾憶饾憭 39879-1B S 1Side A etching, variant 2
WS 1916-B 饾憜饾憱饾憫饾憭 饾惣饾惣 39880-1A 1Side B etching, variant 2
K-46136-A1Side A Stamp
K-46136-B1Side B Stamp
S39879Matrix Side A
S39880Matrix Side B
W WS-1916-S1 (Q)Runout Side A [etched]
W WS-1916-S2 (Q)Runout Side B [etched]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916First yearLP, Album, Promo 路 Promo | LP, Album, Promo 路 Promo |
| 1971 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 46136First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label 路 Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label 路 Test pressing |
| 1971 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 46136LP, Album, Test Pressing 路 Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing 路 Test pressing |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916 / Warner Bros. Records 1916First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | US | Warner Records WS 1916 / Real Gone Music RGM-1501LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | US | Warner Records WS 1916 / Real Gone Music RGM-1501LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | US | Warner Records RGM-1501 / Real Gone Music RGM-1501LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo 路 Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo 路 Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916 / Warner Bros. Records 1916LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916 / Warner Bros. Records 1916LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1916 / Warner Bros. Records 1916LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
26 vinyl pressings of Aereo-Plain are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1971 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Canada. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WS 1916, released September 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1916, K 46136) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S 1 WS 1916-A Side One 39879-1B MPaul and 1 WS 1916-B Side II 39880-1A MPaul. 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.
