Vinyl pressings
by John Lennon & Yoko Ono · 1971
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) 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.
17 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-45X-47663 Z3 (with 3 dots under it) Bell Sound sf ─◁Runout side A: etched [stamped: Bell Sound]
S-45X-47664 Z4 (with 3 dots under it) Bell Sound sf ─◁Runout side B: etched [stamped: Bell Sound]
45-47663Label side A
45-47664Label side B
S-45X-47663 Z5 1842 # 2 Bell Sound sfSide A [The Z5 has 3 dots under it and "sf" Is lower case script], variant 1
S-45X-47664 Z5 1842 # 21 Bell Sound sfSide B [The Z5 has 3 dots under it and "sf" Is lower case script], variant 1
S-45X-47663 Z5 1842 #6 Bell Sound sf 0Side A [The Z5 has 3 dots under it and "sf" Is lower case script], variant 2
S-45X-47664 Z5 1842 #3 Bell Sound sf 0Side B [The Z5 has 3 dots under it and "sf" Is lower case script], variant 2
S-45X-47663 Z4 #3 sf ─◁ Bell SoundRunout A, variant 1
S-45X-47664 Z3 sf ─◁ Bell SoundRunout B, variant 1
S-45X-47663 Z3 sf ─◁ Bell SoundRunout A, variant 2
S-45X-47664 Z3 sf ─◁ Bell SoundRunout B, variant 2
S-45X-47663 Z8 4 ✲ Bell Sound s𝑓Side A Runout, variant 1
S-45X-47664 Z7 1 ✲ Bell Sound s𝑓Side B Runout, variant 1
S-45X-47663 Z7• 1 ✲ Bell Sound sfSide A Runout, variant 2
S-45X-47664 Z7 1 ✲ Bell Sound sfSide B Runout, variant 2
S-45X-47663-Z9 Bell Sound sfRunout A
S-45X-47664-Z9 Bell Sound sfRunout B
S-45X-47663 Z5 1842#6 Bell Sound sf 0Runout A
S-45X-47664 Z5 1842#4 Bell Sound sf 0Runout B
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 | Angola | Apple Records 8E 00605062MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | Japan | Apple Records AR-2943First year7", Single · Colored vinyl | 7", Single · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | Japan | Apple Records AR-29437", Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | Japan | Apple Records AR-2943First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records S-45X-47663First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | US | Apple Records 1842First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | France | Apple Records 2C 008-051837", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1980 | Ireland | Parlophone R 59707", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Apple Records 1A 006-051837", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | Apple Records R 59707", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1980 | UK | Apple Records R 59707", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1981 | Australia | Apple Records A-100477", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1982 | Australia | Parlophone A 100477", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records 18427", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records 18427", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records 18427", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1985 | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 006 05183Y7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Capitol Records SPRO-989412", 33 ⅓ RPM, Numbered, Promo · Promo, Numbered, Colored vinyl | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Numbered, Promo · Promo, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 1986 | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 052 105183Z12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Capitol Records SPRO-9929 / Capitol Records SPRO-993012", Single, Reissue, Promo, Limited Edition · Promo, Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", Single, Reissue, Promo, Limited Edition · Promo, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1987 | Australia | Parlophone A 100477", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Netherlands | EMI 1051837 / Apple Records 10518377", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1993 | US | Capitol Records S7-17644 / CEMA Special Markets S7-176447", Single, Jukebox, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", Single, Jukebox, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1993 | US | Capitol Records S7-17644 / CEMA Special Markets S7-176447", Single, Jukebox, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", Single, Jukebox, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Worldwide | Apple Records 06024785038637", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Japan | Lenono Music UIKY-75123 / Universal Music Group International UIKY-751237", Single, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | 7", Single, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2025 | Worldwide | Universal Music Recordings 0602478529665 / Lenono Music 060247852966512", 45 RPM, Single, Picture Disc · Picture disc | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 006 05183Y7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 006 05183Y7", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 006 05183Y7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Apple Records 1 C 006-05 1837", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Apple Records 1A 006-05183 / Apple Records 1A006-051837", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Apple Records R59707", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Guatemala | Apple Records 41487", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Odeon EAS-171267", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Odeon EAS-171267", Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| ? | Netherlands | Apple Records 1A 006-051837", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Apple Records 1A006-05183 / Apple Records 1A 006-06187", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Sweden | Apple Records R 59707", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Parlophone R 59707", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Jukebox, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Apple Records R 59707", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Apple Records R 59707", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
117 vinyl pressings of Happy Xmas (War Is Over) are listed here, from 30 countries, released between 1971 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, Japan, Angola. One of them is Apple Records 1842, released December 1, 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 1842, S-45X-47663, AR-2943, 8E 00605062M) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S-45X-47663 Z3 (with 3 dots under it) Bell Sound sf ─◁ and S-45X-47664 Z4 (with 3 dots under it) Bell Sound sf ─◁. 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.
