Vinyl pressings
by John Lennon · 1971
Imagine 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.
46 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 27 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.
04940 - A 30 - 12 - 71 IIEtching side A
04940 - B 19 - 10 - 71 IEtching side B
04940-A-21-10-71 IIEtching side A, variant 2
04940-A-19-10-71 IEtching side B, variant 2
S-45-47579 Z2 Bell Sound sf IAM(logo)Var. A Side Runout
S-45-47582 Z1 Bell Sound sf IAM(logo)Var. B Side Runout
S-47579Label A
S-45-X47579Var. Label A Side
S-45X-47579 Z12 ─◁ Bell Sound sfSide A runout, variation 1
S-45X-47582 Z4 Bell Sound sfSide B runout, variation 1
S45-X47579-F11 ─◁ Bell Sound sfSide A runout, variation 2
S-45X-47582 Z3 Bell Sound sfSide B runout, variation 2
S-45X-47579 Z5 1840 #3 Bell Sound sf 0Variant 1 - A Side Runout
S-47582 Z6 1840 #3 Bell Sound sf 0Variant 1 - B Side Runout
S-45X-47579 Z13 1840 #1 Bell Sound sf 0Variant 2 - A Side Runout
S-45X-47582 Z13 1840 #2 Bell Sound sf 0Variant 2 - B Side Runout
S-45X-47579 Z14 ✲ Bell Sound sfSide A runout, variant 1
S-45X-47582 Z14 ✲ Bell Sound sfSide B runout, variant 1
S-45-X47579-F1 2 ✲Side A runout, variant 2
S-45-X47582-Z7• 1 ✲ Bell Sound sfSide B runout variant 2
S45X47579F21 IAMRunout A
S-45X-47582 Z2#3 Bell Sound sf IAMRunout B
S-45-X47579Label A side
S-45-X47582Label B side
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 | Parlophone 8E 00604940 MFirst year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Canada | Apple Records 1840First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Chile | Apple Records APPLE-31First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Chile | Apple Records APPLE-31First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Chile | Apple Records APPLE_31First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint |
| 1971 | Chile | Apple Records APPLE-31First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Chile | Apple Records APPLE-31First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Denmark | Apple Records 1840First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1971 | Denmark | Apple Records 1840First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1971 | Denmark | Apple Records 1840First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1971 | France | Apple Records 2C 006-04940 M / Apple Records 2C 006-04940First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1971 | France | Apple Records 2C 006-04940First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | France | Apple Records 2C006-04940First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Germany | Apple Records 1C 006-04 940First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Germany | Apple Records 1C 006-04 940First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Apple Records A-97087", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1980 | Germany | Parlophone 1C 006-04 9407", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Parlophone NZP 34127", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1981 | Australia | Apple Records A-97087", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1981 | France | Apple Records 2C 008-04940 / Apple Records 2C 008-04.9407", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue |
| 1981 | Germany | Apple Records 1C 052-04940 YZ / Apple Records 1 C 052-04 940 YZ12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM | 12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM |
| 1981 | Mexico | Apple Records 70007", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Apple Records 1A 006-049407", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Australia | Parlophone A-97087", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1983 | Canada | Capitol Records 18407", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records 18407", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records 18407", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1987 | Australia | Parlophone A-97087", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Capitol Records 18407", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | US | Capitol Records S7-57849 / CEMA Special Markets S7-578497", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Europe | Apple Records 5099963102178 / Parlophone 50999631021787", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Special Edition | 7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Special Edition |
| 2010 | UK | Apple Records 63102177", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2016 | UK | Secret 7" S7337", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Single, Limited Edition · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Single, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Apple Records DTOA 87817", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Argentina | Apple Records 00447", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Barbados | Parlophone 18407", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| ? | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 006 04940 Y7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 006 04940Y7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records 18407", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | France | Apple Records 2C 004-04940 M7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| ? | Germany | Apple Records 1C 006-04 9407", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Apple Records 1 C 006-04 9407", Single, 45 RPM, Repress | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Apple Records 1C 006-04 9407", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| ? | Japan | Apple Records AR-29297", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| ? | Lebanon | Apple Records 04940 MB7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| ? | Poland | Art & Muzyka ARM-22084-1Flexi-disc, 45 RPM, Picture Disc · Picture disc | Flexi-disc, 45 RPM, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| ? | Thailand | Not On Label (John Lennon) 1840 / Not On Label (The Plastic Ono Band) 18407", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 7", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Capitol Records 18407", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
94 vinyl pressings of Imagine are listed here, from 35 countries, released between 1971 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in Italy, US, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is Apple Records 3 C006-04940.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 3 C006-04940, 1840, AR-2929, A-9708) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 04940 - A 30 - 12 - 71 II and 04940 - B 19 - 10 - 71 I. 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.
