Vinyl pressings
by John Lennon · 1975
Stand By Me was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
39 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 24 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-45-X-49138-A-Z9 2 MCR 7YCE 21765-1U MOSide A - runout variant 1
7YCE 21766-3 M 1Side B - runout variant 1
S-45-X-49138-A-Z9 MCR 7YCE 21765-1U P1Side A - runout variant 2
S-45-X-49204 Z9 2 7YCE 21766-1USide B - runout variant 2
S-45-X-49138-A Z1 1881#3Side A Runout Variant 1
S-45-X-49204-A Z2 1881#1Side B Runout Variant 1
S-45-X-49138-A- Z1 1881 #6 MCRSide A Runout Variant 2
S-45-X-49204 Z-2 1881 #5Side B Runout Variant 2
S-45-X-49138A Z-5•• ✲ MCRSide A
S-45-X-49204 Z-6 • 1 ✲Side B
S45-49138ASide A Label
S45-49204Side B Label
S-45-X-49138-A- Z7 #3 MCRSide A Runout
S-45-X-49204 Z 7Side B Runout
49138ASide A Label
49204Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Argentina | Apple Records 1167First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | Argentina | Apple Records 1167First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Argentina | Apple Records 1167First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | Australia | Apple Records A10779First year7", Single, Stereo | 7", Single, Stereo |
| 1975 | Australia | Apple Records A-10779First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1975 | Barbados | Apple Records R 6005First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | Belgium | Apple Records 4C 006-05880First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1975 | Brazil | Apple Records S7BT-83First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | Apple Records 1881First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | Capitol Records 1881First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | Chile | Apple Records SAPPLE-53First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | Denmark | Apple Records R 6005First year7" | 7" |
| 1975 | Finland | Apple Records 5E 006-05880First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1975 | France | Apple Records 2C 004-05 899First year7" | 7" |
| 1975 | Germany | Apple Records 1C 006-05 880 / EMI Electrola 1C 006-05 880First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Apple Records A107797", Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Parlophone 2C 008-05 8807", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Apple Records 1A 006-05880 / Apple Records 5C 006-058807", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Odeon EAS-171317", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1988 | US | Capitol Records SPRO-7945312", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| ? | Brazil | Apple Records 31C 006-05880Y / Apple Records S7BT-837", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records 18817", Single | 7", Single |
| ? | Europe | Parlophone 006-20 4714 77", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Apple Records 1C 006-05 880 / EMI Electrola 1C 006-05 8807", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | New Zealand | Apple Records NZP 35037", Single, Repress | 7", Single, Repress |
53 vinyl pressings of Stand By Me are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1975 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in UK, US, Ireland, Argentina and more. One of them is Apple Records R 6005, released April 18, 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use R 6005, 1881, P-1881, 1167) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S-45-X-49138-A-Z9 2 MCR 7YCE 21765-1U MO and 7YCE 21766-3 M 1. 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.
