Vinyl pressings
by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers · 1968
Bare Wires was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 9 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.
ARL-8340-1A H 1 JTSide A runout
ARL-8341-1A I 1 JTSide B runout
ARL.8340Side A label upside down in braces
ARL.8341Side B label upside down in braces
ARL-8340-1A H 1 JTSide A runout
ARL-8341-1A II 1 JTSide B runout
ARL.8340Side A label upside down in braces
ARL.8341Side B label upside down in braces
ARL-8340-1A A JT 1Runout side A, variant 1
ARL-8341-1A U JT 1Runout side B, variant 1
ARL-8340-1A C JT 1Runout side A, variant 2
ARL-8341-1A C JT 1Runout side B, variant 2
ZAL-8340-1W U JT 1Runout side A
ZAL-8341-1W C JT 1Runout side B
ZAL.8340Label side A, inverted
ZAL.8341Label side B, inverted
ARL-8340-1ARunout side A
ARL-8341-1ARunout side B
ARL.8340Label side A
ARL.8341Label side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Australia | Decca SKLA 4945 / Decca SKL 4945First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Australia | Decca SKLA-4945 / Decca SKLA 4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Decca SKL 4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Decca SKL 4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Decca SKLM.4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | South Africa | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Decca LK 4945 / Decca LK.4945First yearLP, Mono, Album · Mono | LP, Mono, Album · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | Decca SKL 4945First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Decca LK 4945 / Decca LK.4945First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Decca LK 4945 / Decca LK.4945First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Japan | London Records SLC 302LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Decca 115.103 BLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Decca SLK 17030-PLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | Germany | Decca SLK 17030-PLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Mexico | Richmond B-20272LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | London Records SLC 534LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | Japan | London Records SLC 534LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | Portugal | Decca 1PSKL 4945LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Decca DECCA 45100 / Decca EXTRA 45100LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Mexico | Richmond B-20272LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK | Request Records RR 001LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Russia | Vinyl Lovers 900327LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 2008 | Russia | Vinyl Lovers 900327LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP711 / Decca MOVLP711LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Worldwide | Decca UMCLP038 / Universal Music Recordings UMCLP038LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Decca SKLA-4945 / Decca SKL 4945LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Decca SKLA-4945 / Decca SKLA 4945LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Benelux | Decca SKL 4945LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Decca 192.001LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Decca 115.103 BLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.30 122-08LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.30 122-08LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Decca SLK 16558-PLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Decca SKLI 4945LP | LP |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4945LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4945 / Decca SKL.4945LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | US | London Records PS 537LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | London Records PS 537LP, Album | LP, Album |
63 vinyl pressings of Bare Wires are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1968 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in UK, US, Germany, Canada and more. One of them is Decca LK 4945, released June 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LK 4945, SKL 4945, PS 537, SLK 16558 - P) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARL-8340-1A H 1 JT and ARL-8341-1A I 1 JT. 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.
