Vinyl pressings
by Joni Mitchell · 1971
Blue 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 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.
MS-2038 31218(RE-2) BG PRunout side A, variant 1
MS-2038 31219 (RE-2) BG PRunout side B, variant 1
MS-2038 31518(RE-2) 2 BG B 7 PRunout side A, variant 2
MS-2038 31519(RE-2) 1 BG 2 5 PRunout side B, variant 2
T1 MS-2038 31218(RE-2) -1Runout side A, var 1
T1 MS-2038 31219(RE-2) -2Runout side B, var 1
T1 MS 2038 31218 (RE-2)-2 BGRunout side A, var 2
T2 MS 2038 31219 (RE-2)-2 BGRunout side B, var 2
S 1 MS-2038 31218(RE-2) 2B A21Runout A, variant 1
S 1 MS-2038 31219(RE-2) 2A B11Runout B, variant 1
S 1 MS-2038 31218(RE-2) 2B A5Runout A, variant 2
S 1 MS-2038 31219(RE-2) 2A A1Runout B, variant 2
MS-2038 31218(RE-2) 2 BGRunout Side A etched, Variant 1
MS-2038 31219(RE-2)-3 - X1 BGRunout Side B etched, Variant 1
MS-2038 31218(RE-2) 2 BGRunout Side A etched, Variant 2
MS-2038 31219(RE-2)-2 BGRunout Side B etched, Variant 2
MS - 2038 31218 (RE - 2) 2A B3 S1Side A runout
MS - 2038 31218 (RE - 2) 2A A3Side B runout
MS - 2038 31218 (RE - 2) 2A 2 1Side A variant all etched
MS - 2038 31219 (RE - 2) 2A 2 2 (upside down)Side B variant all etched
K-44128-A1 1 2 AStamped side A, variant 1
K-44128-B1 1 5 CStamped side B, variant 1
K-44128-A1 AStamped side A, variant 2
K-44128-B1Stamped side B, variant 2
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 | Australia | Reprise Records MS 2038First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1971 | Germany | Reprise Records 44 128 / Reprise Records MS 2038First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | Reprise Records 44 128 / Reprise Records 44128First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1971 | Israel | Reprise Records BAN 44128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | Italy | Reprise Records MS 2038First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Japan | Reprise Records P-8098RFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Japan | Reprise Records P-8098RFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Reprise Records RS 2038First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Africa | Reprise Records RRC 2038First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Reprise Records MS 2038First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Reprise Records MS 2038First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1971 | US | Reprise Records SMAS-93826 / Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Reprise Records 44128LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Reprise Records 44128LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Israel | The General Music Co. Ramat Gan BAN 44128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Israel | Reprise Records BAN 44128LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | UK | Reprise Records K 44128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Reprise Records LB 44128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Europe | Reprise Records K 44 128 / Reprise Records 44 128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Germany | Reprise Records 44128 / Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | US | Classic Records MS-2038LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2006 | US | Reprise Records MS-2038LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2007 | US | Reprise Records 74842LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | US | Classic Records MS 2038-45LP, 45 RPM, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, 45 RPM, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UK | Reprise Records MS 2038 / Reprise Records 081227954154LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Special Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress, Special Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | Europe | Reprise Records 603497855506LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | US | Reprise Records 74842LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | US | Reprise Records RCV1 2038LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Reprise Records RH1 74842 / Reprise Records RHI1 74842LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2021 | Argentina | Reprise Records 7599 27199-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2021 | Argentina | Reprise Records 7599 27199-1LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | USA & Europe | Reprise Records R1 2038 / Reprise Records 603497844173LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2022 | Europe | Reprise Records RCD1 2038 / Reprise Records 081227882549LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UD1S 2-05012", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box Set, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2026 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RHF1 2038 / Reprise Records RHF1 2038LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2038LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 44 128 / Reprise Records 44 128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 44 128 / Reprise Records 44 128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records MS 2038 / Reprise Records 7599 27199-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 44 128 / Reprise Records 44 128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 44 128 / Reprise Records 44 128LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 44 128 / Reprise Records 44 128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
143 vinyl pressings of Blue are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1971 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Reprise Records MS 2038.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MS 2038, K44128, K 44128, 44 128) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MS-2038 31218(RE-2) BG P and MS-2038 31219 (RE-2) BG P. 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.
