Vinyl pressings
by Lena Horne · 1966
Soul was first pressed on vinyl in 1966. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1966, the album's first year, in 5 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.
UAL 3496A-1B 9241Runout Side A (Variant 1)
UAL 3496B-1B 9241-XRunout Side B (Variant 1)
UAL 3496 A-1B 1 (MR) △9241A-side runout (Variant 2)
UAL 3496B-1B △9241-XB-side runout (Variant 2)
P o UAL•3496A•1AA 6Runout A
P o UAL•3496█B1ARunout B
UAL 3496 ALabel A
UAL 3496 BLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Australia | United Artists Records UAL 8104First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1966 | Australia | United Artists Records UALS 8104 / United Artists Records UALS-8104First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | United Artists Records UAL 3496First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Canada | United Artists Records UAS 6496First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Germany | United Artists Records 669 135First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | UK | United Artists Records SULP 1148First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | UK | United Artists Records ULP 1148 / United Artists Records UAL3496First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | United Artists Records UAL 3496First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6496First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1966 | US | United Artists Records UAL 3496First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
10 vinyl pressings of Soul are listed here, from 5 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1966, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is United Artists Records UAL 3496.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UAL 3496, UAS 6496, SULP 1148, ULP 1148) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UAL 3496A-1B 9241 and UAL 3496B-1B 9241-X. 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.
