Vinyl pressings
by Leonard Cohen · 1968
Songs Of Leonard Cohen 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.
40 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 10 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.
o XSM 118903-1B 1 TRunout side A, variant 1
o XSM 118904-1B 1 TRunout side B, variant 1
XSM118903-1B 1 o TRunout side A, variant 2
o XSM118904-1B 1 T D8Runout side B, variant 2
XSM 11803-1ASide 1 stamped variant 1
XSM 11804-1ASide 2 etched variant 1
XSM118903-1CSide 1 stamped variant 2
XSM118904-1CSide 2 stamped variant 2
o XLP118901-1A 1 PSide A runout, stamped
o XLP118902-1A 1 PSide B runout, stamped
XLP 118901-1ASide A
XLP 118902-1ASide B
o XSM 118903-1A PRunout side A, variant 1
o XSM 118904-1A PRunout side B, variant 1
o XSM 118903-1E PRunout side A, variant 2
o XSM 118904-1D PRunout side B, variant 2
XSM118903-1CSide A runout stamped
XSM118904-1CSide B runout stamped
o XSM118903-1C Backward "S" 1 (Variant 2)Side A runout stamped, Backward "S" 1 etched
o XSM118904-1C 1 "Backward "S" (Variant 2)Side B runout stamped, 1 Backward "S" etched
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 | CBS SBP 233657First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Australia | CBS SBP 233657First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Columbia CS 9533First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Columbia CS 9533First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | France | CBS S 63241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Germany | CBS S 63241 / CBS S 63 241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | CBS S 63 241First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1968 | Greece | CBS S 63241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Israel | CBS S 63241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Netherlands | CBS S 63241 / CBS CS 9533First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | CBS S 63241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | CBS 63241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | CBS S 63241 / CBS S63241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | CBS S 63241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 473510First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Canada | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Europe | CBS S 63241 / CBS CS 9533LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1970 | Spain | CBS S 63241LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | South Africa | CBS ASF 1598 / CBS ASF.1598LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | South Africa | CBS ASF 1598 / CBS ASF.1598LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | Spain | CBS S 63241LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | CBS SBPG 63241 / CBS 63241LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1972 | Europe | CBS S 63241 / CBS CS 9533LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | Europe | CBS S 63241 / CBS CS 9533LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Portugal | CBS 63241 / CBS CBS 63241LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Spain | CBS CBS 32387LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Portugal | CBS 63241 / CBS CBS 63241LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1988 | Portugal | CBS 63241 / CBS CBS 63241LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Europe | Columbia COL 468600 1 / Columbia 468600 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Europe | Columbia 88697159501LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2007 | Europe | Columbia 88697159501LP, Album, Reissue, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label, Stereo |
| 2009 | US | Sundazed LP 5282 / Columbia LP 5282LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Unknown | Music On Vinyl MOVLP326LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2011 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP326 / Columbia MOVLP326LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5282 / Columbia P 741927LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2016 | Europe | Columbia 88875195611 / Sony Music 88875195611LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2016 | Europe | Columbia 88875195611 / Sony Music 88875195611LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 233657LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 233657LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 233657LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 233657LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WCS 9533 / Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9533 / Columbia CL 2733LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9533LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9533 / Columbia CL 2733LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS 63241 / CBS S 63241LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 63241LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS 63241LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS 63241 / CBS S 63241LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
140 vinyl pressings of Songs Of Leonard Cohen are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1968 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Columbia CS 9533, released January 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CS 9533, CL 2733, SBPG 63241, BPG 63241) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, o XSM 118903-1B 1 T and o XSM 118904-1B 1 T. 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.
