Vinyl pressings
by Leonard Cohen · 1975
The Best Of 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.
24 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 12 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.
P AL 34077-1AASide A runout, stamped [variant 1]
P BL 34077-1CSide B runout, stamped [variant 1]
P AL 34077-1GSide A runout, stamped [variant 2]
P BL 34077-1DSide B runout, stamped [variant 2]
0 P AL 34077-1C S2 SXSide A runout, stamped (S2 SX etched)
0 P BL 34077-1C SX S1 T B14Side B runout, stamped (SX S1 T B14 etched)
AL 34077Side A label
BL 34077Side B label
ᴘ P AL 34077-1A 1Side A runout, stamped
ᴘ BL 34077-1D 1 BSide B runout, stamped
AL 34077Side A label
BL 34077Side B label
P AL 34077-1C Ƨ 2Side A runout
P BL 34077-1C ƧSide B runout
AL 34077Side A label
BL 34077Side B label
CBS.S.69161 A6Side A runout, variant 1
CBS.S.69161-b-5Side A runout, variant 1
CBS.S.69161 A6 0 CSide A runout, stamped, variant 2
CBS S 69161-B4 1C ⋀Side B runout, stamped, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | CBS SBP 234780First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Canada | Columbia ES 90334First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Europe | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1975 | Europe | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Ireland | CBS S69161First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Israel | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Israel | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Israel | CBS 69161First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1975 | Italy | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 53 / CBS/Sony 25AP53First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 53First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 234780First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Portugal | CBS 69161 / CBS CBS 69161First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1975 | Portugal | CBS 69161 / CBS CBS 69161First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1975 | Spain | CBS S 69161First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | Suzy CBS 69161 / CBS CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | CBS 69161 / Suzy 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | CBS 69161 / Suzy 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | AMIGA 8 55 790LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1982 | Spain | CBS LSP 15268 / Productos Especiales CBS LSP 15268LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Europe | CBS CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Portugal | CBS 69161 / CBS CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | Japan | CBS/Sony 28AP 3077LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | South Africa | CBS COL 40069LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | CBS CBS 32644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | CBS 32644 / CBS CBS 32644LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | Japan | CBS/Sony 28AP 3077LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1987 | Portugal | CBS CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1987 | Spain | CBS CBS 32644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Poland | IMP LP 00101LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | UK & Europe | Simply Vinyl SVLP 373 / Columbia 32644 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 373LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 2010 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP124 / Columbia 88697745501LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 2018 | Europe | Columbia 88985435361 / Sony Music 88985435361LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 234780LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia ES 90334LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WES 90334LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia ES 90334LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia ES 90334LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32644LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 69161 / CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS 69161 / CBS CBS 69161LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32644LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32644LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32644LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
99 vinyl pressings of The Best Of are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1975 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia PC 34077.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PC 34077, JC 34077, 69161, CBS 69161) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL 34077-1AA and P BL 34077-1C. 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.
