Vinyl pressings
by Leonard Rosenman · 1978
The Lord Of The Rings was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. 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 1978, 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.
LORPD-2-A Ⓕ * KENDUN-A JGRunout Side A
LOR-PD-2-B Ⓕ * KENDUN-A JGRunout Side B
LOR-PD-2-C Ⓕ * KENDUN-A JGRunout Side C
LORPD*D Ⓕ * KENDUN-A JGRunout Side D
LOR - 1 - A Re KENDUN-A JG 1-2 SRCRunout side A
LOR - 1 - D KENDUN-B JG 1-4 SRCRunout side B
LOR - 1 - C SP KENDUN-B J.G 1-3 SRCRunout side C
LOR - 1 - B SP KENDUN-B JG 1-1 SRCRunout side D
LOR - I - A Re - I - I KENDUN-B JG PRCA-Side
LOR - I - B - 2 - I - II KENDUN-A PRCB-Side
LOR - I - C - 2 - I - I KENDUN-A PRCC-Side
LOR - I - D - 2 - III - I KENDUN-B PRCD-Side
LOR - 1 - A Re KENDUN-A JG (MR) △23905 (4)Record 1, runout A, variant 1
LOR - 1 - B (MR) △23904-X (3) KENDUN-ARecord 2, runout B, variant 1
LOR - 1 - C (MR) △23905 KENDUN-ARecord 2, runout C, variant 1
LOR - 1 - D (MR) △23905-X (1) KENDUN-ARecord 1, runout D, variant 1
LOR 1-A IB KENDUN-A JG A SIA-Side Runout
LOR 1-B IA KENDUN-B JG A SIB-Side Runout
LOR 1-C IB KENDUN-A JG B2 S2C-Side Runout
LOR 1-D IB KENDUN-A JG AII SID-Side Runout
P LOR - 1 - A Re KENDUN-A JGSide A runout etched
P LOR - 1 - B X SP KENDUN-A JGSide D runout etched
P LOR - 1 - C X SP KENDUN-BSide C runout etched
P LOR - 1 - D X KENDUN-ASide B runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Fantasy L 70115/6 / Fantasy LOR-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Bellaphon BLPS-19276First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Bellaphon BLPS 19276First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Fantasy LPD 1001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Fantasy VIP-9561~2First yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Fantasy L 70115/6 / Fantasy LOR-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Fantasy L 70115/6 / Fantasy LOR-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Spain | Fantasy S 66.009/ S 60.167First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Sweden | Fantasy LOR 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Fantasy LOR 1 / Fantasy 0C 156 62391First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Fantasy LORPD-2First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
| 1978 | US | Fantasy LOR - 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Fantasy LOR-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Fantasy LOR - 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Fantasy LOR-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Fantasy FAN-36996-01LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Remastered | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Fantasy 2160-1111LP, Album | LP, Album |
23 vinyl pressings of The Lord Of The Rings are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1978 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Fantasy LORPD-2.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LORPD-2, LOR - 1, LOR-1, LOR 1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, LORPD-2-A Ⓕ * KENDUN-A JG and LOR-PD-2-B Ⓕ * KENDUN-A JG. 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.
