Vinyl pressings
by Loggins And Messina · 1976
The Best Of Friends was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1976, 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.
PAL 34388-1BC AZ T1 BSide A, runout, variant 1
PBL-34388-1AJ 12 T1 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side B, runout, variant 1
AL 34388Side A, label
BL 34388Side B, label
PAL-34388-1AC AZ BSide 1 Etched
\ S PBL-34388-1A AZ A7Side 2 Etched
AL 34388Side 1 Label
BL 34388Side 2 Label
PAL 34388-1b AZSide 1 Etched
PBL-34388-1c AZSide 2 Etched
PRunout Both Sides, Stamped
P PAL 34388 - 1 BD BSide 1 Etched, except P, B stamped [variant 2]
PAL 34388-1C AZSide A etched
PBL-34388-1C AZSide B etched
AL 34388Side A label
BL 34388Side B label
PAL-34388 p AZ PXTSide A runout
PBL-34388-1 AH o TISide B runout
AL 34388Side A label
BL 34388Side B label
S2 PAL 34388-1AH C3Side A runout
o BL-34388-1A S1 COLUMBIA NY A3Side 2 runout
AL 34388Side A label
BL 34388Side B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | CBS SBP 234941First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Columbia PC 34388 / Columbia 34388First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Europe | CBS CBS 81692First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | Hong Kong | CBS/Sony 25AP 527First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Italy | CBS CBS 81692First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 234941First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | Spain | CBS CBS 81692First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | UK | CBS CBS 81692 / CBS S 81692First yearLP, Album, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Columbia PC 34388First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Columbia PC 34388First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | US | Columbia PC 34388First yearLP, Album, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Epic PC 34388First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Columbia PC 34388First yearLP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1976 | US | Columbia PC 34388First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | US | Columbia PC 34388First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | Columbia PC 34388LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Columbia HC 44388 / CBS Mastersound HC 44388LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1988 | South Korea | Jigu Records Corporation KJPL-0570LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | CBS CBS 465567 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | US | Friday Music FRM-213438 / Columbia 88875128421LP, Compilation, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 234941LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia PC 34388 / Columbia WPC 34388LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS 465567 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 34388LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 34388LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 34388LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | CBS PC 34388LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | CBS Mastersound 44348LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 34388LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
35 vinyl pressings of The Best Of Friends are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1976 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia PC 34388.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PC 34388, CBS 81692, SBP 234941, 25AP 527) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PAL 34388-1BC AZ T1 B and PBL-34388-1AJ 12 T1 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.. 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.
