Vinyl pressings
by Love · 1970
False Start was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. 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 1970, the album's first year, in 4 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.
BTS-22-5051-D-2· 1 ✲ side-1Side A runout, variant 1
BTS-22-5052-D-1· 1 ✲ side-2Side B runout, variant 1
1-8822 BTS-22-5051-D-1. 3 ✲ side-1Side A runout, variant 2
2-8822 BTS-22-5052-D-2. 2 ✲ side-2Side B runout, variant 2
5051 BTS 22 1-ASide 1 hand etched
5052 BTS 22 1-BSide 2 hand etched
T I 5051 BTS22-IA VSide 1 etched
T I 5052 BTS 22 I-B VSide 2 etched
BTS-22-5051-D-2· 1 ─◁ side-1 BTS-1-8822-D2Side A runout, variant 1
BTS-22-5052-D-2· 1 ✲ side-2Side B runout, variant 1
BTS-22-5051-D-2· 1-1 ─◁ ✲ side-1 BTS-1-8822-D2Side A runout, variant 2
BTS-22-5052-D-3· 1·0 ✲ ─◁ side-2Side B runout, variant 2
MATRIX RUN OUTS; 5051BTS22-1A T1 5052BTS22-1B Ʌ T1
BTS 8822 Side A G MSide A, etched
BTS 8822 Side B G MSide B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Canada | Blue Thumb Records BTS 8822First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Denmark | Harvest SHVL 787First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Denmark | Blue Thumb Records BTS 8822First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Denmark | Blue Thumb Records BTS 8822First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | France | Blue Thumb Records 2C064 92049First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-1015LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1970 | Taiwan | Liming Record LM-2384LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1970 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 8822 / Blue Thumb Records BTS-8822First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 8822LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1970 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 8822 / Blue Thumb Records SKAO-8-8822LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1970 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 22First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 22First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS-8822First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS22First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1971 | Italy | Blue Thumb Records 3 C062-92049LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Europe | Tapestry Records TPT 242LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
23 vinyl pressings of False Start are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1970 and 2007.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, Canada, Denmark, France. One of them is Blue Thumb Records BTS 8822.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BTS 8822, BTS 22, BTS-8822, BTS22) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BTS-22-5051-D-2· 1 ✲ side-1 and BTS-22-5052-D-1· 1 ✲ side-2. 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.
