Vinyl pressings
by Love · 1969
Four Sail was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 7 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.
EKS-74049-A-CTH RL SS 0 T 1Side A runout - etched
EKS-74049-B-CTH RL SS C3 0 TSide B runout - etched
EKS-74049-A-CTH RLSS B2 40T.ISide A runout - etched VARIANT 2
EKS-74049-B-CTH RLSS C4 I0T.ISide B runout - etched VARIANT 2
EKS-74049-A-CP RL SS A 3Side A Runout, Variant 1
EKS-74049-B-CP-1 RL SSSide B Runout, Variant 1
° ° EKS-74049-A-CP RL SSSide A Runout, Variant 2
° EKS-74049-B-CP RL SS A 3Side B Runout, Variant 2
EKS-74049-A-CP RL SSSide A, runout, var. 1
EKS-74049-B-CP RL SSSide B, runout, var. 1
EKS-74049-A-CP-1 RL SSSide A, runout, var. 2
EKS-74049-B-CP-1 RL SSSide B, runout, var. 2
EKS-74049-A-MON MR △13636 ② RL SSSide A runout, variant 1
EKS-74049-B-MON MR △13636-X ② RL SSSide B runout, variant 1
EKS-74049-A-MON T MR △13636 ① RL SSSide A runout, variant 2
EKS-74049-B-MON T MR △13636-X ① RL SSSide B runout, variant 2
EKS-74049-A-CTH RL SS T |Variant 1: side A etched runout
EKS-74049-B-CTH RL SS D2 T |Variant 1: side B etched runout
EKS-74049-A-CTH RL SS |o T |Variant 2: side A etched runout
EKS-74049-B-CTH RL SS D1 T |oVariant 2: side B etched runout
P o EKS-74049-A-CP-1 RL SS A 3Side A, etched except P o A 3
P o EKS-74049-B-CP-1 RL SS A 3Side B, etched except P o A 3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Australia | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | Elektra EKS 74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Elektra SLVLXEK 394 / Elektra SLVLXEK. 394First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | Elektra EKS-74049 / Elektra EKS 74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | Elektra EKS-74049 / Elektra EKS 74049First yearLP, Album, Mispress, Stereo | LP, Album, Mispress, Stereo |
| 1969 | Netherlands | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | Elektra EKS-74049 / Elektra EKS 74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Elektra EKS-74049 / Elektra EKS 74049First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Elektra EKS-74049First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | UK | Thunderbolt THBL 047LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5103LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Netherlands | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1303LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | US | Sundazed LP 5103LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 2019 | USA & Europe | Elektra RCV1 73640 / Rhino Records RCV1 73640LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Elektra EKS-74049LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Elektra EKS 74049LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | US | Sundazed LP 5103LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
23 vinyl pressings of Four Sail are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1969 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Elektra EKS-74049, released August 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EKS-74049, EKS 74049, SLVLXEK 394) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EKS-74049-A-CTH RL SS 0 T 1 and EKS-74049-B-CTH RL SS C3 0 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.
