Vinyl pressings
by Mason Williams · 1968
The Mason Williams Phonograph Record was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 5 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.
39325 WS 1729 A-1CA side runout [variant 1]
39326 WS 1729 B-1CB side runout [variant 1]
39325 WS 1729A-1C 2 C 2A side runout [variant 2]
39326 WS 1729B-1C C 3 ¿B side runout [variant 2]
T 0 1 39325 WS1729A-1BSide A Etched, T, 0 Stamped, variant 1
T 0 39326 WS1729B-1DSide B Etched, T, 0 Stamped, variant 1
T \ 0 39325 WS1729A -1BSide A Etched, 0 Stamped, variant 2
T 0 39326 WS1729B -1D A5Side B Etched, 0, A Stamped, variant 2
Ƨ o 39325 WS 1729A-1A F4Runout A, variant 1
Ƨ o 39326 WS1729 B-1A A 1Runout B, variant 1
S 1 39325 WS1729A-1G A 4Runout A, variant 2
S 1 39326 WS1729B-1G o B 4Runout B, variant 2
S .__. 39325 3S 1 I̶Runout A
S.__.39326.__.3S I A2Runout B
S39325Label A
S39326Label B
39325 WS 1729 A-1A HEtched, A Side runout
39326 WS 1729 B-1A 7Etched, B Side runout
A or three dot triangleStamped, B Side runout
39325 WS1729A-1B G4 T oRunout Side A
39326 WS1729B-1D 51 T oRunout Side B
S39325Label Side A
S39326Label Side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS-1729 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records W-1729 / Warner Bros. Records W-1729First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Canada | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1729 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records ST-91519 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records ST 91519LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1729 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records W 1729First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1729First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1729LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1729 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1729 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Music Hall 12.791 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 12.971LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1729LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1729 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
28 vinyl pressings of The Mason Williams Phonograph Record are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1968 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1729.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1729, 1729, W 1729, WS-1729) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 39325 WS 1729 A-1C and 39326 WS 1729 B-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.
