Vinyl pressings
by Melanie · 1970
Lay Down 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.
15 pressings came out in 1970, 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.
p BUD 5345 PS-MS 1-1-69 4Side A runout, variant 1
p BUD 5346 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
p BUD 5345 STERLING 2Side A runout, variant 2
p BUD 5346 1 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
BUD 5345 P.S. & M.S. 1-1-69 [ARP stamp]Runout, Side A, etched
BUD 5346 [STERLING stamp] [ARP stamp]Runout, Side B, etched
BUD 5345Label Matrix, Side A
BUD 5346Label Matrix, Side B
BUD 5345Side A Label
BUD 5346Side B Label
BUD 5345 SON S-318Runout, Side A, (etched)
BUD 5346 SON S-319Runout, Side B, (etched)
STERLINGRunout, Side A & B (stamped)
BUD 5345Label Matrix, Side A
BUD 5345 STERLING V CSide A, "BUD 5345" etched, others are stamped
BUD 5346 STERLING G 4Side B, "BUD 5346" etched, others are stamped
BUD 5345Side A Label
BUD 5346Side B Label
BUD 5345Label A
BUD 5346Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Brazil | Buddah Records BUCS 22.016First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1970 | Canada | Buddah Records BUDDAH 167XFirst year7" | 7" |
| 1970 | Jamaica | Buddah RecordsFirst year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1970 | Japan | Buddah Records LL-2364-DAFirst year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1970 | South Africa | Buddah Records PD.9675First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | UK | Buddah Records 2011-013First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1970 | UK | Buddah Records 2011-013First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1970 | US | Buddah Records BDA 167First year7", Single, Mono, Stereo · Mono | 7", Single, Mono, Stereo · Mono |
| 1970 | US | Buddah Records BDA 167First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Buddah Records BDA 167First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Buddah Records BDA 167First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Buddah Records BDA 167First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Buddah Records BDA 167First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Buddah Records BDA 167First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene |
| 1970 | Canada | Buddah Records BDGT 65XFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | US | Buddah Records BG 117", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | US | Collectables 3511 / Collectables BG 117", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1984 | US | Buddah Records BG 117", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Philippines | Buddah Records BDA 1677", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| ? | US | Radio Active Gold RD-55 / Radio Active Gold RD 'ONE MILLION' -557", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| ? | US | Collectables 35117", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | US | Radio Active Gold RD-557", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
24 vinyl pressings of Lay Down are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1970 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, Canada, Brazil and more. One of them is Buddah Records BDA 167.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BDA 167, 2011-013, BDGT 65X, BUCS 22.016) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, p BUD 5345 PS-MS 1-1-69 4 and p BUD 5346 STERLING. 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.
