Vinyl pressings
by Mike McGear · 1974
McGear was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 11 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.
5 K-56051-A5 MELYS!Runout A version 1
MELYS & PAULS K-56051-B5Runout B version 1
K-56051-A5 3 B MELYS!Runout A version 2
K-56051-B5 MELYS + PAULS. 7 ARunout B version 2
KMG1 A1 MELYSRunout A
KMG1 B1 ∴MELY.Runout B
BS-2825 T l 40924 R̶̷̲̅E̶̷̲̅ 1-1 A lRunout side A, variant 1
BS-2825 T l 40925 R̶̷̲̅E̶̷̲̅ 1-2 B 2Runout side B, variant 1
BS-2825 T l 40924 R̶̷̲̅E̶̷̲̅ 1-1 A 2Runout side A, variant 2
BS-2825 T l 40925 R̶̷̲̅E̶̷̲̅ 1-2 B 2Runout side B, variant 2
BS-2825 40924 REI IARunout Side A
BS-2825 40925 REI IBRunout Side B
BS-2825 40924 R̶̷̲̅E̶̷̲̅1̶̷̲̅X | A PRunout Side A var 2 etched / " | ", "A" & "P" stamped
BS-2825 40925 R̶̷̲̅E̶̷̲̅1̶̷̲̅X | A PRunout Side B var 2 etched / " | ", "A" & "P" stamped
S1 BS-2825 40924 RE1 1B A1Side A
S1 BS-2825 40925 RE1 1BSide B
S40,924Side A label
S40,925Side B label
S1 BS-2825 40924 RE1 1A A1A-side runout
S1 BS-2825 40925 RE1 1BB-side runout
S40,924A-side label
S40,925B-side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2825First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2825First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56 051First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 051First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 051First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8519WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8519WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS 2825First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1265First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records HWBS 321-72First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2825First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2825First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2825LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1974 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2825First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Uruguay | Warner Bros. Records 113.031First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | UK | Esoteric Recordings ECLECLP 2655LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | UK | Esoteric Recordings ECLECLP2655LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
24 vinyl pressings of McGear are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1974 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records K56051, released September 24, 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use K56051, KMG1, BS 2825, 56 051) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 5 K-56051-A5 MELYS! and MELYS & PAULS K-56051-B5. 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.
