Vinyl pressings
by Moby Grape · 1968
Wow 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.
14 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.
º XSM135371-1A PSide A, stamped, variant 1
º XSM135372-1A PSide B, stamped, variant 1
º XSM135371-1A P B 9Side A, stamped, variant 2
º XSM135372-1A P D 6Side B, stamped, variant 2
XSM135371-1B S D4Side A runout, variant 1
o XSM135372-1B / S B3Side B runout, variant 1
o XSM135371-1B S A2Side A runout, variant 2
o XSM135372-1B S B2Side B runout, variant 2
o XSM135371-1C T C9Runout side A, variant 1
o XSM135372-1C T D3Runout side B, variant 1
o XSM135371-1C T C1Runout side A, variant 2
o XSM135372-1C T C5Runout side B, variant 2
o XSM135371-1C | TRunout side A
o XSM135372-1C | TRunout side B
XSM 135371Label side A
XSM 135372Label side B
º XSM135371-1B \ S A2A Side Stamped exc S, A2 etch, variant 1
º XSM135372-1B \ Ƨ B2B Side Stamped exc Ƨ, B2 etch, variant 1
º XSM135371-1B \ Ƨ A1A Side Stamped exc \ Ƨ A1 etch, variant 2
º XSM135372-1B \ Ƨ A6B Side Stamped exc \ Ƨ A6 etch, variant 2
XSM 135371
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 | CBS SBP 233636First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | CBS S 63271First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | CBS SBP-473555First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | CBS S 63271 / CBS 63271First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | CBS 63271First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1969 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP 50063 / CBS/Sony SONP-50063LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | San Francisco Sound SFS 04801MLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | San Francisco Sound SFS 04801MLP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US | Sundazed LP 5226 / Columbia LP 5226LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2007 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5226Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, LP · Test pressing | Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, LP · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS S 63271LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9613LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9613 / Columbia CXS 3LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
25 vinyl pressings of Wow are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1968 and 2007.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, Netherlands and more. One of them is Columbia CS 9613, released April 3, 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CS 9613, S 63271, 63271, SBP 233636) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, º XSM135371-1A P and º XSM135372-1A P. 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.
