Vinyl pressings
by Mort Garson · 1967
The Zodiac—Cosmic Sounds was first pressed on vinyl in 1967. 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 1967, the album's first year, in 4 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.
ARC 9-18-69 EKS-74009A (A) [unreadable]Runout etching side A variant 1
H RC\a-1.8-0 EKS-74009B (A) [unreadable]Runout etching side B variant 1
EKS-74009A (A) [unreadable]Runout etching side A variant 2
EKS-74009B (A) [unreadable]Runout etching side B variant 2
EKL 4009A (A) ARC [date] REHSide A, runout
EKL 4009B (A) ARC [date] REHSide B, runout
EKL-4009-ASide A, label
EKL-4009-BSide B, label
EKS-74009A (A)Runout etching side A
EKS-74009B (A)Runout etching side B
EKS-74009A (MON) (MR) △10264 BdRunout side one
EKS-74009B (MON) (MR) △10264-X BdRunout side two
EKL 4009A-RE (MON) △10271Runout side one
EKL-4009B-RE (MON) △10271-XRunout side two
o EK S-74009 A -1A 2 T CRP C4Side A runout, stamped (2 CRP 4 etched)
o EK S-74009 B -1A 1 T CRP C5Side B runout, stamped (1 CRP 5 etched)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | New Zealand | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | UK | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Stereo, Album | LP, Stereo, Album |
| 1967 | UK | Elektra EKL-4009First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | UK | Elektra EKL-4009First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | UK | Elektra EKL-4009First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKS 74009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Canada | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKL-4009First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Album, Mispress, Stereo | LP, Album, Mispress, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKL-74009First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | US | Elektra EKS-74009First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | UK | Elektra K42013 / Elektra K 42013LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Elektra EKS-74009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | UK | Elektra EKL-4009 / Elektra PPAN EKS74009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2017 | UK & Europe | Elektra 081227937874LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Limited |
| 2017 | US | Elektra R1-4009LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Mono · Mono, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Mono · Mono, Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP3525LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Elektra EKS-74009LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Not On Label 90047-SKELP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Elektra EKS-74009LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | US | Elektra EKS-74009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Elektra EKS-74009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
30 vinyl pressings of The Zodiac—Cosmic Sounds are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1967 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1967, in US, UK, Canada, New Zealand. One of them is Elektra EKS-74009, released May 1967.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EKS-74009, EKL-4009, EKL-74009, EKS 74009) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARC 9-18-69 EKS-74009A (A) [unreadable] and H RC\a-1.8-0 EKS-74009B (A) [unreadable]. 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.
