Vinyl pressings
by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band · 1974
Stars And Stripes Forever 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.
13 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 8 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.
UA-LA-184-J2-1 (SET 2) A KENDUNRunout side A
UA-LA-184-J2-2-RE-1 A KENDUNRunout side B
UA-LA-184-J2-3-RE-1 A KENDUNRunout side C
UA-LA-184-J2-4-RE-1 A KENDUNRunout side D
T1 UA-LA-184-J2-1-1 KENDUN ARunout side A, variant 1
T1 UA-LA-184-J2-2-RE-1 KENDUN BRunout side B, variant 1
UA-LA-184-J2-3-RE-1 KENDUNRunout side 3, variant 1
UA-LA-184-J2-4-RE-1 KENDUNRunout side 4, variant 1
2 SMX-45103 2ARunout Side A variant 1
4 SMX-45105 2ARunout Side B variant 1
1 SMX-45106 2ARunout Side C variant 1
2 SMX-45104 2ARunout Side D variant 1
UALA184-J2 A TXSide A, etched
UALA184-J2 B2 TXDSide B, etched
UALA184-J2 C TGSide C, etched
UALA184-J2-D TGSide D, etched
UALA-184-J2 A TXSide A Runout Etched
UALA-184-J2 B TXSide B Runout Etched
UALA-184-J2 C TXSide C Runout Etched
UALA-184-J2 D TXSide D Runout Etched
Side 1: UALA-184-J2 A TX (etched)
Side 2: UALA-184-J2-D2 ➁ TXD (etched) ◎ (Capitol symbol stamped)
Side 3: UALA-184-J2-C TX (etched)
Side 4: U.A.L.A.-184-J2-D2 D-T.D. (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | United Artists Records L-70,051First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA 184-J2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | United Artists Records UALAF 184First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | United Artists Records UAS 29 570/71 XDFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | United Artists Records UAD 29570/1 / United Artists Records 29 570/71 XDFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Liberty LLP-93127BFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Liberty LLP-93127BFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 1974 | Japan | Liberty LLP-93127BFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | United Artists Records UAS 29570/71First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | United Artists Records UAS 29 570/71 XDLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1974 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | United Artists Records GXF 2074 / 5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Liberty LWB-184LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
21 vinyl pressings of Stars And Stripes Forever are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1974 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, Australia, Canada, France and more. One of them is United Artists Records UA-LA184-J2, released June 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UA-LA184-J2, L-70,051, UA-LA 184-J2, UALAF 184) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UA-LA-184-J2-1 (SET 2) A KENDUN and UA-LA-184-J2-2-RE-1 A KENDUN. 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.
