Vinyl pressings
by Osibisa · 1973
Happy Children was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
26 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 18 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.
BS-2732 40568-1- D(Variation 1) A runout, hand etched
BS-2732 40569-1- D(Variation 1) B runout, hand etched
S 1 BS-2732 40568-1-B A3(Variation 2) A runout, hand etched
1 BS-2732 S 40569-1-A A2(Variation 2) B runout, hand etched
BS-2732 T1 40568-1-ESide 1 etched
BS-2732 T1 40569-1-ESide 2 etched
S40,568A label
S40,569B label
P BS-2732 40568-1-D ARunout, side A
P BS-2732 T1 40569-1-D 6Runout, side B
S40,568Label, side A
S40,569Label, side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Angola | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1223First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Barbados | Warner Bros. Records K56002First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | El Salvador | Warner Bros. Records BS 2732 / Dicesa BS 2732First yearLP | LP |
| 1973 | France | Warner Bros. Records 46 272 / Warner Bros. Records No 46 272First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | India | Warner Bros. Records BS 2732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | India | Warner Bros. Records BS 2732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Israel | Warner Bros. Records K 56022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records K 56022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8405WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8405WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Lebanon | Warner Bros. Records 46 272First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Colombia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2732LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Ecuador | Famoso WEA-3005LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records WEA-3005LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | Holy Hawk Record Co. Ltd. HH-567LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Yugoslavia | Suzy K 46272 / Warner Bros. Records 56022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
41 vinyl pressings of Happy Children are listed here, from 30 countries, released between 1973 and 1974.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Angola, Australia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BS 2732.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BS 2732, WB 56022, GWEA-5102, K 56022) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BS-2732 40568-1- D and BS-2732 40569-1- D. 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.
