Vinyl pressings
by Pat Boone · 1960
Dear John was first pressed on vinyl in 1960. 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 1960, 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.
MR 45-MR- 2 14051A-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
45-M-14056 3 MRB-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
45-M-14051 10[in circle] MR[in circle]A-Side Runout, variant 2
45-M-15[overwritten with backwards 4]056 MR[in circle]B-Side Runout, variant 2
MW 14051-1 I A2A-Side Runout, Stamped
MW 14056-2 I A2B-Side Runout, Stamped
MW-14051 AA 244A-Side Label
MW-14056 AA 249B-Side Label
MV 14051 1Runout side A, stamped
MV 14056 3Runout side B, stamped
MB-14051 AA 244Label side A
MB-14056 AA 249Label side B
45-MSD-4790-1CStamped runout side A
45-MSD-4789-1CStamped runout side B
MSD.4790Label side A
MSD.4789Label side B
MSD.4789Label A
MSD.4790Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Australia | London Records HL-1726First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Belgium | Dot Records 9-16.152First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Canada | Dot Records 16152XFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Denmark | Dot Records D 45-239First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Denmark | Dot Records D 239First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Denmark | Dot Records D 45-239First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | New Zealand | London American Recordings NZL-D 579First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1960 | Norway | Dot Records D 45-239First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1960 | UK | London American Recordings 45-HLD 9238First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1960 | UK | London American Recordings 45-HLD 9238First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | US | Dot Records 45-16152First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene |
| 1960 | US | Dot Records 45-16152First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1960 | US | Dot Records 45-16152First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1961 | Italy | London Records 45-HL 92387", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Africa | Dot Records D 32510", 78 RPM, Single | 10", 78 RPM, Single |
15 vinyl pressings of Dear John are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1960 and 1961.
The earliest pressings are from 1960, in US, UK, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Dot Records 45-16152, released October 1960.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 45-16152, 45-HLD 9238, HL-1726, 9-16.152) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MR 45-MR- 2 14051 and 45-M-14056 3 MR. 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.
