Vinyl pressings
by Phil Ochs · 1969
Rehearsals For Retirement was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1969, 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.
A&M SP4261-7 A2 T oA etched, T, o stamped
A&M SP4262-7 /\ T oB etched, /\, T, o stamped
A&M SP 4261A label
A&M SP 4262B label
o P A&M SP 4261-1Side A runout, variant 1
P T o A&M SP 4262-7Side B runout, variant 1
P o A&M SP 4261-1 1 A 5Side A runout, variant 2
P o A&M SP 4262-1 1 A 3Side B runout, variant 2
A+M SP 4261-15 (MR) Δ13231side one runout etched (variant 1)
A+M SP 4262-16(RE) (MR) Δ13231-xside two runout etched (variant 1)
A&M SP 4261-15 (MR) Δ13231Side A runout etched, except (MR) stamped (variant 2)
A&M SP 4261-15 (MR) Δ13231-XSide B runout etched, except (MR) stamped (variant 2)
A+M CSG SP-4261-15 (MR) Δ13210Side A label
A+M CSG SP-4262-15 (MR) Δ13210-XSide B label
AMLS 934A-1 ✳T STEREO I 1 KTSide A runout stamped
AMLS 934A-1 ✳T STEREO F 1 KTSide B runout stamped
AMLS 934-ASide A label
AMLS 934-BSide B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4181 / A&M Records SP-4181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4181 / A&M Records SP4181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | New Zealand | A&M Records SFLZ-930First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | A&M Records AMLS 934First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP 4181 / A&M Records SP-4181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP-4181LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP-4181First yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP-4181 / A&M Records SP 4181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP-4181 / A&M Records SP 4181First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP 4181 / A&M Records SP-4181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Japan | A&M Records AML-67 / A&M Records AML 67LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | A&M Records AML-67 / A&M Records AML 67LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Canada | Pickwick SPC-3707LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1979 | USA & Canada | Pickwick SPC-3707LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP 4181LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4181LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
17 vinyl pressings of Rehearsals For Retirement are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1969 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Canada, New Zealand. One of them is A&M Records SP 4181, released April 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP 4181, SP-4181, AMLS 934, SFLZ-930) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A&M SP4261-7 A2 T o and A&M SP4262-7 /\ T o. 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.
