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A Portrait Of Ray by Ray Charles, album cover

Vinyl pressings

A Portrait Of Ray

by Ray Charles · 1968

23 pressings14 countriesRhythm & BluesFunk / Soul

A Portrait Of Ray was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of A Portrait Of Ray

13 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 10 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.

US

1968
Label and catalog number
ABC Records ABCS-625Tangerine Records ABCS-625
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ABC-S-625-A-2-9 LWA-Side etched runout, var. 1

ABC-S-625-B-2-2 LW ABC-S-625-ABB-Side etched runout, var. 1

ABC-S-625-A-1-2 LW ABC-A-625-SA-Side etched runout, var. 2

ABC-S-625-B-1 LWB-Side etched runout, var. 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1968
Label and catalog number
ABC Records ABCS–625Tangerine Records ABCS–625
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

ABC–S–625–A–2 LWDeadwax side A; "LW" sideways

ABC–S–625–B ABC–S–625–B–2 LW TSMDeadwax side B; "LW" sideways

ABCS–625–ALabel side A

ABCS–625–BLabel side B

Full details of this pressing

US

1968
Label and catalog number
ABC Records ABCS-625Tangerine Records ABCS-625
Format
LP, Album, Promo, Mono
Runout / matrix

ABC-M-625-A LWA-Side

ABC-M-625-B LW

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 23 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1960s17 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1968AustraliaAmpar SML-932,898First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1968BrazilFermata FB - 227First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1968ChileABC Records 625-SDFirst yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1968FranceStateside SSSX 340.693 / Stateside SSSX 340693First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1968GermanyPhilips 843 534 BYFirst yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1968JapanABC Records SR 181 / Tangerine Records SR 181First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · PromoLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo
1968MexicoGamma GX 01-296First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1968TurkeySahibinin Sesi TCLP 13First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1968UKStateside SL 10269First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1968UKStateside SL 10269First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1968USABC Records ABCS-625 / Tangerine Records ABCS-625First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1968USABC Records ST 91467 / Tangerine Records ST 91467LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition
1968USABC Records ABCS-625 / Tangerine Records ABCS-625LP, Album, Club Edition, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono, Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono, Club edition
1968USABC Records ABCS-625 / Tangerine Records ABCS-625First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, MonoLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono
1968USABC Records ABCS–625 / Tangerine Records ABCS–625First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
All 17 pressings from the 1960s
1970s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1970ItalyStateside 3C 062 - 91454LP, AlbumLP, Album
Year unknown5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?ArgentinaABC Records ABCE-625 / Prodisa S.R.L. ABCE-625LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?AustraliaStateside SOSL 10269 / Stateside SOSL-10269LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?CanadaTangerine Record Corp. ABCS-625LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?FranceStateside SSSX 340.693LP, AlbumLP, Album
?FranceStateside SSSX 340.693 / Stateside SSSX 340693LP, AlbumLP, Album

Tracklist

  1. A1Never Say Naw
  2. A2The Sun Died
  3. A3Am I Blue
  4. A4Yesterdays
  5. A5When I Stop Dreamin'
  6. B1I Won't Leave
  7. B2A Sweet Young Thing Like You
  8. B3The Bright Lights & You Girl
  9. B4Understanding
  10. B5Eleanor Rigby

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of A Portrait Of Ray are there?

23 vinyl pressings of A Portrait Of Ray are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1968 and 1970.

When was A Portrait Of Ray first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is ABC Records ABCS-625.

How do I tell if my copy of A Portrait Of Ray is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ABCS-625, ABCS–625, SL 10269, SML-932,898) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ABC-S-625-A-2-9 LW and ABC-S-625-B-2-2 LW ABC-S-625-AB. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is A Portrait Of Ray on vinyl worth?

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.

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