Vinyl pressings
by Ry Cooder · 1976
Chicken Skin Music was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 9 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.
MS-1-2254 WW1 —◁Runout side A, variant 1
MS-2-2254 WW1 —◁Runout side B, variant 1
MS-1-2254 WW1 —◁Runout side A, variant 2
MS-2-2254 WW3 —◁Runout side B, variant 2
MS-1-2254 JW1 #1Variant 1, A Side Runout, Etched
MS-2-2254 JW1 #3Variant 1, B Side Runout, Etched
MS-1-2254 JW1 #1Variant 2, A Side Runout, Etched
MS-2-2254 JW1Variant 2, B Side Runout, Etched
MS-1-2254 RE1 LW2Variant 1, Side 1 runout etched
MS-2-2254 RE1 LW1 2Variant 1, Side 2 runout etched
✲Variant 1, Side 1 and Side 2 runouts stamped
MS-1-2254 LW4 2 ✲Variant 2, Side 1 runout etched, "2" "✲" stamped
K-54083 A1Side A runout, variant 1
K-54083 B1Side B runout, variant 1
K∙54083∙A1 3 1 ASide A runout, variant 2
K∙54083∙B1 2 8 1Side B runout, variant 2
W-2 K·54083·A1A
W-2 K·54083·B1B
K·54083·A1 2 2 ΛRunout side A, variant 1
K·54083·B1 1 2 1Runout side B, variant 1
K·54083·A1 1C ARunout side A, variant 2
K·54083·B1 1O IRunout side B, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | Reprise Records MS 2254First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Australia | Reprise Records MS 2254First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2254First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2254LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2254LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2254LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1976 | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54083First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 083 / Reprise Records MS 2254First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Italy | Reprise Records 54083 / Reprise Records MS 2254LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1976 | Japan | Reprise Records P-10253RFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Reprise Records REP 54083First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | New Zealand | Reprise Records MS 2254First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Reprise Records K 54083 / Reprise Records K54083First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | UK | Reprise Records K 54083 / Reprise Records MS 2254First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Reprise Records K 54083 / Reprise Records K54083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Reprise Records P-6373RLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-465LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2019 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP 2538LP, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP 2538LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Reprise Records MS 2254LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 54 083 / Reprise Records REP 54 083LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54083 (MS 2254)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54 083LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54083 / Reprise Records K 54 083LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54 083 (MS 2254)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 54 083 / Reprise Records MS 2254LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records REP 54 083LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 54 083LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Reprise Records K 54 083 / Reprise Records REP 54 083LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54083 / Reprise Records MS 2254LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 083LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 083LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 083 / Reprise Records MS 2254LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Reprise Records 54083 / Reprise Records 54 083LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
43 vinyl pressings of Chicken Skin Music are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1976 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Reprise Records MS 2254, released September 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MS 2254, K 54083, REP 54083, REP 54 083) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MS-1-2254 WW1 —◁ and MS-2-2254 WW1 —◁. 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.
