Vinyl pressings
by Ry Cooder · 1977
Show Time was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 12 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-1-3059 RE-1 LW1 ⇀A-side runout, etched, Variant 1
BS-2-3059 RE-1 LW1↽B-side runout, etched, Variant 1
BS-1-3059 RE-1 LW1 ⇀A-side runout, etched, Variant 2
BS-2-3059 RE-1 LW2 2B-side runout, etched, Variant 2
BS-1-3059 WW1A-side runout, variant 1
BS-2-3059 WW1B-side runout, variant 1
BS-1-3059 WW1 · ─◁A-side runout, variant 2
BS-2-3059 WW1 · ─◁B-side runout, variant 2
BS-1-3059 RE-1 JW2 #1A-side runout, etched
BS-2-3059 RE-1 JW1 #1B-side runout, etched
BS-1-3059 JW2 #1 0A side runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
BS-2-3059. JW2 #2 0B side runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
BS-1-3059 JW4#1 0A-side runout, etched
BS-2-3059-JW3#1 0B-side runout, etched
BS-1-3059 WW1A-side runout, variant 1
BS-2-3059 WW1B-side runout, variant 1
BS-1-3059 WW1 · ─◁A-side runout, variant 2
BS-2-3059 WW1 · ─◁B-side runout, variant 2
K 56386 A2 ALLENSide 1 etched first part, stamped second part, Variant 1
K-56386-B-1Side 2 etched, Variant 1
K 56386 A2 8 ALLEN ΛSide 1, Variant 2
K-56386-B-1 8 ΛSide 2, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 3059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 3059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Belgium | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 3059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 3059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 3059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records w 56386First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10384WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10384WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56386First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56386LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records BS 3059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Portugal | Warner Bros. Records 56386LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 386LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386 / Warner Bros. Records BS 3059LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386 / Warner Bros. Records BS 3059LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 56386LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK & Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 386 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 386LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 3059LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
35 vinyl pressings of Show Time are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1977 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BS 3059.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BS 3059, K 56386, WB 56 386, w 56386) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BS-1-3059 RE-1 LW1 ⇀ and BS-2-3059 RE-1 LW1↽. 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.
