Vinyl pressings
by Shelly Manne · 1962
Empathy was first pressed on vinyl in 1962. 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 1962, the album's first year, in 5 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.
62-VG-208-RE-1 V-8497-A [Block-shaped "S" stamp]Side A runout, variant 1
62-VG-209 V-8497-B [Block-shaped "S" stamp]Side B runout, variant 1
62-VG-208-RE-1 2 V-8497-A [Block-shaped "S" stamp]Side A runout, variant 2
62-VG-209 2 V-8497-B [Block-shaped "S" stamp]Side B runout, variant 2
V-8497-A 62-VG-208 WCA Runout Etching
V-8497-B 62-VG-209 WCB Runout Etching
62-VG-208A Label Matrix
62-VG-209B Label Matrix
V-6-8497-A 62-VGS-608 WCSide A etched
V-6-8497-B 62-VGS-609Side B etched
62-VGS-608Side A label
62-VGS-609Side B label
V 8497-A-ISSide A, Variant 1
V 8497-B-ISSide B, Variant 1
V 8497-A-IS GSide A, Variant 2
V 8497-B-IS GSide B, Variant 2
V6 8497 A-1 GSide 1
V6 8497 B-1 GSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Argentina | Verve Records 72019First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Canada | Verve Records V6-8497First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1962 | Canada | Verve Records V-8497First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Germany | Verve Records V6-8497First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1962 | UK | Verve Records VLP 9070 / Verve Records V-8497First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | UK | Verve Records SVLP 9070 / Verve Records V6 8497First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Verve Records V-8497First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Verve Records V6-8497First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Verve Records V-8497First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Verve Records V6-8497First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | Japan | Verve Records PS-8001LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | Japan | Verve Records PS-8001LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1965 | Japan | Verve Records SMV-1019LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Japan | Verve Records MV 2043LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Italy | Verve Records 2332 087LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Australia | World Record Club R-05514 / World Record Club R 05514LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Brazil | Verve Records 2332 087LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Verve Records 23MJ 3032LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Japan | Verve Records UMJ 3032LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Japan | Verve Records 20MJ-0054 / Verve Records 20MJ 0054LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | US | Verve Records V6-8497LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Germany | Verve Records V6-8497 / Speakers Corner Records V6-8497LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Spain | WaxTime 771847LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| 2013 | US | Analogue Productions AP-8497 / Verve Records V6-849712", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2017 | Europe | Doxy ACV2086LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue · Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue · Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | Europe | Jazztwin 50005LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | SoundsGood Original Recordings 66413LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2025 | US | Verve Records V6-8497 / Verve Records 602475283157LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Verve Records 2332 087LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Verve Records 2332 087LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Verve Records V6-8497 / Speakers Corner Records V6-8497LP, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Verve Records V-8497LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Verve Records 2332 087LP, White Label, Reissue | LP, White Label, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Verve Records 2332 087LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
34 vinyl pressings of Empathy are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1962 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1962, in US, UK, Argentina, Canada and more. One of them is Verve Records V-8497.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use V-8497, V6-8497, VLP 9070, SVLP 9070) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 62-VG-208-RE-1 V-8497-A [Block-shaped "S" stamp] and 62-VG-209 V-8497-B [Block-shaped "S" stamp]. 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.
