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Fourth by Soft Machine, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Fourth

by Soft Machine · 1971

29 pressings10 countriesJazz-RockFusionProg RockAvant-garde Jazz

Fourth was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. 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 Fourth

16 pressings came out in 1971, 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.

UK

February 1971
Label and catalog number
CBS S 64280
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

S-64280-A1Runout A, stamped

S-64280-B1Runout B, stamped

Full details of this pressing

UK

February 1971
Label and catalog number
CBS S 64280
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

S-64280-A1Runout A, stamped

S-64280-B1Runout B, stamped

Full details of this pressing

US

February 1971
Label and catalog number
Columbia C 30754
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Pitman Pressing
Runout / matrix

o P AL 30754-1ARunout A-side, variant 1

o P BL 30754-1ARunout B-side, variant 1

P AL 30754-1DRunout A-side, variant 2

P BL 30754-1CRunout B-side, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

February 1971
Label and catalog number
Columbia C 30754
Format
LP, Album · Pitman Pressing
Runout / matrix

P P AL 30754-1D ASide A runout, variant 1

P P BL 30754-1C 2 BSide B runout, variant 1

P P AL 30754-1D ASide A runout, variant 2

P P BL 30754-1CSide B runout, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Japan

February 1971
Label and catalog number
Epic EPIA 53003
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

1A53003A1 4A1Side A runout, variant 1

1A53003B1 3A1Side B runout, variant 1

1A53003A1 1A2Side A runout, variant 2

1A53003B1 1A1Side B runout, variant 2

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 29 vinyl pressings

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

1970s19 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1971CanadaCBS S 64280First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1971CanadaColumbia C 30754First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1971EuropeCBS S 64280First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1971EuropeCBS 64280 / CBS S 64280First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1971EuropeCBS S 64280First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1971FranceBarclay 80 439 / Barclay XBLY 080 439 UFirst yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1971FranceBarclay 80 439First yearLP, Album, Mispress, StereoLP, Album, Mispress, Stereo
1971FranceBarclay 80 439LP, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Test Pressing · Test pressing
1971JapanEpic EPIA 53003First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · PromoLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo
1971New ZealandCBS SBP 473900 / CBS 64280First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1971South AfricaDate DAS 2111 / Date DAS.2111First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1971SpainCBS S 64280First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1971JapanEpic EPIA 53003First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1971UKCBS S 64280First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1971UKCBS S 64280First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
All 19 pressings from the 1970s
2010s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2016EuropeMusic On Vinyl MOVLP1602 / Columbia MOVLP1602LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2016EuropeMusic On Vinyl MOVLP1602 / Columbia MOVLP1602LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl
Year unknown8 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?EuropeCBS S 64280LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?ItalyCBS S 64280LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?UKCBS S 64280LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?UKCBS S 64280LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
?UKCBS S 64280LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?UKCBS S 64280LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?USColumbia PC 30754LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?USColumbia C 30754 / Columbia PC 30754LP, AlbumLP, Album

Tracklist

  1. A1Teeth9:12
  2. A2Kings And Queens5:00
  3. A3Fletcher's Blemish4:34
  4. B1Virtually Part 15:17
  5. B2Virtually Part 27:06
  6. B3Virtually Part 34:31
  7. B4Virtually Part 43:20

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Fourth are there?

29 vinyl pressings of Fourth are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1971 and 2016.

When was Fourth first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1971, in UK, US, Japan, Canada and more. One of them is CBS S 64280, released February 1971.

How do I tell if my copy of Fourth is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use S 64280, C 30754, EPIA 53003, 64280) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S-64280-A1 and S-64280-B1. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Fourth 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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