Vinyl pressings
by Soft Machine · 1976
Softs 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.
17 pressings came out in 1976, 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.
SHSP 4056 A-1 GA HTMRunout A, variant 1
SHSP 4056 B-1 HRunout B, variant 1
SHSP 4056 A-1 GL HTMRunout A, variant 2
SHSP 4056 B-3 MRunout B, variant 2
SHSP 4056 A-1 HTMRunout side A, stamped (HTM etched)
SHSP 4056 B-1 HTMRunout side B, stamped (HTM etched)
SHSP.4056ALabel side A
SHSP.4056BLabel side B
SHSP·4056·A J.S.Side A runout, etched
SHSP·4056·B J.S.Side B runout, etched
(4-02)Label
SHSP 4056 ASide A, label
ATL 5̶3̶0̶4̶4̶ ̶A̶ 50290 A CIDISRunout side A
50290 S̶H̶S̶P̶ ̶4̶0̶5̶6̶ B DU 2 ATL B 50290 CIDISRunout side B
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 | Harvest SHSP 4056First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Brazil | Harvest SHVL 1046First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Atlantic 50 290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Harvest 1C 062-97 761 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-97 761First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Greece | Harvest 2J 062-97761 / Harvest SHSP.4056First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Italy | RCA NEN 00022 / Neon NEN 00022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Italy | RCA NEN 00022 / Neon NEN 00022First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1976 | Japan | EMI EMS-80615 / Harvest EMS-80615First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | EMI EMS-80615 / Harvest EMS-80615First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Harvest 5C 062-97761First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Harvest 5C 062-97761First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Harvest 5C 062-97761First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Portugal | Harvest 8E 06497761First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Spain | Harvest 10 C 062-97 761First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Harvest SHSP 4056 / Harvest OC 062 ০ 97761First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | See For Miles Records Ltd. SEE 285LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | UK | Cherry Red Phonograph CRP111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | UK & Ireland | Esoteric Recordings ECLECLP2897LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 2025 | UK & Europe | Esoteric Recordings ECLECLP2897LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Harvest 1C 064-97 761LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Harvest 062-1977611 / Harvest 0114C 062-1977611LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Harvest 2J 062-97761LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | RCA NL 74703LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
26 vinyl pressings of Softs are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1976 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in UK, Argentina, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Harvest SHSP 4056, released June 25, 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SHSP 4056, 8361, SHVL 1046, 50 290) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SHSP 4056 A-1 GA HTM and SHSP 4056 B-1 H. 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.
