Vinyl pressings
by Soft Machine · 1968
The Soft Machine was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 3 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.
CPLP- 4500 AS - 2LW P17 LW[sideways]A-side runout, etched, variant 1
CPLP- 4500 B - SB - 2SS LW[sideways]B-side runout, etched, variant 1
CPLP-4500-AA-side label
CPLP-4500-BB-side label
CPLP-4500AS-2LW P17. (MR) LW △12629A-Side run-out, hand-etched
CPLP-4500B-SB-255 LW (MR)△12629-XB-Side run-out, hand-etched
CPLP-4500AS-2LW P17Side 1 run-out, hand-etched
CPLP-4500B-SB-255Side 2 run-out, hand-etched
CPLP-4500-ASide 1 label
CPLP-4500-BSide 2 label
CPLP- 4500 AS - 2LW P17 LW[sideways] TƧMA-side runout, variant 1
CPLP- 4500 B - SB - 255 LW[sideways] TƧMB-side runout, variant 1
CPLP- 4500AS - 2LW P17 εΓ TSMA-side runout, variant 2
CPLP- 4500 B - SB - 255 εΓ TSMB-side runout, variant 2
CPLP-4500 A S-2 LW P17 Σ ⌐Side A runout, etched
CPLP- 4500 B -SB -2SS Σ ⌐Side B runout, etched
CPLP-4500AS-2LW P17 LWSide A runout
CPLP-4500B-SB-2SS LWSide B runout
CPLP-4500-ALabel, side A
CPLP-4500-BLabel, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | France | Barclay 920 082 / Barclay 0 920 082First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 XFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 XFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 XFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 XFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 XFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 X / ABC Records CPLP 4500 XFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 / Command CPLP-4500First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 / Probe CPLP-4500-SFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 / Command CPLP-4500First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Canada | Probe CPLP 4500 / ABC Records CPLP-4500First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 XFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Barclay 920 082 / Barclay 0920082LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Japan | Probe SR-303 / Probe SR-303LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Italy | Probe 3C 154-50185LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | Probe IPP-80899LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Probe IPP-80899LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Italy | Record Bazaar RB 73 / ABC Records RB 73LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | UK & Europe | ABC Records 27 135 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Italy | MCA Records ORL 8662 / MCA Coral ORL 8662LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | Europe | Big Beat Records WIKA 57LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1987 | Europe | Big Beat Records WIKA 57LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Liechtenstein | Tapestry Records TPT 226LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
| 2007 | Liechtenstein | Tapestry Records TPT 226LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing, Limited |
| 2007 | Liechtenstein | Tapestry Records TPT 226LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
| 2007 | Japan | Probe UIJY-9012 / Universal Music UIJY-9012LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music B0013906-01 / Universal Music Special Markets B0013906-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2010 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 / Probe CPLP-4500LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2010 | US | Probe CPLP 4500 / Universal Music Special Markets B0013693-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music B0013906-01 / Universal Music Special Markets B0013906-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5341 / Probe LP 5341LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Liechtenstein | Tapestry Records TPT 226LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Spain | Elemental Music 700198LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Netherlands | Probe 5C 184-50185LP, Album | LP, Album |
36 vinyl pressings of The Soft Machine are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1968 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, Canada, France. One of them is Probe CPLP 4500, released November 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CPLP 4500, CPLP 4500 X, 920 082) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CPLP- 4500 AS - 2LW P17 LW[sideways] and CPLP- 4500 B - SB - 2SS LW[sideways]. 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.
