Vinyl pressings
by The Association · 1968
Birthday 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.
18 pressings came out in 1968, 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.
o P 39335 RE-1 WS1733 A - 1BRunout A variant 1
o P 39336 RE-1 WS1733 B - 1BRunout B variant 1
P o 39335 WS 1733 A RE-2 -1F I C3Runout A variant 2
o 39336 WS 1733 B RE-2 -1C I P E5Runout B variant 2
S-39335-1S I A4Runout stamp side A, variant 1
S-39336-1S IRunout stamp side B, variant 1
S-39335-1S I A1Runout stamp side A, variant 2
S-39336-1S I A3Runout stamp side B, variant 2
39335 WS1733 A RE-2 -1A TRunout A, variant 1
39336 WS1733 B RE-2 -1E TRunout B, variant 1
1 :39335 WS 1733 A RE-2 -1E C 2 TRunout A, variant 2
1 :39336 WS 1733 B RE-2 -1E B 1 TRunout B, variant 2
Ƨ o 39335 RE-1 WS 1733A-1A B1Side A etch (except 'o' stamped) (variant 1)
Ƨ o 39336 RE-1 WS 1733B-1B A2Side B etch (except 'o' stamped) (variant 1)
Ƨ o 3935 WS 1733 A RE-2 -1D A6Side A etch (except 'o' stamped) (variant 2)
Ƨ o J 39336 RE-1 WS 1733 B RE-2 -1B B1Side B etch (except 'o' stamped) (variant 2)
9335-W1733A-1A
9336-W1733B-1A
W. S. 1733A-1*G STEREO KTSide A stamped/etched
W. S. 1733B-1*G STEREO 1 KTSide B stamped/etched
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 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1733First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records W 1733First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records WLP 75.007First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | France | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records CLPW 1546 / Warner Bros. Records CLPW. 1546First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1733 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1733First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records BP-8440First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Lebanon | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBLP 17003First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBS 1733First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBL 1064First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Taiwan | Large World LW-370LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1968 | Taiwan | Large World LW-370LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1968 | UK | Warner Bros. Records WS 1733First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Warner Bros. Records WS 1733 / Warner Bros. Records W.1733First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1733First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1733 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records ST-91456LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Music Hall 12761LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Peru | Warner Bros. Records WS-1733LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Uruguay | ANTAR 12761LP, Album | LP, Album |
25 vinyl pressings of Birthday are listed here, from 16 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1733.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1733, W 1733, WLP 75.007, CLPW 1546) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, o P 39335 RE-1 WS1733 A - 1B and o P 39336 RE-1 WS1733 B - 1B. 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.
