Vinyl pressings
by The Band · 1976
The Best Of The Band 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.
18 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 11 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.
ST-1-11553 F-1 #1 Wly MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A runout, variant 1
ST-2-11553 F-1 #1 Wly MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout, variant 1
ST-1-11553 F-3 3̷ 2 Wly MASTERED BY CAPITOL SUB-#2Side A runout, variant 2
ST-2-11553 F-3• 3 Wly MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B runout, variant 2
ST-1-11553 F-2 #3 Wly ---◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A, variant 1
ST-2-11553 F-2 Wly ---◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B, variant 1
ST-1-11553 F-2 #3 Wly ---◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A, variant 2
ST-1-11553 F-2 #5 Wly ---◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B, variant 2
ST-1-11553 F-3• 1 Wly ✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A, variant 1
ST-2-11553-F-5• 3 ✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B, variant 1
ST-1-11553 F-3• 3 Wly ✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A, variant 2
ST-2-11553-F-5• 1 ✲ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B, variant 2
ST-1-11553 F-1 Wly 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A, variant 1
ST-2-11553-F-7#1 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B, variant 1
ST-1-11553 F-1 #1 Wly 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A, variant 2
ST-2-11553 F-1 #3 Wly 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout B, variant 2
E A - S T 1 23927 - 1 O Gnome Rules O.K !Runout side A, variant 1
EA - ST2 23927- 1 Λ 1Runout side B, variant 1
EA-ST1 23927-1 P Gnome Rules O.K ! 1Runout side A, variant 2
EA-ST2 23927-1 M 1Runout side B, variant 2
ST1 11553Etched Side 1
ST2 11553Etched Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Unknown | Capitol Records R-134485LP, Compilation, Misprint, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Misprint, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Australia | Capitol Records ST.11553First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Canada | Capitol Records ST-11553First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Canada | Capitol Records ST-11553First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Greece | Capitol Records 2J 062 - 82303First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | Italy | Capitol Records 3C 064 82295First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-80657First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-80657First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Capitol Records 5C 062-82295First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Capitol Records 5C 062-82295First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Capitol Records 5C 062-82295LP, Compilation, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1976 | New Zealand | Capitol Records ST 23922First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | South Africa | Capitol Records ST(L)11553First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | Sweden | Capitol Records ST 11553 / Capitol Records 7C ST 11553First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Sweden | Capitol Records ST 11553 / Capitol Records 7C ST 11553First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records SN-16331LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Capitol Records ST-11553LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1982 | UK | Fame FA3016 / Capitol Records EAST23927LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Capitol Records SN 16331 / Capitol Records SN-16331LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | US | Capitol Records SN-16331LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1986 | Australia | Capitol Records MID-166022LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1987 | Spain | Capitol Records 056 26 1324 1 / Capitol Records 056-2613241LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1988 | US | Capitol Records ST 511553LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | USA & Canada | Capitol Records 602478343575 / UMe 602478343575LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2025 | Worldwide | Capitol Records 00602478343575 / UMe 00602478343575LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Capitol Records 31C 064 82295LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records SN-516331LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records ST-11553LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records SN-16331 / Capitol Records ST-11553LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 062-82 295 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-82 295LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Capitol Records 062-1823031 / Capitol Records 0114C 062-1823031LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | Capitol Records AXIS 100 / Axis AXIS 100LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label MPS 1573LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Fame FA 3016 / Capitol Records FA 3016LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Capitol Records EA-ST 23927LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SN-16331LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | US | Capitol Records R-123708LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SN-16331LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress |
50 vinyl pressings of The Best Of The Band are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1976 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Capitol Records ST-11553, released August 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ST-11553, EA-ST 23927, ST.11553, 2J 062 - 82303) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-1-11553 F-1 #1 Wly MASTERED BY CAPITOL and ST-2-11553 F-1 #1 Wly MASTERED BY CAPITOL. 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.
