Vinyl pressings
by The Beach Boys · 1976
15 Big Ones 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.
29 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 18 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.
P MS-1-2251-P2 STEVE [symbol] ASide A runout, variant 1
P MS-2-2251-P3 SG C ASide B runout, variant 1
MS-1-2251-P1 SGSide A runout, variant 2
MS-2-2251-P1 SGSide B runout, variant 2
T 1 MS-1-2251-TH 1sm sg A ^ 3Side A runout, variant 1
T 1 MS-2-2251-TH 1 SG BSide B runout, variant 1
T 1 MS-1-2251-A TH4 SG SM ^ 3Side A runout, variant 2
T 1 MS-2-2251 TH-2 B B12Side B runout, variant 2
MS-1-2251 WW1 SG SM #2 ─◁Runout, Side A (Variant 1)
MS-2-2251 WW2 SG SM ─◁Runout, Side B (Variant 1)
MS-1-2251 WW1 SG SM #3 ─◁Runout, Side A (Variant 2)
MS-2-2251 WW2 SG SM #2 ─◁Runout, Side B (Variant 2)
Ƨ S MS-1-2251 SM-1 SG A 10Side A variant 1
I S MS-2-2251-SM-1 STEVE A 5Side B variant 1
MS-1-2251- SM-1 S.G A 10 ƧSide A variant 2
MS-2-2251- SM-1 STEVE A 5 1-1 1 5Side B variant 2
T1 MS-1-2251-TH1 SM SG ASide A runout
T1 MS-2-2251 TH-1 SG BSide B runout
MS-1-2251 JW-3 SGA-Side Runout Etching (Variant 1)
SUB MS-2-2251 JW-3 SGSM #1B-Side Runout Etching (Variant 1)
MS-1-2251 JW-3 SGA-Side Runout Etching (Variant 2)
SUB MS-2-2251 JW-2 SGSM #1B-Side Runout Etching (Variant 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 | Australia | Reprise Records MS 2251 / Brother Records MS 2251First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Brazil | Reprise Records 34.001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Chile | Reprise Records MS 2251First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 079 / Brother Records MS 2251First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 079 / Brother Records MS 2251LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1976 | Greece | Reprise Records RS 0343First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Greece | Reprise Records RS 0343 / Reprise Records 2251LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1976 | Italy | Reprise Records W 54079 / Brother Records W 54079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | Brother Records P-10208R / Reprise Records P-10208RFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | Reprise Records P-10208R / Brother Records P-10208RFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Japan | Reprise Records P-10208R / Brother Records P-10208RFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Mexico | Brother Records GWEA-5227First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Reprise Records REP 54079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | South Africa | Brother Records RRC 2217 / Reprise Records RRC 2217First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Spain | Brother Records HWBS 321-119 / Warner Bros. Records HWBS 321-119First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | USA & Europe | Brother Records B0022283-01LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Colombia | Brother Records WEA-10595LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records REP 54 079 / Brother Records MS 2251LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
37 vinyl pressings of 15 Big Ones are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1976 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Brother Records MS 2251, released June 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MS 2251, K54079, 54 079, K 54079) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P MS-1-2251-P2 STEVE [symbol] A and P MS-2-2251-P3 SG C A. 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.
