Vinyl pressings
by The Beach Boys · 1968
Friends 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.
23 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 14 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.
ST1-2895B6 #3 IAMSide A runout, variant 1
ST-2-2895-A1 IAMSide B runout, variant 1
ST1-2895B6 #4 IAMSide A runout, variant 2
ST-2-2895-A1 IAMSide B runout, variant 2
ST1-2895 B4 #2 2 0Runout A, var. 1
ST2 2895 B4 #1 0Runout B, var. 1
ST1-2895 B4 #2 2 0Runout A, var. 2
ST2-2895 B4 #2 2 0Runout B, var. 2
ST1-2895-B4 #1Side A Runout Variant 1
ST2-2895-B4 #1Side B Runout Variant 1
ST1-2895-X4Side A Runout Variant 2
ST2-2895-W3Side B Runout Variant 2
ST1-2895A5 IAMSide A runout, variant 1
ST-2-2895A1#2 IAMSide B runout, variant 1
ST1-2895B6 #4 IAMSide A runout, variant 2
ST-2-2895-A1 IAMSide B runout, variant 2
ST-1-2895-B2 (hand etched) I AM pyramidSide A
ST-2-2895-A1 (hand etched) I AM pyramidSide B
ST-2-2895-A1#4 (hand etched) I AM pyramidSide B Variant
ST-1-2895-B6 #3 (hand etched) I AM pyramidSide A Variant 3
T1 2895-1Runout A, stamped
T2 2895-1Runout B, stamped
T1-2895Label A
T2-2895Label 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 | Canada | Capitol Records ST 2895 / Capitol Records ST-2895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Denmark | Capitol Records ST2895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Capitol Records SMK 74 456First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Capitol Records SMK 74 456LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1968 | Italy | Capitol Records ST 2895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Japan | Capitol Records CP 8490First yearLP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1968 | Japan | Capitol Records CP 8490LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing, Colored vinyl |
| 1968 | Japan | Capitol Records CP 8490First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Capitol Records ST 2895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Capitol Records ST 2895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Singapore | Capitol Records ST 2895 / Capitol Records ST-2895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | South Africa | Capitol Records T 2895First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | Capitol Records ST 2895 / Capitol Records ST. 2895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Capitol Records ST 2895First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1968 | US | Capitol Records ST 2895 / Capitol Records ST-2895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | World Record Club S/4784 / World Record Club S-4784LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1972 | Australia | World Record Club S/4784 / World Record Club S-4784LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1973 | Australia | World Record Club S/4784 / World Record Club S-4784LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1973 | Australia | World Record Club S/4784 / World Record Club S-4784LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1976 | Australia | World Record Club R-00560 / World Record Club S/4784LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1977 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-70113LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | Australia | World Record Club R-00560 / World Record Club S/4784LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1977 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-70113LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Australia | World Record Club R-00560 / World Record Club S/4784LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Capitol Records SN-16157LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Capitol Records SN-16157LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | US | Capitol Records C1 7243 8 29637 1 4LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Capitol Records B0021127-01 / EMI ST 2895LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-778LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
40 vinyl pressings of Friends are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1968 and 2014.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Netherlands, Australia and more. One of them is Capitol Records ST 2895, released June 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ST 2895, T 2895, STTX 340.751, ST2895) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST1-2895B6 #3 IAM and ST-2-2895-A1 IAM. 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.
