Vinyl pressings
by The Beach Boys · 1975
Spirit Of America was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 8 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.
SVBB-1-11384-J9 . ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout side A (Variant 1)
SVBB-2-11384-J10 . ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout side B (Variant 1)
SVBB-3-11384-J9 #4 . ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout side C (Variant 1)
KP SVBB-4-11384-F2 #4 . ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout side D (Variant 1)
SVBB 1 11384 J7 #3 wly 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout Side A
SVBB 2 11384 F6 #3 KP wly 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout Side B
SVBB 3 11384 J6 #4 wly 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout Side C
SVBB 4 11384 J6 #3 wly 0 MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout Side D
MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout All Sides, All Versions
SVBB-1-11384-F12Runout Side A, Variant 1
SVBB-2-11384-J10 #3Runout Side B, Variant 1
SVBB-3-11384-J9 #4Runout Side C, Variant 1
KP SVBB-1-11384-J9 . -------◄ -Runout, Etched, Side 1
KP SVBB-2-11384-F2 . -------◄Runout, Etched, Side 2
KP SVBB-3-11384-F2 . -------◄Runout, Etched, Side 3
KP SVBB-4-11384-F2 . -------◄Runout, Etched, Side 4
SVBB-1-11384-F11 #2 · ──◁Runout, Etched, Side 1
SVBB-2-11384-J10 #4 · ──◁Runout, Etched, Side 2
KP SVBB-3-11384-F2 #2 · ──◁Runout, Etched, Side 3
SVBB-4-11384-J9 #2 · ──◁Runout, Etched, Side 4
VMP 1007 A-1 AL 1 RJLSide A stamped / etched runout
VMP 1007 B-1 GP 2 RJLSide B stamped / etched runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Canada | Capitol Records SVBB-11384First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 152-81 887/88First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Peru | Capitol Records ST-23959First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Scandinavia | Capitol Records SVBB-11384First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Taiwan | Giant TD-1561LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1975 | UK | Capitol Records VMP 1007 / Capitol Records 0C 054 ○ 81992First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-511384LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384 / Capitol Records R243410LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SVBB-11384LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
29 vinyl pressings of Spirit Of America are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1975 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Australia, Japan and more. One of them is Capitol Records SVBB-11384, released April 14, 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SVBB-11384, VMP 1007, ECS-90026, 1C 152-81 887/88) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SVBB-1-11384-J9 . ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOL and SVBB-2-11384-J10 . ─◁ 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.
