Vinyl pressings
by The Beatles · 1977
Love Songs was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
52 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 26 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.
SKBL-1-11711 F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPSide A runout, variant 1
SKBL-2-11711 F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPSide B runout, variant 1
SKBL-3-11711 F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPSide C runout, variant 1
SKBL-4-11711 F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KPSide D runout, variant 1
SKBL-1-11711 F12 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0 KPRunout side A, variant 1
SUB SKBL-2-11711 F1 #1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0 KPRunout side B, variant 1
SKBL-3-11711 F1 #4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0 KPRunout side C, variant 1
SKBL-4-11711 G6 #2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Runout side D, variant 1
SKBL-1-11711 G14 G.D. GOLSide One, Etched, Variant 1
SKBL-2-11711 G15 G.D. GOLSide Two, Etched, Variant 1
SKBL-3-11711 G14 G.D. GOLSide Three, Etched, Variant 1
SKBL-1-11711 G14 M4 G.D. GOLSide Four, Etched, Variant 1
SKBL-1-11711 F-3 3[sideways] MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲Variant 1: Side A - Runout [etched & stamped]
SKBL-2-11711 F11 3[sideways] MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲Variant 1: Side B - Runout [etched & stamped]
SKBL-3-11711 F-11 Wally 1[sideways] MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲Variant 1: Side C - Runout [etched & stamped]
SKBL-4-11711 F-10 Wally 3[sideways] MASTERED BY CAPITOLVariant 1: Side D - Runout [etched & stamped]
SKBL-1-11711 G6 #1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side A runout, variant 1
SKBL-2-11711 G7 #2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side B runout, variant 1
SKBL-3-11711 G6 #2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side C runout, variant 1
SKBL-4-11711 G7 #1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side D runout, variant 1
SKBL-1-11711 F13 #2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL [anvil]Runout Side A, etched & stamped
SKBL-2-11711 F14 MASTERED BY CAPITOL [anvil]Runout Side B Runout, etched & stamped
SKBL-3-11711 F13 #2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL [anvil]Runout Side C Runout, etched & stamped
SKBL-4-11711 F13 #2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL [anvil]Runout Side D Runout, etched & stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Belgium | Parlophone 4 C 156-06550/51First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Belgium | Parlophone 7C 156-06551First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Brazil | Odeon SXMOFB 496/7First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBL-11711First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBL-11711First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Capitol Records SKBL-11711First yearLP, Album, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Colombia | EMI E2S7First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | France | Capitol Records 2 C 154-06550/1First yearLP, Compilation, Misprint | LP, Compilation, Misprint |
| 1977 | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | Odeon F 666 219/20 / EMI Electrola F 666 219/20First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Germany | Odeon 1 C 172-06 550/51First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Odeon 1C 172-06 550/51First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Germany | Odeon 1C 172-06 550/51First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Greece | EMI 14C 162-06560/1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Guatemala | Odeon 33125First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | India | Parlophone PCSP 721 / Parlophone PCSP. 721First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Mexico | EMI SLEMB-756LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 1141/42 / Parlophone ВТА 1141/42LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 1141 / Балкантон ВТА 1142LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 1141 / Балкантон ВТА 1142LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Czechoslovakia | Балкантон ВТА 1141 / Балкантон ВТА 1142LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | New Zealand | EMI SKBL 11711 / Capitol Records SKBL 11711LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Spain | Odeon 10C 170-006560/1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Spain | Odeon 10C 170-006560/1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Spain | Odeon 10C 170-006560/1 / Odeon 10C 170006560/1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Spain | Odeon 10C 170-006.560/1 / Odeon 527791/2LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Venezuela | EMI 201.04013/14LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 1141/42LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 1141/42LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Mexico | EMI LEMBT 756LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 1141/42LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Venezuela | EMI 4013 / EMI 4014LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Unknown | Vee-Gan Records VGNP 109 110LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | EMI 8166/7LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Argentina | EMI 8166/7LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | Odeon 31C 164 06560/1 / Odeon SXMOFB 496/7LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Bulgaria | Parlophone PCSP 721 / Балкантон ВТА 1141/ 42LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 1141 / Балкантон ВТА 1142LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Bulgaria | Балкантон ВТА 1141/42 / Parlophone ВТА 1141/42LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | France | Capitol Records 2 C 154-06550/1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Israel | Parlophone PCSP 721 / Portrait PCSP 721LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Netherlands | Parlophone 1A 152-06560/61 / Parlophone 5C 152-06560/61LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Philippines | Parlophone PCSP-721LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | South Korea | Not On Label (The Beatles) 7745LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Sweden | Odeon 456-06549Compilation, LP | Compilation, LP |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SKBL-11711LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SKBL 11711LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
137 vinyl pressings of Love Songs are listed here, from 36 countries, released between 1977 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Canada, Japan and more. One of them is Capitol Records SKBL-11711, released October 21, 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SKBL-11711, PCSP 721, SEBX-11844, EAS-50007・8) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SKBL-1-11711 F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KP and SKBL-2-11711 F4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL KP. 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.
