Vinyl pressings
by The Byrds · 1969
Ballad Of Easy Rider was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1969, 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.
S XSM-151428 1A o A 7Runout side A, etched ["o" stamped]
s XSM-151429 1A o ARunout side B, etched ["o" stamped]
XSM 151428Label side A
XSM 151429Label side B
o XSM151428-1F | P C 2Runout side A, stamped [Var 1]
o XSM151429 1F | P A 7Runout side B, stamped [Var 1]
o XSM151428-1D | P A 3Runout side A, stamped [Var 2]
o XSM151429-1D | P D 3Runout side B, stamped [Var 2]
XSM 151428Matrix Side A
XSM 151429Matrix Side B
Ƨ XSM 151428 1A o B3Runout Side A
XSM 151429 1A o BRunout Side B
XSM 151428Matrix Side A
XSM 151429Matrix Side B
o XSM 151428-1E P 2Runout Side A
o XSM 151429-1E P A7Runout Side B
1 S XSM-151428 1A o B4Side A, etched except o, Variant 1
1 S XSM-151429 1A o A14Side B, etched except o, Variant 1
XSM-151428-1FSide A; Stamped, Variant 2
XSM-151429-1ESide B; Stamped, Variant 2
O T I XSM151428 1BRunout side A, variant 1
XSM151429-1G I TRunout side B, variant 1
o T XSM-I5I428 IB C (stamped) 20Runout side A, etched, variant 2
o XSM151429-1G I T BI(FAINT)Runout side B, stamped, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Australia | CBS SBP 233762 / Columbia CS 9942First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia CS 9942First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia CS 9942First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Europe | CBS S 63795First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Italy | CBS S 63795First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP 50191First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | South Africa | CBS ASF 1474First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | CBS S 63795First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | CBS 63795 / CBS S 63795First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | CBS S 63795First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9942First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9942First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9942First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9942First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9942First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1974 | France | Mr. Pickwick MPD 210LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | France | Mr. Pickwick MPD 210LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | France | Mr. Pickwick MPD 210LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1974 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPL 255LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Yugoslavia | Suzy 31956 / CBS 31956LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Spain | CBS 467044 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Spain | CBS/Sony CBS 467044 1 / CBS/Sony CBS-467044-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Friday Music FRM-9942 / Columbia 829421994206LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2012 | US | Friday Music FRM-9942 / Columbia 88691945301LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP759LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Embassy EMB 31956 / CBS EMB 31956LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS 467044.1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | CBS SBP 473729LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | CBS 63795 / CBS S 63795LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS S 63795LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | CBS S 63795LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 9442 / Columbia 9442LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9942 / Columbia PC 9942LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9942 / Columbia PC 9942LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 9942 / Columbia CS 9942LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9942LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9942 / Columbia PC 9942LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
51 vinyl pressings of Ballad Of Easy Rider are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1969 and 2013.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia CS 9942, released October 27, 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CS 9942, S 63795, 63795, SBP 233762) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S XSM-151428 1A o A 7 and s XSM-151429 1A o 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.
