Vinyl pressings
by The Cowsills · 1968
Captain Sad And His Ship Of Fools 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.
12 pressings came out in 1968, 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.
SE-4554 SIDE-1 MGS-1446-3 11 [Block-shaped S]Runout A, variant 1
SE-4554 SIDE-2 MGS-14476-1 22 [Block-shaped S]Runout B, variant 1
SE-4554 SIDE-1 MGS-1446-3 12 [Block-shaped S]Runout A, variant 2
SE-4554 SIDE-2 MGS-14476-1 11 [Block-shaped S]Runout B, variant 2
SE-4554 SIDE-1 MGS-1446Runout A
SE-4554 SIDE-2 MGS-1447-1 22 [Block-shaped S]Runout 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 | Australia | MGM Records SE-4554First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Brazil | MGM Records LP 31.005First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1968 | Canada | MGM Records SE 4554First yearLP, Stereo, Album | LP, Stereo, Album |
| 1968 | Canada | MGM Records SE 4554First yearLP, Stereo, Album | LP, Stereo, Album |
| 1968 | Chile | MGM Records E-4554First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1968 | Germany | MGM Records 665 101First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Japan | MGM Records SMM-1169First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | MGM Records C 8095First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE-4554 / MGM Records SE4554First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records E-4554 / MGM Records SE-4554First yearLP, Album, Mono, Promo · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Promo · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records E-4554 / MGM Records SE-4554First yearLP, Album, Mono, Promo · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Promo · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE-4554First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
12 vinyl pressings of Captain Sad And His Ship Of Fools are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is MGM Records SE-4554.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SE-4554, E-4554, C 8095, SE 4554) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SE-4554 SIDE-1 MGS-1446-3 11 [Block-shaped S] and SE-4554 SIDE-2 MGS-14476-1 22 [Block-shaped S]. 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.
