Vinyl pressings
by The Fifth Dimension · 1970
One Less Bell To Answer was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 13 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.
BELL 9752-M-2 | | P.R. [Artisan logo]Side A run-out, variant 1
BELL 9753-1-1-2 P.R [Artisan logo]Side B run-out, variant 1
BELL 9752-M-1-11 1111 P.R. [Artisan logo]Side A run-out, variant 2
BELL 9753-1-1-11 P.R. [Artisan logo]Side B run-out, variant 2
BELL 9752-M (Artisan symbol) BSide A etched, (Artisan symbol) & B stamped
BELL 9753 (Artisan symbol) BSide B etched, (Artisan symbol) & B stamped
BELL 9752-M [MR(circled) (Artisan logo)] ∆82529Runout side A, etched [stamped]
BELL 9753 [(Artisan logo) MR(circled)] ∆82529-XRunout side B, etched [stamped]
9752Label Side A
9753Label Side B
9752A-side label
9753B-side label
Ⓢ BELL 9752-M [Artisan Sound Recorders Logo] 22103Runout, side A, etched, except [stamped]
BELL 9753 [Artisan Sound Recorders Logo]Runout, side B, etched, except [stamped]
9752Label side A
9753Label side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Bell Records BLL-9278First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1970 | Brazil | Odeon 7BT-43First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1970 | Canada | Bell Records BELL. 940XFirst year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1970 | Canada | Bell Records BELL. 940XFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Denmark | Bell Records BLL 1137First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1970 | Germany | Bell Records 940First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1970 | Japan | Bell Records Bell-88044First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Bell Records Bl. 247First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1970 | Nicaragua | Odeon 01-0535First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Portugal | Stateside 8E 006-92001 MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1970 | Singapore | Stateside CSS-3089First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Spain | Stateside 1 J 006-92.001 MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | UK | Bell Records BLL1137First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Bell Records B 940First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1970 | US | Bell Records 940First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Bell Records YBLL 11377", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
43 vinyl pressings of One Less Bell To Answer are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1970 and 1971.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Bell Records 940, released October 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 940, B 940, BELL 940, B-940) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BELL 9752-M-2 | | P.R. [Artisan logo] and BELL 9753-1-1-2 P.R [Artisan logo]. 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.
