Vinyl pressings
by The Fifth Dimension · 1970
Portrait 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 17 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.
P BELL 6045-A 3 6045-SA [Artisan logo]Side A runout, variant 1
P BELL 6045-B 3 6045-SB [Artisan logo]Side B runout, variant 1
P BELL 6045-A1 6045-SA [Artisan logo] B2Side A runout, variant 2
P BELL 6045-B 4 6045-SB [Artisan logo] B2Side B runout, variant 2
6045-SAMatrix Side A
6045-SBMatrix Side B
Bell 6045 6045-SA 14679 ⨺ ⒾRunout Side A
Bell 6045 6045-SB 14679-X ⨺ ⒾRunout Side B
Bell 6045 1-6045-SA 4-1-70 [Artisan Logo]Runout A, variant 1
Bell-6045 6045-SB 4-3-70 [Artisan Logo]Runout B, variant 1
Bell-6045 6045-SA 4-3-70 [Artisan Logo]Runout A, variant 2
Bell-6045 6045-SB [Artisan Logo] BestwayRunout B, variant 2
BELL 6045 6045-SA [Artisan logo] ARPRunout side A
BELL 6045 6045-SB [Artisan logo] ARPRunout side B
6045 SALabel side A
6045 SBLabel side B
Artisan Sound Recorders LogoSide A/B (Stamped)
BELL 6045 6045-SA ∆14691Side A (hand etched)
6045-SB ∆14691-XSide B (hand etched)
6045-SASide A Label
BELL 6045-A+ 6045-SASide A - Etched
BELL 6045-B+ 6045-SBSide B - Etched
Artisan Sound Recorders LogoBoth Sides - Stamped
6045-SA-BWSide A - Label
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 | Argentina | Bell Records BELL 6045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Argentina | Parlophone 5130First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Australia | Bell Records SBLL 6045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Brazil | Odeon MOFB 9001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Bell Records BELL 6045 / Bell Records LPS. 6045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Bell Records B 6045 / Bell Records BELL 6045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Bell Records LPS. 6045 / Bell Records BELL 6045First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Denmark | Bell Records BELL 6045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | France | Bell Records 2C 062 - 91437First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | Bell Records BELL H 113/3 / Bell Records H 113/3LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1970 | Germany | Bell Records S 6045 / Bell Records BELL 6045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Italy | Bell Records SNIR BL 25.006First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Bell Records BELL 58009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Mexico | Capitol Records SLEM-237First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Bell Records SBLL 6045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Germany | Speakers Corner Records Bell 6045 / Bell Records Bell 6045LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2005 | Germany | Speakers Corner Records Bell 6045 / Bell Records Bell 6045LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Bell Records 6045LP | LP |
| ? | India | Stateside SLES.6LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Bell Records BELL 6045 / Bell Records 6045LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Bell Records BELL 6045 / Bell Records 6045LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Venezuela | Bell Records SOLP 7086LP, Album | LP, Album |
47 vinyl pressings of Portrait are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1970 and 2005.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Bell Records Bell 6045.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use Bell 6045, BELL 6045, B 6045, SBLL 135) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P BELL 6045-A 3 6045-SA [Artisan logo] and P BELL 6045-B 3 6045-SB [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.
