Vinyl pressings
by The Four Seasons · 1967
Watch The Flowers Grow was first pressed on vinyl in 1967. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1967, 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.
1-40603-1A Side Etched (Variant 1)
1-40648-2B Side Etched (Variant 1)
1-40603-1 MRA-Side Runout Etching (Variant 2)
1-40648-4 MRB-Side Runout Etching (Variant 2)
1-40603-1 MRSide A runout
1-40608-4 MRSide B runout
1-40603Side A label
1-40608Side B label
304 151 1FA Side Label
304 151 2FB Side Label
40490-AA Side Label
40490-BB Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Australia | Philips BF-354First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Belgium | Philips 304 150 BFFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Canada | Philips PH.40490First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1967 | Netherlands | Philips 304 150 BFFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | New Zealand | Philips BF-304150First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | New Zealand | Philips BF 304150First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1967 | Scandinavia | Philips 304.151-BF / Philips 304 151 BFFirst year7", Single, 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | UK | Philips BF 1621 / Philips 304 151 BFFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | US | Philips 40490First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1967 | US | Philips 40490First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1967 | US | Philips 40 490First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1968 | Spain | Philips 304 150 BF7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Philips DJP/404907", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
13 vinyl pressings of Watch The Flowers Grow are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1967 and 1968.
The earliest pressings are from 1967, in US, UK, Australia, Belgium and more. One of them is Philips 40490.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 40490, 40 490, BF 1621, BF-354) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1-40603-1 and 1-40648-2. 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.
