Vinyl pressings
by The Grateful Dead · 1970
American Beauty 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.
13 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 4 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.
WS-1893 39804-1 pRunout A, variant 1
WS-1893-39805-1 pRunout B, variant 1
WS-1893 P 39804-1 1 3 4Runout A, variant 2
P WS-1893-39805-1 A 2Runout B, variant 2
T WS-1893 39804-1-2 [stamped Artisan logo]Runout, etched, side A, variant 1
T2 WS-1893-39805-1-1 [stamped Artisan logo]Runout, etched, side B, variant 1
T2 WS-1893 39804-1-1 7X [stamped Artisan logo]Runout, etched, side A, variant 2
WS-1893 39805-3 [stamped Artisan logo]Runout, etched, side B, variant 2
WS-1893 S 39804-A 1B [Artisan logo] A3Runout A variant 1
WS-1893 39805-B 1B [Artisan logo] ARunout B variant 1
WS-1893 39804-A 1B [Artisan logo] B2 1 SRunout A variant 2
WS-1893 39805-B 1B [Artisan logo] B6 1 SRunout B variant 2
WS-1893 39804-A 1B [Artisan Sound Recorders drum & drumsticks symbol]Runout Side A, etched and stamped
WS-1893-39805-B 1B [Artisan Sound Recorders drum & drumsticks symbol]Runout Side B, etched and stamped
S39804Label Side A
S39805Label Side B
WS-1893 39804-1 [logo Artisan Sound Recorders ]Side A, Var. 1
WS-1893 39805-1 [logo Artisan Sound Recorders ] CSide B - “C” is faint and stamped, Var 1
WS-1893 39804-1 [logo Artisan Sound Recorders ]Side A, Var. 2
WS-1893 39805-1 [logo Artisan Sound Recorders ] C 10Side B - “C” is faint and stamped, Var 2
WS-1893 39804-AA, etched, variant 1
WS-1893-39805-BB, etched, variant 1
S39804Label, A
S39805Label, 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 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records 1893First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS-1893First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1970 | Germany | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records 1893First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | New Zealand | World Record Club E.1073 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBS.1893LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1970 | New Zealand | World Record Club E.1073 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBS.1893LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS-1893LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBS.1893 / Warner Bros. Records WBS 1893First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records 1893First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records 1893First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records ST-93416 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records ST-93416LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records 1893First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records 1893First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records 1893First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records S 50.076LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records LB 46074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 46 074 / Warner Bros. Records K 46074LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records 1893LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 2003 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 74397 / Rhino Records R1 74397LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Rhino Records WS 1893LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2011 | UK & Europe | Rhino Records 8122-79781-9 / Warner Bros. Records 8122-79781-9LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2011 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Rhino Records WS 1893LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-42912", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered |
| 2015 | US | Rhino Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | US | Rhino Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | US | Rhino Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2018 | US | Rhino Records 79306-6 RHI / Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Warner Records R1 1893LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 2020 | US | Warner Records RCV5 1893 / Warner Records 081227892715LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Warner Records RCV5 1893 / Warner Records 603497847778LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2020 | US | Warner Records R1-1893 / Rhino Records R1-1893LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2020 | US | Warner Records RR1 1893 / Rhino Records RR1 1893LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Worldwide | Warner Records RPD1 1893 / Rhino Records RPD1 1893LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2020 | USA & Europe | Warner Records RR1 1893 / Warner Records 603497847778LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | Europe | Warner Records RCD1 1893 / Warner Records 081227883232LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | US | Warner Records RCD1 1893 / Warner Records 081227883232LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RHF1 1893 / Rhino Records 603497827794LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2024 | US | Rhino Records RHF1 1893 / Rhino Records 603497827794LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 2024 | US | Warner Records RCD1 1893 / Warner Records 081227883232LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | UK | Rhino Records RR1 1893 / Warner Records 081227802806LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 1893LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893 / Warner Bros. Records S39804LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 46 074 / Warner Bros. Records K 46074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 074 / Warner Bros. Records S 39 804LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 46 074 / Warner Bros. Records K 46074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 46 074 / Warner Bros. Records WB 46 074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 46 074 / Warner Bros. Records K 46074LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 46 074 / Warner Bros. Records K 46074LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 46074LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 46074LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records K46074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 074 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1893LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
120 vinyl pressings of American Beauty are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1970 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, New Zealand, Canada, Germany. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WS 1893, released November 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1893, WBS.1893, WS-1893) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WS-1893 39804-1 p and WS-1893-39805-1 p. 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.
