US
1968- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 7186
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene
- Runout / matrix
L-16468-1A PA runout stamped
L-16469-1A PB runout stamped
L 16468A label matrix
L 16469B label matrix
The Grateful DeadDark Star
Vinyl pressings
Dark Star
by The Grateful Dead · 1968
10 pressings4 countriesPsychedelic RockRock
Dark Star 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.
How to spot a first pressing of Dark Star
7 pressings came out in 1968, 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.
US
1968- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 7186
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene
- Runout / matrix
L-16468 1A SEtched on A-side (Dark Star)
L-16469 1A SSEtched on B-side (Born Cross-Eyed)
L16468Label A-side
L16469Label B-side
UK
October 1968- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records 7186Warner Bros. Records WB 7186
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Single
- Runout / matrix
WP 7186A B̶ - 1△GSide A
WP 7186 BA̶ - 1△GSide B
UK
1968- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records WB 7186
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo
- Runout / matrix
WP 7186A - 1△GSide A
WP 7186 B - 1△GSide B
Canada
1968- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records 7186
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Single
Japan
1968- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records BR-1965
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM, Single · Red
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 10 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1960s7 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 7186First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1968 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records BR-1965First year7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl |
| 1968 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records BR-1965First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo, Colored vinyl |
| 1968 | UK | Warner Bros. Records WB 7186First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 7186First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Styrene · Promo |
| 1968 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 7186First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1968 | UK | Warner Bros. Records 7186 / Warner Bros. Records WB 7186First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
1970s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | UK | Warner Bros. Records SAM 797", Single, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
2010s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Warner Bros. Records 71867", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 2017 | US | Rhino Records R7 5588497", Single, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | 7", Single, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
Tracklist
- ADark Star2:50
- BBorn Cross-Eyed3:00
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Dark Star are there?
10 vinyl pressings of Dark Star are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1968 and 2017.
When was Dark Star first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Canada, Japan. One of them is Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 7186.
How do I tell if my copy of Dark Star is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7186, WB 7186, BR-1965) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, L-16468-1A P and L-16469-1A P. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Dark Star on vinyl worth?
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.
