Vinyl pressings
by The Grateful Dead · 1971
Grateful Dead was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 9 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.
2 WS-1935 TI 39943-I-I B [Artisan logo]Side A runout var. 1, etched
2 WS-1935 TI 39944-I- G [Artisan logo]Side B runout var. 1, etched
2 WS-1935 T2 39945-I-I C [Artisan logo]Side C runout var. 1, etched
2 WS-1935 TI 39946-I-2 B [Artisan logo]Side D runout var. 1, etched
Ƨ / 2WS-1935A 39943-1A A6Variant 1, A etched
S/ 2WS-1935B 39944-1A A8Variant 1, B etched
S/ 2WS1935C 39945-1A D2Variant 1, C etched
Ƨ \ 2WS-1935D 39946-1A A6Variant 1, D etched
2WS-1935 39943-1 [Artisan Sound Recorders stamp]Runout side A etched variant 1
2WS-1935 39944-1 [Artisan Sound Recorders stamp]Runout side B etched variant 1
2WS-1935 39945-1 [Artisan Sound Recorders stamp]Runout side C etched variant 1
2WS-1935 39946-1 [Artisan Sound Recorders stamp]Runout side D etched variant 1
2WS-1935 39943-1 [Artisan Sound Recorders logo] V 2 PA runout
2WS-1935 39944-3 [Artisan Sound Recorders logo] PB runout
2WS-1935 39945-2 [Artisan Sound Recorders logo] C A PC runout
2WS-1935 39946-1 [Artisan Sound Recorders logo] PD runout
Side I: 2WS-1935-A 39943-1B [Artisan Sound Recorders stamp]
Side II: 2WS-1935-B 39944-1B [Artisan Sound Recorders stamp]
Side III: 2WS-1935-C 39945-1A [Artisan Sound Recorders stamp]
Side IV: 2WS-1935-D 39946-1B [Artisan Sound Recorders stamp]
K-66009-A1Runout stamped side A variant 1
K-66009-B1Runout stamped side B variant 1
K-66009-C1Runout stamped side C variant 1
K-66009-D1Runout stamped side D variant 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Warner Bros. Records 66009 / Warner Bros. Records 66009-1/2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Warner Bros. Records 66009 / Warner Bros. Records 66009-1/2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Warner Bros. Records 66009-1/2First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 009 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1935First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 009 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1935First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1971 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5042~3WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5042~3WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5042~3WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records 2WBS 1935First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBV 3851 / Warner Bros. Records WBV 3851First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-4708~9WLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935 / Warner Bros. Records 2 WS 1935LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935 / Warner Bros. Records 2 WS 1935LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-367LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2012 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-367LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue · Promo, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Reissue · Promo, Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US | Warner Records R1 1935LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2021 | US | Warner Records R1 1935LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | Worldwide | Warner Records R1 1935 / Warner Records 603497844401LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2021 | US | Warner Records R1 1935LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | Warner Records R1 1935LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2025 | US | Warner Records RCV1 727201LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66009-1/2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66009LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 009LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 009LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 009 (2WS1935)LP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 009 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1935LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 009 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1935LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66009LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66009LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66009LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS1935LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935 / Warner Bros. Records 2 WS 1935LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
69 vinyl pressings of Grateful Dead are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1971 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1935, released October 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2WS 1935, 2WS1935, K 66009, 66009) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 2 WS-1935 TI 39943-I-I B [Artisan logo] and 2 WS-1935 TI 39944-I- G [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.
