Vinyl pressings
by The Grateful Dead · 1973
History Of The Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 11 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.
[TLC] P º BS-2721-40534-1Side A runout, variant 1
[TLC] P º BS-2721-40535-2 XSide B runout, variant 1
P BS-2721- 40534-1 1 CSide A runout, variant 2
P 1 BS-2721 -40535-2 X 1 [TLC] A1Side B runout, variant 2
TLCStamped and in a box, sides A & B
S40,534Side A matrix, in parentheses
S40,535Side B matrix, in parentheses
2 T BS-2721-40534-1-2Side A runout, etched, Variant 1
S \ BS-2721-40534-1 A 1A B8Etched, Side A runout
S \ BS-2721-40535-1 B 1BEtched, Side B runout
TLC [inside box]Stamped, Side A&B runout
S40,534A Side label matrix no.
BS-2721-40534-2 [etched] TLC [Boxed]Side A runout
BS-2721-40535-2 [etched] TLC [Boxed]Side B runout
S40,534Side A label
S40,535Side B label
BS-1-2721 LW2• 1 ✲ 2Runout A etched
BS-2-2721 LW1 1 ✲Runout B etched
P BS-2721- 40534-1 [TLC]Side A runout
P 1 BS-2721 -40535-2 [TLC]Side B runout
S40,534Side A label
S40,535Side B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Warner Bros. Records 46246 (BS 2721)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 246 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2721First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 246 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2721First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | Israel | Warner Bros. Records K46246First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records K 46246 / Warner Bros. Records K46246First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8362WFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS 2721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1215 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K46246 / Warner Bros. Records K 46246First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K46246LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1973 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Audio Fidelity AFZLP 124LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | Warner Records R1 2721 / Warner Records 603497835492LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2023 | US | Warner Records R1 2721LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2023 | US | Warner Records R1 2721LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8362WLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2721LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
32 vinyl pressings of History Of The Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1973 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BS 2721.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BS 2721, K46246, 46246 (BS 2721), WB 46 246) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [TLC] P º BS-2721-40534-1 and [TLC] P º BS-2721-40535-2 X. 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.
