Vinyl pressings
by The Great Society · 1968
Conspicuous Only In Its Absence 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.
11 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 3 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.
S XSM-135810 1A 0 BA Side, runout, etched / 0 stamped
S XSM-135811 1D O cB Side, runout, etched / 0 stamped
XSM 135810A Side, label
XSM 135811B Side, label
P o XSM-135810 1F I D 4Side A Runout (variant 1)
P o XSM-135811 1E I A 5Side B Runout (variant 1)
P o XSM-135810 1F A1Side A Runout (variant 2)
T P o XSM-135811 1E I A 1Side B Runout (variant 2)
P o XSM-135810 1F I B 3Side A runout, variant 1
P o XSM-135811-1H I A 1Side B runout, variant 1
P o XSM-135810 1F I B 4Side A runout, variant 2
o XSM-135811 1E I P A 0 ┴Side B runout, variant 2
(upside down) T XSM-135810 1ESide A Etched
(upside down) T XSM-135811 1ESide B Etched
0 XSM-135810 1E 1 TSide A variant, all etched except the 0 and T
0 XSM-135811 1B 1 TSide B variant, ll etched except the 0 and T
p o XSM - 135810 1FSide A runout etched
p o XSM - 135811 1E TSide B runout etched
A1Runout stamped on both sides
XSM 135810Side A 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Canada | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | CBS 63476First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | CBS S 63476 / CBS 63476First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9624First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP 50136LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1969 | Taiwan | First Record FL-1688LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Europe | Embassy EMB 31800 / CBS CS 7624LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | CBS CBS 31800LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | UK | CBS 31800LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Columbia CS 9624LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | Embassy EMB 31800 / Embassy 31800LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | CBS CS 9624LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9624LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9624LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia 9624 / Columbia PC 9624LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9624LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9624LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9624LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9624LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9624LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
27 vinyl pressings of Conspicuous Only In Its Absence are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1968 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Canada. One of them is Columbia CS 9624, released March 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CS 9624, 63476, S 63476) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S XSM-135810 1A 0 B and S XSM-135811 1D O c. 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.
