Vinyl pressings
by The Irish Rovers · 1967
The Unicorn was first pressed on vinyl in 1967. 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 1967, 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.
7 11298 2 2Runout side A, variant 1
7 11299 2 2Runout side B, variant 1
7 11298 2 2 IIIRunout side A, variant 2
7 11299 2 2 IIRunout side B, variant 2
7 1198 2s B_103655_A_2sRunout, Side A (Variant 1)
7 11299 3s B_103655_B_3sRunout, Side B (Variant 1)
7-1198-2s A1 A1Runout, Side A (Variant 2)
7 - 11299 -2 1Runout, Side B (Variant 2)
7-11298Label side A
7-11299◉Label side B
7 11298 4 ISide A Runout stamped - variant 1
7 11299 1 ISide B Runout stamped - variant 1
7 11298 4 ISide A Runout stamped - variant 2
7 11299 3 ISide B Runout stamped - variant 2
7-11298Side A runout
7-11299Side B runout
7 112 ̶6̶ 98 2S A1 I A1Side A runout
7-11299-2S ISide B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Australia | Festival Records SDL-932816First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1967 | Australia | Decca DL 32816First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Australia | Festival Records SDL-932,816First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Canada | Decca DL 4951First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Canada | Decca DL 74951First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Canada | Decca DL 74951First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | New Zealand | Festival Records SDL 932816First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1967 | US | Decca DL 74951First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Decca DL 74951First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Decca DL 4951First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | US | Decca DL 74951LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1967 | US | Decca DL 74951First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Decca DL 74951First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Decca DL 74951First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | MCA Records MUPS 310LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Japan | MCA Records MCA-5016LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Decca DL 74951LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | MCA Coral COP/S 1009LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | US | Decca MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-15 / Decca DL7-4951LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | MCA Records MAPS-1054LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Decca DL 74951LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Coral COPS 1054LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | $ound Value AXIS-174 / MCA Records AXIS174LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Singapore | Life DL 74951LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Decca DL 74951LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Decca DL 74951LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-15LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
38 vinyl pressings of The Unicorn are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1967 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1967, in US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand. One of them is Decca DL 74951.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DL 74951, DL 4951, SDL-932816, DL 32816) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7 11298 2 2 and 7 11299 2 2. 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.
