Vinyl pressings
by The Kinks · 1979
Low Budget was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 17 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.
AB-4240-A-SM-1-RE-1 RLRunout Side A [Etched], Variant 1
AB-4240-B-SM-2-RE-1Runout Side B [Etched], Variant 1
MASTERDISKRunout both sides [Stamped], Variant 1
AB-4240-A-RE1- CS-2 A13 Sterling (Backward S)Side A [Variant 2]
CTH-2 TI AB-4240-A-RE-1 CT2 STERLINGSide A variant 1
T2 AB-4240-B-TH3 MASTERDISKSide B variant 1
T1 AB-4240-A-RE-1 CT-1 STERLINGSide A variant 2
T1 AB-4240-B-TH5 MASTERDISKSide B variant 2
AB-4240-SA-RE-1X STERLINGRunout A
AB-4240-BS X STERLING JSRunout B
AB 4240 SALabel A
AB 4240 SBLabel B
\S AB-4240-A-SM-1-RE-1 MASTERDISK RL A1Runout A etched / MASTERDISK stamped (Variant 1)
AB-4240-B-SM-2-RE-1 A1 MASTERDISK \SRunout B etched / MASTERDISK stamped (Variant 1)
S1 MASTERDISK AB-4240-A-SM2-RE-1 A1Runout A etched / MASTERDISK stamped (Variant 2)
MASTERDISK S1 AB-4240-B-SM-2-RE-1 A3Runout B etched / MASTERDISK stamped (Variant 2)
AB-4240-A-RE1- CP-2 STERLING PRunout side A
AB-4240-B-P MASTERDISK CRunout Side B
AB-4240-SA-RE-1X I STERLING PRunout side A, variant 1
AB-4240-B-P MASTERDISK PRunout side B, variant 1
TI AB-4240-A-TH-2Runout Side A, etched
S T2 AB-4240-B-TH3 [MASTERDISK C]Runout Side B, etched / [stamped]
(AB 4240 SA)Label Side A
(AB 4240 SB)Label Side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Belgium | Arista 4C 064-63089First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Arista AB 4240First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Arista AB 504240LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1979 | Europe | Arista 201 146First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Arista 2 C068 63089 / Arista 2C 068-63.089First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Arista 1C 064-63 089 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-63 089First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Arista 201 146First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Arista 3C 064-63089First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Arista 25RS-54First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Arista 25RS-54First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Japan | Arista 25RS-54First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Arista 5C 062-63089 / Arista AB 4240First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Philippines | Arista AR-1060 (AB-4240)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Portugal | Arista 8E 072 63089First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Arista 201 146First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Arista SUP-80068LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Arista L37216LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Greece | Arista 6483 202LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Italy | Arista ARS 39023 / Arista 77 ARS 39023LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Mexico | Arista LAE-224LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | Arista I-201146LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Arista ALB6-8300LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | USA & Canada | Mobile Fidelity MFSL-1-271LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2008 | US | Konk VEL-LP-79837 / Velvel VEL-LP-79837LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | Friday Music FRM-4240LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US | Arista AB-4240LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Europe | BMG 964062412LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Belgium | Arista 4C 062-63089 / Arista 1A 062-63089LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Arista 201 146LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Arista 201146LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Arista I-201146 / Arista I-201.146LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Arista AL8-8050LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Arista AB 4240LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | Arista ALB6-8300LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
64 vinyl pressings of Low Budget are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1979 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Canada, New Zealand and more. One of them is Arista AB 4240, released July 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AB 4240, AB-4240, SPART 1099, ASTJ(L)71) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AB-4240-A-SM-1-RE-1 RL and AB-4240-B-SM-2-RE-1. 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.
