Vinyl pressings
by The Kinks · 1971
Muswell Hillbillies 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.
11 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 7 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.
APRS 5984-4E A3CSide A runout variant 1
APRS 5985-4E A1JSide B runout variant 1
APRS 5984-4E A3DSide A runout variant 2
APRS 5985-4E A2GSide B runout variant 2
APRS 5984 2S I A1Side A runout, variant 1
APRS 5985 2S ISide B runout, variant 1
APRS 5984 2S I - A1Side A runout, variant 2
APRS 5985 2S I - A1Side B runout, variant 2
APRS - 5984 - 4S - A1V RSide A runout, variant 1
APRS - 5985 - 1S – B2 RSide B runout, variant 1
APRS - 5984 - 5S - A1V RSide A runout, variant 2
APRS - 5985 - 1S – A3F RSide B runout, variant 2
APRS - 5984 - 3S HRunout A, variant 1
APRS - 5985 - 5S HRunout B, variant 1
APRS - 5984 - 3S HRunout A, variant 2
APRS - 5985 - 3S HRunout B, variant 2
APRS-5984 DT.Side One runout
APRS-5985 DT.Side Two runout
APRS-5984 Manufactured in Germany SSide A runout
APRS-5985 Manufactured in Germany SSide B runout
APRS-5984Side A label
APRS-5985Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-4644First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | RCA Victor LSP-4644First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | RCA Victor D 141/8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Israel | RCA Victor SF 8243First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | RCA SRA-5537First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Japan | RCA SRA 5537First yearLP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1971 | New Zealand | RCA Victor RPLS 3475First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4644First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | RCA Victor SF8243 / RCA Victor SF 8243First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4644First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | RCA Victor LSP-4644First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Australia | RCA Victor LSP-4644 / RCA Victor LSP4644LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | South Africa | RCA Victor 38-346LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA RCA-6185LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1975 | UK | RCA Victor SF 8243LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Pickwick ACL-7074LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Pickwick ACL-7074 / Camden ACL-7074LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Spain | RCA Victor PL-43774LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | RCA Victor AYL1-4558LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | RCA Victor AYL1-4558LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | Velvel VEL-LP-79823LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | RCA Victor 88843097271 / Legacy 88843097271LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Worldwide | BMGLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2022 | Worldwide | BMG BMGCAT720LP / BMG 4050538797084LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor AYL1-4558LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA Victor 88843097271 / Legacy 88843097271LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo, LP, Album, Compilation, Test Pressing, Stereo, All Media, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo, LP, Album, Compilation, Test Pressing, Stereo, All Media, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
30 vinyl pressings of Muswell Hillbillies are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1971 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in UK, US, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is RCA Victor SF8243, released November 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SF8243, LSP-4644, D 141/8, SF 8243) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APRS 5984-4E A3C and APRS 5985-4E A1J. 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.
