Vinyl pressings
by The Kinks · 1975
Soap Opera was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 10 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.
SF.8411 - A 2E PN A1ACRunout A, variant 1
SF.8411 - B - 1E A1URunout B, variant 1
SF.8411 - A 2E PN A1WRunout A, variant 2
SF 8411- B - 1E A1ORunout B, variant 2
(side A) SF8411 - A - 2E AIL PN
(side B) SF8411 - B - 1E AIF
LPL1-5081-A-30 STERLING RL I A1Runout side A, variant 1
LPL1-5081-B-31 STERLING RL I A2Runout side B, variant 1
LPL1-5081-A-30 STERLING RL I A2Runout side A, variant 2
LPL1-5081-B-31 STERLING RL I A X1Runout side B, variant 2
LPL1-5081-A-33 STERLING RL HSide 1 runout
LPL1-5081-B-33 HSide 2 runout
LPL1-5081-ASide 1 label
LPL1-5081-BSide 2 label
LPL1-5081-A-30 STERLING RL I A1Runout side A, variant 1
LPL1-5081-A̶B-30 I A1Runout side B, variant 1
LPL1-5081-A-30 STERLING RL I A 2Runout side A, variant 2
LPL1-5081-A̶B-30 I A 1Runout side B, variant 2
LPL1 5081 A A 1A 3Side A runout
LPL1 5081 B A 1A 2Side B runout
LPL1-5081ASide A label
LPL1-5081BSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Canada | RCA LPL1-5081 / RCA Victor LPL1-5081First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | RCA LPL1-5081 / RCA Victor LPL1-5081First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | RCA RCA-6298First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | RCA RCA-6298First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Rhodesia | RCA Victor LPL-1-5081First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | South Africa | RCA LPL1-5081 / RCA Victor LPL1-5081First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | RCA Victor LPL1-5081First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | RCA Victor LPL1-5081First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | RCA Victor LPL1-5081First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | UK | RCA Victor SF 8411 / RCA SF8411First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | UK | RCA SF8411First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Australia | RCA Victor LPL1-5081-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor LPL1-5081First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Spain | RCA Victor SPL1-9327LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | RCA Victor AYL1-3750LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | RCA AYL1-3750 / RCA Victor AYL1-3750LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | RCA AYL1-3750 / RCA Victor AYL1-3750LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | RCA AYL1-3750 / RCA Victor AYL1-3750LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Spain | RCA NL - 83750LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | Velvel VEL-LP-79833LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Worldwide | BMG BMGCAT811LP / BMG 4050538897951LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA AYL1-3750LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor CL 13750 / RCA CL 13750LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA NL 83750LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
25 vinyl pressings of Soap Opera are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1975 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in UK, US, Australia, Australia & New Zealand and more. One of them is RCA Victor SF 8411, released May 16, 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SF 8411, SF8411, LPL1-5081, LPL1-5081-G) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SF.8411 - A 2E PN A1AC and SF.8411 - B - 1E A1U. 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.
