Vinyl pressings
by The Merseys · 1966
Sorrow was first pressed on vinyl in 1966. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1966, the album's first year, in 11 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.
267575 1F▽2 420 1 3Side A runout, stamped
267575 2F▽2 420 1 2Side B runout, stamped
267575 1FSide A label
267575 2FSide B label
267575 1F ▽ 1 420Side A runout variant 1
267575 2F ▽ 1 420Side B runout variant 1
267575 1F ▽ 2 420 J 1Side A runout variant 2
267575 2F ▽ 2 420 J 4Side B runout variant 2
267575 1F ▽ 1 420 1 : 11Stamped A
267575 2F ▽ 1 420 1 : 11Stamped B
267575 1FLabel A
267575 2FLabel B
YW 38552 2 MRA-Side Runout Etching
YW 38553 1 MRB-Side Runout Etching
YW1-38552Side A Label
YW1-38553Side B Label
YW 38552 3 MRSide A runout
YW 38553 2 MRSide B runout
YW1-38552Side A label
YW1-38553Side B label
YW 38552-4 *MRSide A Runout, stamped unless *etched
YW 38553-2 *MRSide B Runout, stamped unless *etched
YW1-38552Side A Label
YW1-38553Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Australia | Philips BF-257First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1966 | Canada | Mercury M. 72582First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1966 | Denmark | Fontana TF 694 / Fontana TF 267575First year7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono | 7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono |
| 1966 | Germany | Star-Club Records 148 559 STFFirst year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1966 | Greece | Fontana 267 575 TF / Fontana 3244First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1966 | Ireland | Fontana ETF 694First year7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono | 7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono |
| 1966 | New Zealand | Fontana TF-267575First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1966 | Norway | Fontana 267 575 TFFirst year7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono | 7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono |
| 1966 | Sweden | Fontana 267 575 TF / Fontana 267 575First year7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono | 7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono |
| 1966 | US | Mercury 72582First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1966 | US | Mercury 72582First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1966 | US | Mercury 72582First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene |
| 1966 | UK | Fontana TF 694 / Fontana 267575 TFFirst year7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono | 7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono |
| 1966 | UK | Fontana TF 694First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | UK | Fontana TF 694 / Fontana 267575 TFFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Fontana 267 575 TF7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono | 7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono |
| ? | Germany | Star-Club Records 148 559 STF7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| ? | Netherlands | Fontana 267 575 TF7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono | 7", Single, Mono, 45 RPM · Mono |
18 vinyl pressings of Sorrow are listed here, from 12 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1966, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Fontana TF 694, released April 1966.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TF 694, 72582, BF-257, M. 72582) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 267575 1F▽2 420 1 3 and 267575 2F▽2 420 1 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.
