Vinyl pressings
by The Monkees · 1968
Head was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 3 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.
WZRS--5389--6S I B2Runout Side A, variant 1
WZRS--5390-10S I A3Runout Side B, variant 1
WZRS--5389-5S I ARGRunout Side A, variant 2
WZRS--5390-5S I AIBRunout Side B, variant 2
WZRS-5389-5S A6A RA Side, Var. 1, "A6A", R etched
WZRS-5390-5S B2B RB Side, Var. 1, "B2B", R etched
WZRS-5389-8S A2C RA Side, Var. 2, "A2C", etched
WZRS-5390-9S DB 20 RB Side, Var. 2, "20" etched
WZRS--5389--7S HRunout Side A
WZRS--5390-13S HRunout Side B
WZRS-5389Side A label
WZRS-5390Side B label
WZRS--5389--6S I A3Runout Side A, Stamped
WZRS--5390-10S I A3Runout Side B, Stamped
WZRS-5389Matrix Side A, On Label
WZRS-5390Matrix Side B, On Label
WZRS--5389--9SRunout Side A, Stamped
WZRS--5390-10SRunout Side B, Stamped
WZRS-5389Matrix Side A, On Label
WZRS-5390Matrix Side B, On Label
WZRS-5389 XT.Runout side A etched
WZRS-5390 TGRunout side B etched
WZRS-5389Label side A
WZRS-5390Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Canada | RCA Victor COSO-5008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | New Zealand | RCA Victor RPLS- 3430First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Colgems COSO-5008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Colgems COSO-5008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Colgems COSO-5008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Colgems COSO-5008 REFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Colgems COSO-5008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | RCA Victor COSO 5008LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | RCA VictorLP, Single Sided, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1969 | Japan | RCA SRA-5153LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | South Africa | RCA Victor 38 052LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | RCA SF 8051 / RCA Victor SF 8051LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | RCA RD8051LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | US | Colgems COSO-5008RELP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1969 | Australia | RCA Victor COSO-5008 / RCA COSO 5008LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Japan | Bell Records YBPC-3LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Japan | Arista 25RS-125LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Arista 25RS-125LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1985 | US | Rhino Records RNLP 145LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Rhino Records RNLP 145LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Rhino Handmade RHM2 525670Box Set, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, 7", 45 RPM · Limited | Box Set, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, 7", 45 RPM · Limited |
| 2011 | Europe | Rhino Records 8122-79757-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2011 | US | Rhino Records R1 528615LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2011 | US | Rhino Records R1 528615LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2011 | US | Rhino Records R1 528615LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, 7", Single · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, 7", Single · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | USA & Europe | Colgems RCV1 528615 / Rhino Records RCV1 528615LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl |
28 vinyl pressings of Head are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1968 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, Canada, New Zealand. One of them is Colgems COSO-5008, released November 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use COSO-5008, COSO-5008 RE, RPLS- 3430) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WZRS--5389--6S I B2 and WZRS--5390-10S I A3. 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.
