Vinyl pressings
by The Moody Blues · 1978
Octave was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
48 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 26 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.
XZAL-15736.P-5C-1 1 2Side A runout, variant 1
XZAL-15737.P-5C -2 2 B 2Side B runout, variant 1
XZAL-15736.P-5C-8 1 CDSide A runout, variant 2
XZAL-15737.P-5C-10 2 10 ESide B runout, variant 2
XZAL-15736.P-5CSide A stamp (variant 1)
XZAL-15737.P-4CSide B stamp (variant 1)
XZAL-15736.P-2CSide A stamp (variant 2)
XZAL-15737.P-4CSide B stamp (variant 2)
XZAL-15736.P-2CA-side runout, stamped, variant 1
XZAL-15737.P-2CB-side runout, stamped, variant 1
XZAL-15736.P-2CA-side runout, stamped, variant 2
XZAL-15737.P-4CB-side runout, stamped, variant 2
XZAL-15736.P-2C UG 1Side A runout variant 1
XZAL-15737.P-5C B 1Side B runout variant 1
XZAL-15736.P-2C BUH 1Side A runout variant 2
XZAL-15737.P-2C BUG 1Side B runout variant 2
T1 XZAL 15736-2+ 11 TJSide One Runout Etched, var 1
B STERLINGSide One Runout Stamped, var 1
T1 XZAL 15737-3 3 TJSide Two Runout Etched, var 1
o A STERLINGSide Two Runout Stamped, var 1
XZAL 15736-2-1-111 PRC STERLING TJRunout Side A, variant 1
XZAL 15737-1-1-1111 PRC STERLING TJRunout Side B, variant 1
XZAL 15736-2-1-111 PRC STERLING TJRunout Side A, variant 2
XZAL 15737-2-1-1 PRC STERLING TJRunout Side B, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Decca TXS.129 / Decca TXS-129First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Australia | Decca TXS.129 / Decca TXS-129First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Barbados | London Records TXS 129First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Belgium | Decca 163.054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Belgium | Decca 163.054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Brazil | London Records 31C 064 61479 DFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | London Records PS 708 / London Records PS.708First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 1978 | Canada | London Records PS 708First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | London Records PS 708First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Chile | London Records 15265First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Ecuador | London Records 332-0039First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Decca 211.001 / Decca 211.001 BFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Decca 6.23 482 / Decca 6.23482First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Decca 34 754 2LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Germany | Decca 6.23 482 / Decca 6.23482LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Japan | London Records K18P-38LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | London Records L20P 1012LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Japan | London Records L20P 1012LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1983 | US | Threshold PS 708LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | London Records PS 708LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Europe | Decca 672 266-1 / Decca 00602567226611LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Threshold 820 329-1 / Threshold 6.23482-01LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australasia | Decca TXS 129LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | London Records PS 708LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | Decca TXS 129LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
66 vinyl pressings of Octave are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1978 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, US, Australia, Barbados and more. One of them is Decca TXS 129, released June 9, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TXS 129, PS 708, TXS.129, 163.054) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XZAL-15736.P-5C-1 1 2 and XZAL-15737.P-5C -2 2 B 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.
