Vinyl pressings
by The Nice · 1968
Ars Longa Vita Brevis 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.
10 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 5 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.
IMSP 020-1Y-4 G A 1Runout Info [Stamped] Side A - Variant # 1
IMSP 020-2Y-4 P 1Runout Info [Stamped] Side B - Variant # 1
IMSP 020-1Y-4 G P 1Runout Info [Stamped] Side A - Variant # 2
IMSP 020-2Y-4 R G 1Runout Info [Stamped] Side B - Variant # 2
IMSP 020 1Y-2 RRunout Info stamped side A
IMSP 020 2Y-2 GRunout Info stamped side B
IMSP 020 1YMatrix label side A
IMSP 020 2YMatrix label side B
IMSP 020-1Y-4Runout Info [Stamped] Side A
IMSP 020-2Y-4Runout Info [Stamped] Side B
IMSP 020-1Y-4 G A 1[Stamped] Side A (Variation 1)
IMSP 020-2Y-4 P 1[Stamped] Side B (Variation 1)
IMSP 020-1Y-4 H 1[Stamped] Side A (Variation 2)
IMSP 020-2Y-4 A 1[Stamped] Side B (Variation 2)
IMSP 020-1Y-4 ARunout Info [Stamped] Side A, variant 1
IMSP 020-2Y-4 GRunout Info [Stamped] Side B, variant 1
IMSP 020-1Y-4 M 1Runout Info [Stamped] Side A, variant 2
IMSP 020-2Y-4 G 1Runout Info [Stamped] Side B, variant 2
IMSP 020-1Y-4 L -Side A runout stamped
IMSP 020-2Y-4 O -Side B runout stamped
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 | Denmark | Immediate IMSP 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Immediate IMSP 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Immediate IMSP 020 / Immediate IMSP.020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | South Africa | Immediate IMSJ 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | Immediate IMSP 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | Immediate IMSP 020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Immediate IMSP 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | Immediate IMSP 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | Immediate IMSP 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | Immediate IMSP 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | Immediate Z12 52020LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | Immediate Z12 52020LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | France | Immediate 2 C 062-90 006 / Immediate 2C 062-90.006LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Germany | Immediate 1C 062-90 006LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | Immediate SMIM 74 576LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Japan | Immediate IP 8939LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Immediate IP 8939LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Colored vinyl |
| 1971 | Italy | Immediate 3C 062.90006LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Italy | Immediate 3C 062-90006LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Daffodil Records SBA 16027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | US | Columbia Special Products P 11634 / Columbia Special Products P11634LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Columbia Special Products P11634 / Columbia Special Products P 11634LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | Italy | Immediate 3 C062-90006 / Immediate 3C 154 - 52123LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | France | Charly Records CR 300 019LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1975 | France | Charly Records CR 300019 / Charly Records CR 300 019LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1975 | UK | Charly Records CR 300019 (FC)LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Bellaphon BBS 2512 / Immediate BBS 2512LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | France | Immediate 2445 208LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | Italy | Immediate ZNLIM 33049LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | Spain | Charly Records 77-CH8 / Immediate CR 300.019LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Italy | Oxford OX/3163 / Immediate OX/3163LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Germany | Line/OutLine OLLP 5226LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Germany | Impact IMLP4.00224 JLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1986 | UK | Castle Classics CLALP 120LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | UK | Castle Communications CLALP 120LP, White Label | LP, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | UK | Let Them Eat Vinyl LETV171LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Worldwide | Charly Records CHIMSP020 / Immediate CHIMSP020LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
48 vinyl pressings of Ars Longa Vita Brevis are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1968 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in UK, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand and more. One of them is Immediate IMSP 020.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use IMSP 020, IMSJ 020) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, IMSP 020-1Y-4 G A 1 and IMSP 020-2Y-4 P 1. 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.
