US
1963- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MG-20884
- Format
- LP, Album, Mono
The Stanley BrothersHard Times
Vinyl pressings
Hard Times
by The Stanley Brothers · 1963
15 pressings2 countriesBluegrassFolkWorld& Country
Hard Times was first pressed on vinyl in 1963. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of Hard Times
4 pressings came out in 1963, the album's first year. 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.
US
1963- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MG-20884
- Format
- LP, Album, Mono
- Runout / matrix
MG 20884A M1 II RRSide A runout stamped
MG 20884B M1 I RI RRSide B runout stamped
US
1963- Label and catalog number
- Mercury SR-60884
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
SR 60884-A-M1Runout Side 1 stamped
SR 60884-B-M1Runout Side 1 stamped
US
1963- Label and catalog number
- Mercury SR-60884
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo, Promo
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 15 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1960s10 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | US | Mercury SR-60884First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Stereo, Promo · Promo |
| 1963 | US | Mercury MG-20884First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Mercury MG-20884First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Mercury SR-60884First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1964 | Japan | Mercury SM-7153LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | Mercury Wing MGW 12327 / Mercury Wing MGW-12327-WLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | Mercury SRW-16327LP, Single Sided, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1966 | US | Mercury SR-60884LP, Single Sided, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1966 | US | Mercury Wing SRW 16327 / Mercury Wing SRW-16327-WLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | Mercury Wing SRW 16327 / Mercury Wing SRW-16327-WLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
1970s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | US | Mercury MG 20884LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| 1972 | US | Mercury MG 20884, IMPI-10017LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
Year unknown3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | Mercury SM-7153LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury SRW-16327-WLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Mercury Wing MGW 12327/SRW 16327LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
Tracklist
- A1Hard Times2:45
- A2Orange Blossom Special2:26
- A3Big Tilda2:01
- A4Fling Ding2:05
- A5Daybreak In Dixie2:44
- A6Clinch Mountain Blues2:03
- B1Little Maggie2:44
- B2Blue Moon Of Kentucky2:17
- B3I Long To See The Old Folks3:05
- B4Our Last Goodbye2:37
- B5Nobody's Love Like Mine2:28
- B6So Blue2:22
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Hard Times are there?
15 vinyl pressings of Hard Times are listed here, from 2 countries, released between 1963 and 1972.
When was Hard Times first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1963, in US. One of them is Mercury MG-20884.
How do I tell if my copy of Hard Times is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MG-20884, SR-60884) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Hard Times on vinyl worth?
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.