Vinyl pressings
by The Tarney/Spencer Band · 1978
Three's A Crowd 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.
10 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 7 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.
XS 1S AM SP5121(RE-1)-P1 BRunout A variant 1
XS 1S AM SP5122(RE-1)-P2 BRunout B variant 1
TXS 1S AM SP5121(RE-1)-T2Runout A variant 2
TXS 1S AM SP5121(RE-1)-P2 BRunout B variant 2
SP-5121-RE-M2 A&M (RE1)-M2 △23381 S̶P̶ ̶4̶1̶2̶2̶Runout side A, variant 1
A&M (RE1)-M2 SP-5121-RE1 M2 △23381-X S̶P̶ ̶4̶1̶2̶2̶Runout side B, variant 1
A&M SP 5121-RE-1-M3 △23381 (5)Runout side A, variant 2
A&M S̶P̶ ̶4̶1̶2̶2̶ (RE-1)-M2 △23381-X (3) 50-5122 S̶P̶-̶4̶1̶2̶2̶ ̶S̶P̶-̶4̶1̶2̶5̶Runout side B, variant 2
A&M SP 5121- RE-1 M3 △23381Runout A variant 1
SP-5122 S̷P̷-̷4̷1̷2̷2̷ S̷P̷-̷4̷1̷5̷ A&M SP 4̷1̷2̷2̷(RE-1)-M2 △23381-X (2)Runout B variant 1
SP-5121-RE-M2 A&M S̶P̶ ̶4̶1̶2̶1(RE-1)-M2 △23381(4)Runout A variant 2
A&M S̵P̵ ̵4̵1̵2̵2̵(RE-1)-M2 SP 5122-RE1 M2 △23381-X(1)Runout 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 | A&M Records L36664First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4692First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | A&M Records AMLH 68466First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | A&M Records AMLH 68466First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | South Africa | A&M Records AMLS 64692First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 68466First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | A&M Records AMLS 64692First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 68466LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP-4692First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP-4692First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP-4692LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1978 | US | A&M Records SP-4692First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
12 vinyl pressings of Three's A Crowd are listed here, from 7 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is A&M Records SP-4692.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-4692, AMLH 68466, AMLS 64692, L36664) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XS 1S AM SP5121(RE-1)-P1 B and XS 1S AM SP5122(RE-1)-P2 B. 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.
