Vinyl pressings
by The Ventures · 1975
The Very Best Of The Ventures was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 10 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.
T1 UA-LA331-1-RE1 /2 ECK Λ9Runout Side A (Variant 1)
T1 UA-LA331-2-RE1 /2 ECK C15Runout Side B (Variant 1)
T1 UA-LA331-1-RE1 /2 EcK B3Runout Side A (Variant 2)
T1 UA-LA331-2-RE1 /2 EcK C3Runout Side B (Variant 2)
22 UA-LA331-1-RE /3 EckSide A runout etched
UA-LA331-2-RE 1-Side B runout etched
UA-LA331-1-RE1 /2 ECK B T1Side A runout etched, except B stamped
UA-LA331-2-RE1 /2 ECK C TISide B runout etched, except C stamped
UALA-331-E A TXDRunout Side A
UALA-331-E B TXDRunout Side B (Variant 1)
29752 A2/S3A MadeinGermanyRunout, side A, stamped
29752 B1/S3A MadeinGermanyRunout, side B, stamped
UA-LA 331-E ALabel, side A
UA-LA 331-E BLabel, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA331-EFirst yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1975 | Germany | United Artists Records UAS 29 752 ZFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Germany | United Artists Records UAS 29 752 XOFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Guatemala | United Artists Records UA-LA331-EFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Guatemala | Liberty 33259 / Colección Oro Puro 33259-ASFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | India | United Artists Records UA-LA331-EFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Israel | United Artists Records UA-LA331-EFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Netherlands | United Artists Records 5C 050-96470 / United Artists Records 5 C050-96470First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Rhodesia | United Artists Records UAS 7091First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | South Africa | United Artists Records UAS 7091First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA331-EFirst yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA331-E / United Artists Records 4331-E-0498First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA331-ELP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1975 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA331-EFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1975 | Venezuela | United Artists Records UA-LA331-EFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | United Artists Records UAB 10463LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | Canada | Liberty LN-10122 / Liberty LN - 10122LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 | Canada | Liberty LN-10122 / Liberty LN - 10122LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Liberty LN-10122LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1983 | Spain | Music For Pleasure 10C 046-096.470LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | Brazil | Liberty 31C 052 96470LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Liberty UAB10463LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | EMI America LN-10122LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Liberty LN-510122LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Liberty LN-10122LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | United Artists Records UA-LA331-ELP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Liberty LN510122 / Liberty LN-510122LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
30 vinyl pressings of The Very Best Of The Ventures are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1975 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, Canada, Germany, Guatemala and more. One of them is United Artists Records UA-LA331-E.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UA-LA331-E, UAS 29 752 Z, UAS 29 752 XO, 33259) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 UA-LA331-1-RE1 /2 ECK Λ9 and T1 UA-LA331-2-RE1 /2 ECK C15. 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.
