Vinyl pressings
by Tim Buckley · 1970
Starsailor was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 6 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.
WS1881-A 39774-1BRunout side A, variant 1
WS 1881 39775-B 1ARunout side B, variant 1
WS-1881 39774-1Runout side A, variant 2
WS-1881 39775-1Runout side B, variant 2
S I WS 1881 A 39774-1B A3A-Side Etched (Version 1)
WS 1881 39775-1 1A 1 A 2B-Side Etched (Version 1)
S I WS 1881 A 39774-1B A4A-Side Etched (Version 2)
WS 1881 39775-1 1A 1 AB-Side Etched (Version 2)
T 1 WS-1881 39774-1-1 DSide A runout
T 1 WS-1881 39775-1-1 DSide B runout
T 1 WS-1881 39774-1-1 DSide A runout
T 1 WS-1881 39775-1-1 DSide B runout
WS-1881A S39774-̸2̸ 1C A1 ƧSide A runout, variant 1
WS 1881 S39775-B 1A A2 1ƧSide B runout, variant 1
WS 1881 A 39774-1B A S1Side A runout, variant 2
WS 1881 39775-B 1A A2Side B runout, variant 2
WS 1881 A 39774-1B A2Side A Runout [Etched]
WS 1881 39775-B 1A A2Side B Runout [Etched]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 1881 / Straight 1881First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Denmark | Straight 1C 062-92 094 / Straight 6E 062 92094First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | France | Straight 2 C 062-92 094First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | Straight 1C 062-92 094First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Straight STS 1064First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Straight WS 1881 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1881First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Straight WS 1881 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1881First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Straight WS 1881 / Warner Bros. Records 1881First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Straight WS 1881 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1881First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Straight WS 1881 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1881First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Straight WS 1881 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1881First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Straight 2 C 062-92 094LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records K 46291 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1881LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Charter Line CTR 26056 / Charter Line CTR 26 056LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 46291LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US | 4 Men With Beards 4M134LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Straight MOVLP773 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP773LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP773LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP773LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Warner Bros. Records WS 1881 / Warner Bros. Records 1881LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Warner Bros. Records WS 1881LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
21 vinyl pressings of Starsailor are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1970 and 2013.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, Canada, Denmark and more. One of them is Straight WS 1881.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1881, STS 1064, 1881, 1C 062-92 094) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WS1881-A 39774-1B and WS 1881 39775-B 1A. 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.
