Vinyl pressings
by Tomita · 1974
Snowflakes Are Dancing was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 8 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.
A3 LL ARL1 0488A 5 IRunout Side A, Variant 1
A5 C ARL1-0488B-6 IRunout Side B, Variant 1
A3 ARL1 0488A 1 IRunout Side A, Variant 2
A3 ARL1 0488B-2 IRunout Side B, Variant 2
ARD1 0488A 20 1 A1Side A run-out area [Machine-stamped]
ARD1 0488B 10 Q 1 A1Side B run-out area [Machine-stamped]
ARD1 0488A 8 Q 1 B1Side A, stamped, variant 2
ARD1 0488A 6 Q A5Side B, stamped, variant 2
ARL1 0488-A-1E BILBO A1AVariant 1 Side A, Etched
ARL1 0488-B-1E EMI A1A BILBOVariant 1 Side B, Etched
ARL1-0488-A-2E A3FVariant 2 Side A, Etched
ARL1 0488-B-1E EMI A1AAF BILBOVariant 2 Side B, Etched
ARL1 0488-A-2E A3XSide A runout, variant 1
ARL1 0488-B-3E A10Side B runout, variant 1
ARL1 0488-A-2E A3RSide A runout, variant 2
ARL1 0488-B-IE EMI AIASSSide B runout, variant 2
ARL1 0488 ACenter label, A-side
ARL1 0488 BCenter label, B-side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Canada | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA Victor APL1-0488 / RCA APL1-0488First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-0488, 26.21414 ASFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Israel | RCA Red Seal ARL-1-0488First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA Red Seal SRA-2947 / RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA Red Seal R4C-2040 / RCA Red Seal ARD-0488First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Quadraphonic · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Quadraphonic · Limited |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA Red Seal SRA-2947LP, Album, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo |
| 1974 | UK | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | UK | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488 / RCA Red Seal ARL1 0488First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | RCA Red Seal RCALP 3008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | RCA ARD1-0488First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | US | RCA Red Seal ATL1-4332LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1982 | US | RCA Red Seal ARP1-4587LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1983 | Europe | RCA PL 84587LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1983 | UK & Europe | RCA PL 84587LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1988 | Australia | RCA Red Seal ARL1- 6045LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVCL065LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | RCA Red Seal ARL1- 0488LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | RCA Red Seal ARL1- 0488LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | El Salvador | Dicesa ARL1-0488LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor APL1-0488 / RCA Victor 26.21414LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor APL1-0488 / RCA Victor 26.21414LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488 / RCA Red Seal ARL1 0488LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | RCA Red Seal ARL1 0488 / RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
45 vinyl pressings of Snowflakes Are Dancing are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1974 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Italy, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Red Seal ARL1-0488, released April 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ARL1-0488, ARL 1-0488, ARD1-0488, RCALP 3008) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A3 LL ARL1 0488A 5 I and A5 C ARL1-0488B-6 I. 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.
