Vinyl pressings
by Walter Carlos · 1969
The Well-Tempered Synthesizer was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. 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 1969, 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.
XXSM139823-2BSide A Runout (Variant 1)
XXSM139824-2BSide B Runout (Variant 1)
o XXSM139823-2A p C 3Side A Runout (Variant 2)
o XXSM139824-2A p A 3Side B Runout (Variant 2)
XXSM139823-2C TSide A runout [stamped]
XXSM139824-2D TSide B runout [stamped]
XXSM139823-2BSide A [stamped]
XXSM139824-2BSide B [stamped]
XXSM139824-2AC IT D 4 ƆRunout Variant 2 etched, D and Ɔ stamped
XXSM139824-2D I T D ○Runout Variant 2 stamped, I and T etched
o XXSM139823-2E 2 T ∧ IRunout, Side A
o XSM139824-2D I T D 3Runout, Side B
XSM 139823Label, Side A
XSM 139824Label, Side B
o XXSM139823-2B Ƨ AIIRunout, side A, stamped except for etched Ƨ and AII
o XXSM139824-2B I S B I3Runout, side B, stamped except for etched S and B 13
ZSM150718-2B S 7Runout, side C, stamped except for etched S 7
ZSM150718-1C S1Runout, side D, stamped except for etched S and B 13
SBPG 63656 A1Runout side A (variant 1)
SBPG 63656 B1Runout side B (variant 1)
S 63656 A1Runout side A (variant 2 readable from center)
SBPG 63656 B1Runout side B (variant 2 readable from center)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Australia | CBS Masterworks SBR 235351 / CBS SBR-235351First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Colombia | CBS 18102First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | France | CBS S 63656First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | CBS S 63 656 / CBS 63 656First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Netherlands | CBS S 63656First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | New Zealand | CBS SBR 235351First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | South Africa | CBS BSF.9166First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | CBS 63656 / CBS S 63656First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286 / Columbia Masterworks BTS 17First yearLP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM | LP, Album, Stereo, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1969 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286 / Columbia Masterworks BTS 17First yearLP, Album, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM | LP, Album, 7", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1969 | Uruguay | CBS Masterworks 5499First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Brazil | CBS 160168LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Spain | CBS S-63656LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1972 | Unknown | CBS 5499LP | LP |
| 1972 | Mexico | CBS CLS-5357LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1972 | Spain | CBS S-63656LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | Chile | CBS SLPC - 49015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOCL-205LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Chile | CBS 126002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | CBS S 63656LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | CBS/Sony SONC 10196LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS S 63656LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS S 63656LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | CBS 63656 / CBS S 63656LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286 / CBS Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 7286 / CBS Masterworks MS 7286LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
38 vinyl pressings of The Well-Tempered Synthesizer are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1969 and 1974.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Australia, Colombia and more. One of them is Columbia Masterworks MS 7286, released November 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MS 7286, 63656, SBR 235351, 18102) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XXSM139823-2B and XXSM139824-2B. 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.
