Vinyl pressings
by West, Bruce & Laing · 1972
Why Dontcha was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 9 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.
P AL31929-1B STERLING LH B2Runout side A, etched, STERLING stamped
P BL31929-1A STERLING LHRunout side B, etched, STERLING stamped
AL 31929Label side A
BL 31929Label side B
AL 31929Side A
BL 31929Side B
P AL-31929-1D \T STERLING LH 3Runout side A, stamped [LH3 etched], variant 1
P BL-31929-1D \T STERLING LH 3Runout side B, stamped [LH3 etched], variant 1
o PAL 31929-1B STERLING 3̶2 LHSide A runout, variant 1
o P BL 31929-1B STERLING 3 LHSide B runout, variant 1
o P AL 31929 -1A STERLING LH 2 CSide A runout, variant 2
o P BL 31929-1A STERLING LH E 2Side B runout, variant 2
º P AL-31929-1D STERLING 3 LH 1TA Side Stamped, except last 5 characters
º P BL-31929-1C STERLING 2 LH 1TB Side Stamped, except last 5 characters
AL 31929A Side Label
BL 31929B Side Label
o P AL-31929-1D STERLINGSide A / stamped
I T LH 3 13 CSide A / etched
o P BL-31929-1C STERLINGSide B / stamped
I T LH 2Side B / etched
P AL 31929-1B LH 3̶2 STERLINGSide A - etched (except for stamped "STERLING")
P BL 31929-1B LH 3 STERLINGSide B - etched (except for stamped "STERLING")
AL 31929Label Side A
BL 31929Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Canada | Columbia KC 31929 / Windfall Records KC 31929First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | France | Polydor 2490 110First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Polydor 2383 187First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Polydor 2383 187First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Greece | Polydor 2383 187 / International Polydor Production 2383 187First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Italy | Polydor 2383 187 LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Malaysia | Columbia KC 31929First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Taiwan | Giant TD-1230LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1972 | UK | CBS 65314 / Windfall Records 65314First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | UK | CBS 65314 / Windfall Records 65314First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31929LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31929 / Windfall Records KC 31929First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Columbia C 31929 / Windfall Records C 31929First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31929 / Windfall Records KC 31929First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Columbia C 31929 / Windfall Records C 31929First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | RSO MWX 4040LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Japan | RSO 18MW 0066LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | RSO 2479 111 / RSO 2 490 110LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RSO 2479 111LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2383 187LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | RSO 2394 101LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia KC 31929LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 31929 / Windfall Records PC 31929LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia KC 31929LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
44 vinyl pressings of Why Dontcha are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1972 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Columbia KC 31929.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 31929, C 31929, 65314, 2490 110) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL31929-1B STERLING LH B2 and P BL31929-1A STERLING LH. 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.
