Vinyl pressings
by William Shakespeare · 1962
A Midsummer Night's Dream was first pressed on vinyl in 1962. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
1 pressing came out in 1962, the album's first year. 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.
SND 19A (MONO) AB Z [initials] A1A-Side Runout
SND 20A (MONO) AB Z [initials] A1B-Side Runout
SND-19AA-Side Label
SND-20AB-Side Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | US | Living Shakespeare, Inc. SMD-19A/20A / Living Shakespeare, Inc. SND-19A/20AFirst yearLP, Mono, Album · Mono | LP, Mono, Album · Mono |
| 1964 | UK | Odhams Books Ltd. DEOB 13AMLP, Mono, Album · Mono | LP, Mono, Album · Mono |
| 1964 | Australia | World Record Club LS/5 / World Record Club LS-5LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1964 | Australia | World Record Club SLS-5 / World Record Club LS/5LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1966 | Australia | World Record Club SLS-5 / World Record Club LS/5LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1966 | Australia | World Record Club LS/5 / World Record Club LS-5LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1969 | Australia | World Record Club LS/5 / World Record Club LS-5LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1969 | Australia | World Record Club SLS-5 / World Record Club LS/5LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | World Record Club SLS-5 / World Record Club LS/5LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1971 | Australia | World Record Club SLS-5 / World Record Club LS/5LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1972 | Australia | World Record Club LS/5 / World Record Club S-2504LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1973 | Australia | World Record Club S/2504 / World Record Club S-2504LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1975 | Australia | World Record Club R-00045 / World Record Club LS/5LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
13 vinyl pressings of A Midsummer Night's Dream are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1962 and 1975.
The earliest pressings are from 1962, in US. One of them is Living Shakespeare, Inc. SMD-19A/20A.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SMD-19A/20A) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SND 19A (MONO) AB Z [initials] A1 and SND 20A (MONO) AB Z [initials] A1. 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.
