Vinyl pressings
by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · 1957
Drum Suite was first pressed on vinyl in 1957. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
9 pressings came out in 1957, the album's first year, in 3 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.
XLP39869-1B.☆ ||A|A|ASide A runout, variant 1
XLP39870-1B.☆ ||AA|ASide B runout, variant 1
XLP39869-1B.☆ |||A||A||AASide A runout, variant 2
XLP39870-1B.☆Side B runout, variant 2
XLP39869-1D HVariant 1 (stamped)
XLP39870-1B.☆ \\ 0 // A H1Variant 1 (stamped) \\ 0 // (etched)
XLP39869-1C
XLP39870-1B.☆
XLP39869-1DSide A runout, stamped (variation 1)
XLP39870-1B ☆Side B runout, stamped (variation 1)
H HSide A runout, etched (variation 1)
IIAIIA HISide B runout, etched (variation 1)
XLP39869-1DSide A Runout - Stamped
HH TSide A Runout - Stamped / The 2nd H Possibly Etched
XLP39870-1B ☆Side B Runout - Stamped
T HISide B Runout - Stamped
Side A XLP 39869 1K
Side B XLP 39870-1R
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Canada | Columbia CL 1002First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | UK | Philips BBL.7196 / Philips B07273LFirst yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 1002First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 1002First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 1002First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 1002First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 1002First yearLP | LP |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 1002First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 1002First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Australia | Coronet KLP 689 / Coronet KLP-689LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Australia | Coronet KLP 689 / Coronet KLP-689LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | US | Columbia CL 1002LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Netherlands | CBS CBS 21067LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1983 | Netherlands | CBS CBS 21067LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1983 | Yugoslavia | CBS CBS 21067 / Suzy CBS 21067LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1985 | Spain | CBS S 21067LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Canada | CBS CSPS-2881LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP478 / Columbia MOVLP478LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | US | Impex Records IMP6019LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Mono · Mono, Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Mono · Mono, Limited, Numbered |
| 2014 | Italy | Columbia CL 1002LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 2017 | UK | Columbia CL 1002 / DeAgostini CL 1002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | US | Impex Records IMP6019LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Harmony HA 009LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Australia | Coronet KLP 689 / Coronet KLP-689LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CL 1002LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 21067LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Israel | CBS 450584LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPU 92 / CBS/Sony SOPU-92LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Limited |
| ? | Netherlands | Philips B 07273 LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CL 1002 / Sony Music Special Products CL 1002LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
30 vinyl pressings of Drum Suite are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1957 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1957, in US, UK, Canada. One of them is Columbia CL 1002, released June 1957.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CL 1002, BBL.7196) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XLP39869-1B.☆ ||A|A|A and XLP39870-1B.☆ ||AA|A. 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.
