US
1967- Label and catalog number
- Bluesway BLS-6001
- Format
- LP, Stereo
Vinyl pressings
Blues Is King
by B.B. King · 1967
24 pressings8 countriesBlues RockRockBlues
Blues Is King was first pressed on vinyl in 1967. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of Blues Is King
11 pressings came out in 1967, the album's first year, in 5 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.
US
1967- Label and catalog number
- Bluesway BL-6001
- Format
- LP, Mono
- Runout / matrix
BL-6001A-1 LWRunout side A
BL-6001-B Ω BL-6001-BRunout side B
US
1967- Label and catalog number
- Bluesway BLS-6001ABC Records BLS-6001
- Format
- LP, Stereo · Santa Maria Pressing
- Runout / matrix
BLS-6001-A-1 LWSide A Runout
BLS-6001-B S2 LW BLS-6001-BSide B Runout
US
1967- Label and catalog number
- Bluesway BL-6001
- Format
- LP, Album, Promo, Mono
UK
May 1967- Label and catalog number
- His Master's Voice CLP 3608
- Format
- LP, Mono
- Runout / matrix
BL 6001 A-1 GRunout side A, variant 1
BL 6001 B-1 GRunout side B, variant 1
BL 6001 A-1 GRunout side A, variant 2
BL 6001 B-1 RRunout side B, variant 2
UK
1967- Label and catalog number
- His Master's Voice CSD 3608
- Format
- LP, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
BLS 6001 A-1 G 1Side A (stamped)
BLS 6001 B-1 R 1Side B (stamped)
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 24 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1960s11 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Canada | Sparton BLS-6001First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1967 | Canada | Sparton BL-6001First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | France | Stateside CSSX 240490First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1967 | France | Stateside CSSX 240.490First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | UK | His Master's Voice CSD 3608First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Bluesway BLS-6001First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1967 | US | Bluesway BL-6001First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | US | Bluesway BL-6001First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1967 | US | Bluesway BLS-6001 / ABC Records BLS-6001First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1967 | UK | His Master's Voice CLP 3608First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Germany | Philips 843 521 BYFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
1970s4 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Germany | Probe 1 C 062-94 509 / Bluesway 1 C 062-94 509LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1973 | Japan | Probe IPR-8186LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1975 | US | ABC Records ABCD-704LP, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1977 | Japan | ABC Records YZ-8031-ABLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
1980s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | France | MCA Records 204 925LP | LP |
| 1982 | Germany | MCA Records 204 925LP | LP |
| 1987 | UK | See For Miles Records Ltd. SEE 216LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
2010s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Universal Music Group 700118 / Bluesway 700118LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
2020s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Worldwide | Bluesway 620887 / Elemental Music 620887LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Stereo |
Year unknown4 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Bluesway BLS-6001LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Philips 843 521 BYLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| ? | US | Bluesway BLS-6001 / ABC Records BLS-6001LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Bluesway BLS-6001 / ABC Records BLS-6001LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
Tracklist
- A1Waitin' On You2:23
- A2Gamblers' Blues4:38
- A3Tired Of Your Jive3:30
- A4Night Life4:45
- A5Buzz Me4:05
- B1Don't Answer The Door4:00
- B2Blind Love3:25
- B3I Know What You're Puttin' Down3:30
- B4Baby Get Lost3:57
- B5Gonna Keep On Loving You3:45
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Blues Is King are there?
24 vinyl pressings of Blues Is King are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1967 and 2023.
When was Blues Is King first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1967, in US, UK, Germany, Canada and more. One of them is Bluesway BLS-6001.
How do I tell if my copy of Blues Is King is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BLS-6001, BL-6001, CLP 3608, CSD 3608) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Blues Is King on vinyl worth?
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.
