Vinyl pressings
by B.B. King · 1968
Blues On Top Of Blues was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1968, 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.
BLS-6011-A... LW BLS-6011-AA-Side Runout Etching
BLS-6011-B... LW BLS-6011-BB-Side Runout Etching
BLS-6011-AA-Side Label
BLS-6011-BB-Side Label
BLS 6011 A Bell Sound (MR) △11505A Side
BLS 6011 B Bell Sound (MR) △11505-XB Side
BLS 6011 A Bell Sound (MR) △11505A Side
BLS 6011 B Bell Sound (MR) △11505-XB Side
BL-6011-A... LW BL-6011-ARunout side A
BL-6011-B... LW BL-6011-BRunout side B
SRX 3509-1 G 1Side A runout
SRX 3510-1 G 1Side B runout
SRX.3509Side A, label
SRX.3510Side B, label
SYRX 3509-1 G 1Runout side A
SYRX 3510-1 G 1Runout side B
SYRX.3509Label side A
SYRX.3510Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Canada | Bluesway BLS-6011 / Sparton BLS-6011First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Philips 843 528 BYFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Philips 843 528 BYFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1968 | Japan | Bluesway SR 231First yearLP | LP |
| 1968 | UK | Stateside SL 10238First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | Stateside SSL 10238First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Bluesway BL-6011First yearLP, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Bluesway BLS-6011First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Bluesway BLS-6011 / ABC Records BL-S-6011First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Bluesway BLS-6011 / ABC Records BL-S-6011First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | US | Bluesway BLS-6011LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | ABC Records ABCD-709LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | ABC Records YZ-8046-ABLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | UK | BGO Records BGOLP69LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Elemental Music 700121LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Bluesway BLS-6011 / Sparton BLS-6011LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Bluesway BLS-6011LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Bluesway BLS-6011 / Bluesway BL/S-6011LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
18 vinyl pressings of Blues On Top Of Blues are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1968 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Bluesway BLS-6011.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BLS-6011, BL-6011, SL 10238, SSL 10238) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BLS-6011-A... LW BLS-6011-A and BLS-6011-B... LW BLS-6011-B. 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.
