Vinyl pressings
by B.B. King · 1969
Live & Well was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1969, 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 6031 A 2 LW SSRunout side A, variant 1
BLS 6031-B 1 LW SSRunout side B, variant 1
BLS 6031 A 1 LW SSRunout side A, variant 2
BLS-6031 B 2 LW SSRunout side B, variant 2
BLS 6031 LW SS Δ14193Runout side A, variant 1
BLS 6031-B LW SS Δ14193-XRunout side B, variant 1
BLS-6031-ALabel side A
BLS-6031-BLabel side B
BLS.6031-ASide A runout
BLS.6031-BSide B runout
M6 267418 / 90366 A 21Side A
M6 267419 / 90366 B 21Side B
BLS.6031ASide 1 label
BLS.6031BSide 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Canada | Bluesway BLS-6031 / Bluesway BLS 6031First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Stateside 2C 062-90366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Japan | Bluesway SR 307First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | New Zealand | Stateside SSLM.6081First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | BluesWay BLS-6031 / ABC Records SKAO-92004LP, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1969 | US | Bluesway BLS-6031 / Bluesway BLS 6031First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Bluesway BLS 6031First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Spain | Hispavox HPS 91-18 / ABC-Paramount HPS 91-18LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | UK | Stateside SSL 10297 / Stateside 1E 062 ◦ 90366LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | UK | Stateside SSL 10297 / Stateside 1E 062 ◦ 90366LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1970 | UK | ABC Records I-SSL 10297 / Stateside SSL 10297LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | Probe IPP-80614LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Probe IPP-80614LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-27008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records AB-819LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-27008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-27008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-27008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Brazil | Rarity LP 5019LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Brazil | MCA Records 670.0110LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Germany | Bear Family Records BAF 18013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2017 | Europe | Bluesway 700123 / Elemental Music 700123LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Stateside SOSL-10297LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Mexico | ABC Records GX 01-342LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | ABC Records ABCD-819LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Bluesway BLS-6031 / Bluesway BLS 6031LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | ABC Records AB 819LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-27008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
28 vinyl pressings of Live & Well are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1969 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, Canada, France, Japan and more. One of them is Bluesway BLS-6031, released May 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BLS-6031, BLS 6031, 2C 062-90366, SR 307) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BLS 6031 A 2 LW SS and BLS 6031-B 1 LW SS. 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.
