Vinyl pressings
by B.B. King · 1973
The Best Of B.B. King was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 10 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.
ABCX-767-A-X PT 1 OF 2Side 1 [etched & scratched out]
5567ASide 1 [etched]
ABCX-767-B PT 2 OF 2Side 2 [etched and scratched out]
5567BSide 2 [etched]
\ S ABCX-767-A-1B SM-2 of 2 2Side A runout etched
\ S ABCX-767-B-1B SM-2 of 2 2Side B runout etched
ABCX-767-ASide A label
ABCX-767-BSide B label
P ABCX-767-A X PT 1 OF 2Side A, etched, P stamped
P ABCX-767-B PT 2 OF 2Side B, etched, P stamped
ABCX-767-ASide A, label
ABCX-767-BSide A, label
T1 ABCX-767-A TH 2 of 2 AA runout
ABCX-767-B PT 2 OF 2 T DDB runout
ABCX-767-AA label
ABCX-767-BB 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | Probe SPBA-3054First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Canada | ABC Records ABCX-767First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Canada | ABC Records ABCX-767First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | ABC Records ABCX-767First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Canada | ABC/Dunhill Records ABCX-767LP, Compilation, Remastered | LP, Compilation, Remastered |
| 1973 | France | Probe 2 C 064 - 94192First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | Germany | Probe 1 C 062-94 192First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Probe 1 C 062-94 192First yearLP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | Greece | Probe PRO 13017First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1973 | Greece | Probe PRO 13017First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Probe PROLP.8035First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1973 | Spain | Probe 1J 062-94.192First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1973 | UK | Probe SPB 1069 / Probe 0C 062 ◦ 94192First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | US | ABC Records ABCX-767First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1973 | US | ABC Records ABCX-767First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-27074LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 | UK | MCA Records MCL 1612LP, Compilation, Remastered | LP, Compilation, Remastered |
| 1981 | UK | MCA Records MCL 1612LP, Compilation, Remastered | LP, Compilation, Remastered |
| 1983 | UK | MCA Records MCL 1612LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-27074LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | US | MCA Records MCA-27074LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | US | MCA Records MCA-27074LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1984 | US | MCA Records MCA-27074LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1984 | US | MCA Records MCA-27074LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | Australasia | MCA Records 1612-1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Brazil | MCA Records 27.056 / MCA Records 604.7222LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1986 | Brazil | MCA Records 604.7222LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | ABC Records ABCX-767LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | ABC Records ABCX-767 / ABC Records ABCX 767LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | MCA Records 202 306LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | MCA Records MAB-767LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | ABC/Dunhill Records 9022-767LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | ABC/Dunhill Records ABCX-767LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3276LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | MCA Records 251 020-1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | MCA Coral 202 306 / MCA Coral 202 306-241LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | MCA Coral 202 306 / MCA Coral 202 306-241LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Japan | Probe IPZ-80005LP, Compilation, Quadraphonic | LP, Compilation, Quadraphonic |
| ? | Japan | Probe IPZ-80005LP, Compilation, Promo, Quadraphonic · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo, Quadraphonic · Promo |
| ? | Netherlands | MCA Records 1A 038-94192LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | South Africa | MCA Records LMCL 539LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | UK | Fame FA 3055LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
68 vinyl pressings of The Best Of B.B. King are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1973 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is ABC Records ABCX-767.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ABCX-767, ABC 176, SPB 1069, SPBA-3054) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ABCX-767-A-X PT 1 OF 2 and 5567A. 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.
