Vinyl pressings
by Bob Marley & The Wailers · 1978
Babylon By Bus was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
37 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 18 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.
ISLD 11 1A - 1U JONZ 1Runout side A, variant 1
ISLD 11-1 B - 2U O O 3Runout side B, variant 1
ISLD 11 2A - 1U JONZ V J 4Runout side C, variant 1
ISLD 11 2B - 1U T C 4Runout side D, variant 1
ISLD 11 1A - 1USide A runout
O <> O LPFBSide B runout
S-2 ISLD+11-1+ARunout Side A, stamped
S-2 ISLD+11-1+BRunout Side B, stamped
S-1 ISLD+11-2+ARunout Side C, stamped
S-1 ISLD+11-2+BRunout Side D, stamped
ISLD 11 1A-1URunout Side A, stamped
ISLD 11-1 B -2URunout Side B, stamped
ISLD 11-2 A -2URunout Side C, stamped
ISLD 11-2 B -2URunout Side D, stamped
ISLD 11 --1 A - 3 U G 1 TOWN HOUSELabel Side A Stamped
ISLD 11 - 1 B - 5 U 2 1 TOWN HOUSELabel Side B Stamped
ISLD 11 - 2 A - 3 U 2 1 TOWN HOUSELabel Side C Stamped
ISLD 11 - 2 B - 3 U 2 1 TOWN HOUSELabel Side D Stamped
ISLD 11-RECORD 1-LW1 #64 SIDE-1 STERLING(RECORD 1 - A Side stamped on Runout)
ISLD 2-11-RECORD-LW4 F64 SIDE-2 STERLING(RECORD 1 - B Side stamped on Runout)
ISLD 1-11-RECORD 2-LW1 SIDE 3 #64 STERLING(RECORD 2 - A Side stamped on Runout)
ISLD 2-11-RECORD 2-LW1 SIDE 4 #64 STERLING(RECORD 2 - B Side stamped on Runout)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Austria | Island Records 300 152-406First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Barbados | Tuff Gong ISLD 11First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Island Records ISLD-11First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Island Records 6650 004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | France | Island Records 6650 004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Island Records 6650 004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | France | Island Records 6650 004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Island Records 300 152 / Island Records 300 152-406First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Ireland | Island Records ISLD 11First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Ireland | Island Records ISLD 11First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Island Records ISLD 11First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Island Records ISLD 11First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Jamaica | Tuff GongFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Jamaica | Tuff Gong ISLD 11 / Tuff Gong ISLD 11-1(I)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Island Records ILS-50027.28First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | Island Records 300152-XD / Ariola Eurodisc S.A. 300152-XDLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Island Records 2ISL-11LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Canada | Island Records 2ISL 11LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Germany | Island Records 300 152-406LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Island Records ISLD 11LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1983 | Japan | Island Records 18S-90~91 / Polystar 18S-90~91LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | South Africa | Island Records ISPD 11LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | South Africa | Island Records ILPD 11LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Island Records 7 90029-1-ILP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | Island Records 300 152-406LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Netherlands | Island Records 300 152-406LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Canada | Island Records ISL2-11LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Europe | Island Records 300 152LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Island Records 90029-1-ILP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Canada | Island Records ISL2-11LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Mexico | PolyGram LPR 25023/A2 / Island Records LPR 25023/A2LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1990 | Spain | Tuff Gong 300152 (5B) / Tuff Gong 5C 300152LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1990 | UK | Tuff Gong TGDLP 1 / Island Records 846 197-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Europe | Island Records 548 900-1 / Tuff Gong 548 900-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Tuff Gong 602547276230 / Island Records 602547276230LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Tuff Gong 00602435082189 / Island Records 00602435082189LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Tuff Gong B0031907-01 / Island Records B0031907-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Benelux | Island Records 300 152LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Benelux | Island Records 300 152LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Tuff Gong 300 152 / Island Records 300 152LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Island Records 300 152LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Tuff Gong 846 197-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 32 040 8LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | Germany | Island Records 300 152-406LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Island Records ISLD 11 / Island Records VG ISLD 11LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | Island Records ISLD 11LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Italy | Island Records ISLD 11LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Jamaica | Tuff Gong 422 846 197-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Jamaica | Tuff Gong ISLD-11LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Jamaica | Tuff Gong ISLD 11 / Tuff Gong ISLD 11-1(I)LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Jamaica | Tuff Gong 422-846 197-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Jamaica | Tuff Gong ISLD-11LP, Album | LP, Album |
96 vinyl pressings of Babylon By Bus are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1978 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, US, Jamaica, Australia and more. One of them is Island Records ISLD 11, released November 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ISLD 11, L 70107/8, 300 152-406, ISLD-11) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ISLD 11 1A - 1U JONZ 1 and ISLD 11-1 B - 2U O O 3. 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.
