Vinyl pressings
by Booker T & The MG's · 1977
Universal Language was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 11 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.
[SRC logo] 7E-1093 A SP 1-1 [Artisan logo]A-side runout
[SRC logo] 7E-1093 B SP [Artisan logo] 1-1B-side runout
7E-1093-A SPA-side label
7E-1093-B SPB-side label
7E-1093 A-3 PRC-1-1Runout side A, variant 1
7E-1093 B-3 PRC-1-1Runout side B, variant 1
7E-1093 A-3 PRC-1-1 [Artisan logo] PRCRunout side A, variant 2
7E-1093 B-3 PRC-1-1 [Artisan logo] PRCRunout side B, variant 2
7E 1093 A-2 Re-CSM A1A-side runout, variant 1
7E-1093-B-1 CSM A3B-side runout, variant 1
7E 1093 A-2 Re-CSM [Artisan logo] A3 S2A-side runout, variant 2
7E-1093-B-1 CSM [Artisan logo] B2 S1B-side runout, variant 2
7E-1093-AA-side label
7E-1093-BB-side label
7E 1093 A SP 1-1A-side Runout, Etched
7E-1093-B SP 1-1B-side Runout, Etched
Large Sideways S With Small R & C Inside Each Half Of The S, And A Circle With Two SticksBoth Sides Stamped
7E-1093-A SPA-side label
7E-1093-A-3 PRC-1-1 [Artisan logo] PRCSide A runout
7E-1093-B-3 PRC-1-1 [Artisan logo] PRCSide B runout
7E-1093-A (PRC)Label side A
7E-1093-B (PRC)Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | US | Asylum Records 7E-1093LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1977 | Australia | Asylum Records 7E 1093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Asylum Records 7ES-1093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Asylum Records 53057First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 057First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Greece | Lyra 455 / Asylum Records 7E-1093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | Asylum Records W 53057First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Asylum Records P-10318YFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Asylum Records AS 53057First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Asylum Records 7E 1093First yearLP | LP |
| 1977 | UK | Asylum Records K 53057First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | UK | Asylum Records K 53057LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1977 | US | Asylum Records 7E-1093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Asylum Records 7E-1093First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | US | Asylum Records 7E-1093First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Africa | Asylum Records AUC 4523LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
19 vinyl pressings of Universal Language are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1976 and 1977.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Asylum Records 7E-1093.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7E-1093, K 53057, 7E 1093, 7ES-1093) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [SRC logo] 7E-1093 A SP 1-1 [Artisan logo] and [SRC logo] 7E-1093 B SP [Artisan logo] 1-1. 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.
