Vinyl pressings
by Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band · 1970
Express Yourself was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 3 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.
3̶9̶7̶4̶6̶-̶2̶ 39688-RE1-2 A 4 1 TRunout A
3̶9̶7̶4̶7̶-̶2̶ 3̶9̶6̶8̶9̶ ̶R̶E̶1̶-̶2̶ 39689 RE 1-2 A 4 1 TRunout B
S39688RE1Label A
S39689RE1Label B
39688-1A WS 1864-A I SRunout Side A
S I WS 1864-B 39689-1ERunout Side B
S39688Label Side A
S39689Label Side B
S-39688-2S IStamped, Side A runout
S 39689 2S IStamped, Side B runout
S39688RE1Side A label matrix no.
S39689RE1Side B label matrix no.
WS 1864-A RE1 39688-1CRunout A etched; A stamped
WS 1864-B RE1 39688-1ERunout B etched; A stamped
S39688RE1Label A
S39689RE1Label B
P WS 39688-RE1-2 B 3Runout A etched; B 3 stamped
P WS 39689-RE1-3 3 CRunout B etched; 3 C stamped
S39688RE1Label A
S39689RE1Label A
T 1 39688-2 A 3Runout, Side A
T 1 39688-1 A 4Runout, Side B
S39688Label, Side A
S39689Label, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864First yearLP | LP |
| 1970 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864 / Warner Bros. Records 1864First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864 / Warner Bros. Records 1864First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1864 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1864LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WS 1864 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 1864First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864 / Warner Bros. Records 1864First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records ST 93235 / Warner Bros. Records ST-93235LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864 / Warner Bros. Records 1864First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864 / Warner Bros. Records 1864LP, Album, Misprint, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864 / Warner Bros. Records 1864First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | UK | Warner Strategic Marketing United Kingdom 8122-74679-1 / Warner Bros. Records 8122-74679-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Real Gone Music RGM-0963LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Real Gone Music RGM-0963LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2023 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP3239 / Warner Records MOVLP3239LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2026 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RES1 1864 / Rhino Records 603497805495LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Taiwan | First Record FL-1984LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Not On Label CWR-864LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1864LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
25 vinyl pressings of Express Yourself are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1970 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, Australia, Canada. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WS 1864.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1864) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 3̶9̶7̶4̶6̶-̶2̶ 39688-RE1-2 A 4 1 T and 3̶9̶7̶4̶7̶-̶2̶ 3̶9̶6̶8̶9̶ ̶R̶E̶1̶-̶2̶ 39689 RE 1-2 A 4 1 T. 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.
