Vinyl pressings
by Chicago · 1971
Chicago III was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
25 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 17 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.
o P AL 30264-1D P 7Side A Stamped
o P BL-30264-1C P 7Side B Stamped
o P BL-30265-1B P 7Side C Stamped
o P BL-30265-1G 1 TSide D Stamped
o P AL 30265-1B PMSide C Stamped
o o P BL 30265-1G I T ASide D Stamped
P AL 30264-1D P XRunout A stamped
o P BL-30264-1C P X oRunout B stamped
o P BL-30265-1F 1 T A3Runout C stamped / 1 T 3 etched
o P BL-30265-1F P X ARunout D stamped
o PAL -30264-1B 2 SRunout, Side A, Variant 1
o P BL-30264-1B 1 S B4Runout, Side B, Variant 1
o PAL -30265-1E C 2S C1Runout, Side C, Variant 1
o P BL-30265-1E 1 CRunout, Side D, Variant 1
o P AL 30264-1D PSide A runout, variant 1
o P BL-30264-1D PSide B runout, variant 1
o P AL 30265-1D PSide C runout, variant 1
o P BL 30265-1D PSide D runout, variant 1
o PAL -30264-1DRunout, Stamped, Side One
o P BL-30264-1CRunout, Stamped, Side Two
o PAL -30265-1GRunout, Stamped, Side Three
o P BL-30265-1FRunout, Stamped, Side Four
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | CBS S2BP 220070 / CBS C2 30110First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Australia | CBS S2BP 220070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Brazil | CBS 137713 / CBS 137714First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Colombia | CBS CLS 4217First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Europe | CBS S 66260 / CBS C2 30110First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Europe | CBS S 66260 / CBS C2 30110First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Greece | Columbia S 66260First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP 50360~1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP 50360~1First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Mexico | CBS CLS-5324First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 473860First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Portugal | CBS S 66260First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | CBS C2 30110First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Africa | Date DAST.2091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Korea | Taedo EU 422LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Europe | CBS CBS 66260LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia C2-30110 / Columbia C2 30110LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia C2-30110 / Columbia C2 30110LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Costa Rica | CBS CLS 5324LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | CBS S 66260LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-1055LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | CBS 66260LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | CBS S 66260LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS 66260LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia C2 30110LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CG 30110LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia C2 30110LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Columbia C2 30110LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia C2 30110LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Columbia C2 30110LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia C2 30110LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
55 vinyl pressings of Chicago III are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1971 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Canada, Italy and more. One of them is Columbia C2 30110, released January 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use C2 30110, 66260, C2-30110, S 66260) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, o P AL 30264-1D P 7 and o P BL-30264-1C P 7. 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.
