Vinyl pressings
by Chicago · 1969
Chicago Transit Authority was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
28 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 13 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 XSM139684-1B \ TA Side Stamped exc T etch, var. 1
º XSM139685-1D \ TB Side Stamped exc T etch, var. 1
º XSM139839-1D 1 T A1A ƧC Side Stamped exc T, Ƨ etch, var. 1
º XSM139840-1C 1 TD Side Stamped exc T etch, var. 1
o XSM139684-1A P K 3Side A runout, variant 1
o XSM139685-1J P A 3Side B runout, variant 1
o XSM139839-1J P D 3Side C runout, variant 1
o XSM139840-1F PSide D runout, variant 1
o XSM-139684-1S 1 S D 15Runout A, variant 1
o XSM-139685-1E 1 S D 8Runout B, variant 1
o XSM-139839-1F 1 SRunout C, variant 1
o XSM-139840-1F 1 B 3Runout D, variant 1
º XSM139684-1F \ T x A2 1A Side Stamped exc T etch
º XSM139685-1D T A2 C1B Side Stamped exc T etch
º XSM139839-1E 1 T x A1C Side Stamped exc T, Ƨ etch
º XSM139840-1G \ T x A1D Side Stamped exc T etch
o XSM-139684-1D 1 2Side 1 Variant Etched
o XSM-139685-1C 12 B3Side 2 Variant Stamped (Etched 12 B3)
o XSM-139839-1F 1Side 3 Variant Etched
o XSM-139840-1E 1Side 4 Variant Etched
XSM-139684-1D 1 D4 oEtched side A; Stamped o
XSM-139685-1C A o ƧStamped side B; Etched A Ƨ
XSM-139839-1B 1 S H11 oStamped side C; Etched 1 S H11
XSM-139840-1C 1 T x S D3 oStamped side D; Etched 1 T x S D3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Australia | CBS S2BP 220038First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia GP 8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia GP 8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia GP 8First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia GP 8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia GP 8First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | CBS S 66221First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | France | CBS S 66221First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | CBS S 66221 / CBS S 66 221First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Italy | CBS S 66221 / CBS 66221First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP 50116-117First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP 50116-117First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | Netherlands | CBS S 66221 / CBS GP 8First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 473676First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Philippines | CBS GP 8First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1970 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | Taiwan | Large World LW-431~432LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1970 | Taiwan | First Record FL-1926LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1971 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1971 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1971 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-1122 (1-2)LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1972 | US | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPJ 64-65LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-128 / Columbia MFSL 2-128LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | Rhino Records R1 76171 / Rhino Vinyl R1 76171LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Rhino Records R1 76171 / Rhino Vinyl R1 76171LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | US | Friday Music FRM-8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RR1 76171 / Rhino Records 603497851744LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RCV1 76171 / Rhino Records 081227910310LP, Album, Limited Edition, Mixed, Numbered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Mixed, Numbered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | US | Friday Music FRM-8LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Friday Music FRM-6768LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS S2BP 220038 / CBS SBP 233683/4LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia PG 8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia GP 8LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Columbia PG 8 / Columbia GP 8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 66221 / CBS GP 8LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 66221 / CBS GP 8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS 460111 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 66221 / CBS CBS 66221LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 66221 / CBS 66221LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS S 66221 / CBS CBS 66221LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | CBS S 66221LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | CBS S 66221 / CBS 66221LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Columbia GP 8 / CBS S 66221LP, Album | LP, Album |
98 vinyl pressings of Chicago Transit Authority are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1969 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Portugal, Australia and more. One of them is Columbia GP 8, released April 28, 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use GP 8, 66221, cbs 66221, S2BP 220038) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, º XSM139684-1B \ T and º XSM139685-1D \ 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.
