Vinyl pressings
by Curtis Mayfield · 1973
Back To The World was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 15 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.
CRS-8015-A-v —REPL. (MR) △17988(7) Bell Sound RCKRunout A etch / (MR), Bell Sound stamped
CRS-8015-B-4 (MR) △17988-X(2) Bell Sound RCK J PYNESRunout B etch / (MR), Bell Sound stamped
CRS-8015-ALabel, side A
CRS-8015-BLabel, side B
CRS-8015-A-1 -1-1 Bell Sound RCK DRunout, side A
CRS-8015-B-1 1-111 Bell Sound RCK D PRRunout, side B
CRS 8015 ALabel, side A
CRS 8015 BLabel, side B
CRS-8015-A-² SON Bell Sound RCKA side runout
CRS-8015-B-² ② SON Bell Sound RCKB side runout
CRS 8015 ALabel Side A
CRS 8015 BLabel Side B
CRS 8015-ALabel, side A
CRS 8015-BLabel, side B
T 2 CRS-8015-A-5 Bell Sound RCKRunout side A
T 2 CRS-8015-B-5 Bell Sound RCKRunout side B
CRS 8015 ALabel, side A
CRS 8015 BLabel, side B
CRS-8015-A-v —REPL. (MR) △17988(7) Bell Sound RCKRunout A etch / (MR), Bell Sound stamped
CRS-8015-B-4 (MR) △17988-X(2) Bell Sound RCK J PYNESRunout B etch / (MR), Bell Sound stamped
CRS-8015-A-v —REPL. (MR) △17988(9) Bell Sound RCKVariant 2, runout side A
CRS-8015-B-4 (MR) △17988-X(3) Bell Sound RCK J PYNESVariant 2, runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | Buddah Records 2318 085First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | Buddah Records 2318 085First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Brazil | Buddah Records 2318 085First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Curtom CRS 8015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Curtom CRS 8015LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1973 | France | Buddah Records 840.012 / Buddah Records 840012 UFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Buddah Records 2318 085First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Greece | Buddah Records 2318 085First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1973 | Greece | Buddah Records 2318 085First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Israel | Buddah Records 2318 085First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | Buddah Records 2318 085 AFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | Buddah Records YZ-35-DAFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Curtom 655 063First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Buddah Records 2318 085First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | Buddah Records SGALP 1694First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Japan | Charly Groove CPLP 8040 / Charly Records CPLP 8040LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1995 | UK | Charly Groove CPLP 8040 / Charly Records CPLP 8040LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | US | Curtom CRS 8015LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2004 | Italy | Get Back GET 8022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2005 | US | Rhino Records 081227006068 / Curtom CRS 8015LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | US | Curtom CRS 8015LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | US | Curtom CRS 8015LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8015 / Curtom CRS-8015LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
44 vinyl pressings of Back To The World are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1973 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Curtom CRS 8015.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CRS 8015, 2318 085, 840.012, 2318 085 A) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CRS-8015-A-v —REPL. (MR) △17988(7) Bell Sound RCK and CRS-8015-B-4 (MR) △17988-X(2) Bell Sound RCK J PYNES. 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.
