Vinyl pressings
by Curtis Mayfield · 1973
Future Shock / The Other Side Of Town 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.
12 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 7 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-1987-A 4① MR Bell Sound RCK △91980Side A runout, variant 1
CRS-1987-B 4② MR △91980-X Bell Sound RCKSide B runout, variant 1
CRS-1987-A 1④ EXTRA MR △91980 Bell Sound RCKSide A runout, variant 2
CRS-1987-B 4① MR △91980-X Bell Sound RCKSide B runout, variant 2
CRS-1987-A-2 SON Bell Sound RCK S-3919Runout, Side A
CRS-1987-B-2 SON Bell Sound RCK S-3920Runout, Side B
CRS1987ALabel, Side A
CRS1987BLabel, 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 2011 181First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1973 | Canada | Curtom 1987XFirst year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1973 | Germany | Buddah Records 2011 181First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1973 | Italy | Buddah Records 2011 181First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Curtom 610.130 / Curtom 610 130First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | US | Curtom CR-1987First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1973 | US | Curtom CR 1987First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1973 | US | Curtom CRS 1987First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1973 | US | Curtom CR-1987First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | US | Curtom CRS 1987First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1973 | Japan | Buddah Records LL 2617 DAFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Japan | Buddah Records LL-2617-DAFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Buddah Records 610 1227", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
13 vinyl pressings of Future Shock / The Other Side Of Town are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, Japan, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Curtom CR-1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CR-1987, CR 1987, CRS 1987, LL-2617-DA) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CRS-1987-A 4① MR Bell Sound RCK △91980 and CRS-1987-B 4② MR △91980-X Bell Sound RCK. 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.
