Vinyl pressings
by Curtis Mayfield · 1974
Got To Find A Way was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. 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 1974, the album's first year, in 8 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-8604-A•• 1 WE (MR) ✲ △19396 Bell SoundRunout A
CRS-8604-B-4•• WE 1 Bell Sound (MR) ✲ △19396-XRunout B
CRS 8604 ALabel A
CRS 8604 BLabel B
T/CRS-8604-A-S-1 WE Bell Sound stamp B7Side A etched
T/CRS-8604-B-S-1 WE Bell Sound stamp D3Side B etched
CRS-8604-A- WE Bell Sound SONVariant 1, side A runout
CRS-8604-B- WE SON Bell SoundVariant 1, side B runout
CRS-8604-A-² MII WE Bell Sound SONVariant 2, side A runout
CRS-8604-B-² WE SON Bell SoundVariant 2, side B runout
CRS-8604-A- WE Bell Sound SONSide A
CRS-8604-B- WE SON Bell SoundSide B
CRS-8604-A- WE Bell Sound SONSide A
CRS-8604-B- WE SON Bell SoundSide B
BDLP 4029 A-1♢X ARunout side A, variant 1
BDLP 4029 B-1♢X ARunout side B, variant 1
BDLP 4029 A-1♢X 1 DRunout side A, variant 2
BDLP 4029 B-1♢X 1 FRunout side B, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | France | Buddah Records 840054 / Buddah Records 840 054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Buddah Records MLP 15.709First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Italy | Buddah Records BDL 3103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Buddah Records 840054 / Curtom CRS 8604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | UK | Buddah Records BDLP 4029First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | Curtom CRS 8604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | South Africa | Buddah Records GL 1776First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8604First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8604First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8604First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Australia | Buddah Records CRS 8604LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Greece | Buddah Records 2318 108 / Buddah Records BDLP 4029LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Buddah Records YQ-7032-DALP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Italy | Get Back GET8013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8604LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8604LP, Album | LP, Album |
18 vinyl pressings of Got To Find A Way are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1974 and 2002.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Canada, South Africa and more. One of them is Curtom CRS 8604, released October 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CRS 8604, BDLP 4029, GL 1776, 840054) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CRS-8604-A•• 1 WE (MR) ✲ △19396 Bell Sound and CRS-8604-B-4•• WE 1 Bell Sound (MR) ✲ △19396-X. 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.
