Vinyl pressings
by Curtis Mayfield · 1971
Roots 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.
20 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 9 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.
A3RS-2509-1 CRS-8009-AAA" S-1 [IAM in triangle]Runout, side A
A3RS-2510-2. CRS-8009-BBB-2 #3 S-2 SON [anvil symbol]Runout, side B
CRS 8009 AALabel, side A
CRS 8009 BBBLabel, side B
CRS-8009-AAA [MR logo] △16416 A4RS-2509-4Runout, side A, variant 1
CRS-8009-BBB-RE [MR logo] S-2 △16416-X (B) A3RS-2510-4Runout, side B, variant 1
CRS-8009-AA-RE s-1 [MR logo] 2 △16416 A3R5-2509-4Runout, side A, variant 2
CRS-8009-BBB-RE [MR logo] s-2 △16416-X 6Runout, side B, variant 2
A3RS-2509-1 CRS-8009-AAA #3 S-1. dh. /IAM\Runout A variant 1
A3RS-2510-2. CRS-8009-BBB-2 #4 S•2 dh [Anvil] SONRunout B variant 1
A3RS-2509-1 CRS-8009-AAA" S-1. dh /IAM\Runout A variant 2
A3RS-2510-2. CRS-8009-BBB-2 #2 S•2 dh [Anvil] SONRunout B variant 2
A3RS-2509-3 CRS-8009-AAA 5-1Runout Side A, Etched
A3RS-2510-3 CRS-8009-BBB 5-2Runout Side B, Etched
A4RS-2509-5 CRS-8009-AAA S-1 IT LRunout, side A
A4RS-2510-5 CRS-8009-BBB S-2 IT LRunout, side B
CRS-8009-AACenter label, side A
CRS-8009-BBBCenter label, side B
A3RS-2509-3 CR5-8009-AA 5-1 dh ARPRunout A
A3RS-2510-3 CR5-8009-BBB 5-2 dh ARPRunout B
CR5 8009 AALabel A
CR5 8009 BBBLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Canada | Curtom CRS 8009 (E) / Curtom CRS 8009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Buddah Records 940 091 / Buddah Records 940 091 TFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Greece | Buddah Records 2318 045First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Greece | Buddah Records 2318 045LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1971 | Italy | Buddah Records 2318 045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Jamaica | Curtom CRS 8009 / Buddah Records CRS-8009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Curtom 583 008 / Curtom 583.008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Curtom 583 008 / Curtom 583.008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Buddah Records 2318 045 / Buddah Records 2318045First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Buddah Records 2318 045 / Buddah Records 2318045First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Curtom CRS 8009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Curtom CRS 8009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Curtom CRS 8009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Buddah Records 2318 045First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Curtom CRS 8009First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | UK | Sequel Records NEMLP 966LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Italy | Get Back GET8020LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Curtom CRS 8009LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2012 | US | Curtom CRS 8009LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | 8th Records ETH8009CLPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | USA, Canada & Europe | Curtom RCV1 8009 / Curtom 603497845187LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Buddah Records MLP 15.701LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Academy Record Company HD 42LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8009LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8009 / Curtom CRS-8009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
40 vinyl pressings of Roots are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1971 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Germany, Canada and more. One of them is Curtom CRS 8009, released October 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CRS 8009, 2318 045, CRS 8009 (E), 940 091) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A3RS-2509-1 CRS-8009-AAA" S-1 [IAM in triangle] and A3RS-2510-2. CRS-8009-BBB-2 #3 S-2 SON [anvil symbol]. 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.
