Vinyl pressings
by Curtis Mayfield · 1974
Sweet Exorcist 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.
19 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-8601-A-² Bell Sound RCK XK S̶O̶N̶Runout A etched / Bell Sound stamped, variant 1
CRS-8601-B-² Bell Sound R̶C̶K̶ K̶ S̶O̶N̶ XKRunout B etched / Bell Sound stamped, variant 1
CRS-8601-A-² Bell Sound RCK KX S̶O̶N̶Runout A etched / Bell Sound stamped, variant 2
CRS-8601-B-² Bell Sound RCK KX S̶O̶N̶Runout B etched / Bell Sound stamped, variant 2
CRS-8601-A I-I-I Bell Sound RCK PR DSide A, runout, hand etched, variant 1
CRS-8601-B I-I-I Bell Sound RCK PR DSide B, runout, hand etched, variant 1
CRS-8601-A I-I-II Bell Sound RCK PR DSide A, runout, hand etched, variant 2
CRS-8601-B I-I-II Bell Sound RCK PR DSide B, runout, hand etched, variant 2
CRS-8601-A-² (MR) Bell Sound RCK △18911(2)Runout A
CRS-8601-B-² (MR) Bell Sound RCK △18911-X(4)Runout B
TI CRS-8601-A-5 Bell Sound ESide A
TI CRS-8601-B-5 Bell Sound RCK ESide B
CRS-8601-A-² Bell Sound RCK SONRunout side A
CRS-8601-B-² Bell Sound RCK SONRunout side B
CRS 8601 ALabel side A
CRS 8601 BLabel side B
CRS-8601-A-² Bell Sound RCK SONRunout side A
CRS-8601-B-² Bell Sound RCK SONRunout side B
CRS 8601 ALabel side A
CRS 8601 BLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Canada | Curtom CRS 8601First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Buddah Records 840 037 / Curtom 840037First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Buddah Records 2318 099 / Curtom 2318 099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Buddah Records MLP 15 705LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1974 | Germany | Buddah Records 2318 099First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Germany | Buddah Records 2318 099First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Buddah Records YP-7049-DAFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Curtom 653.010First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Philippines | Curtom CRS 8601First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | Buddah Records BDLH 5001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | Buddah Records BDLH 5001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8601First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8601First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8601First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Curtom CRS 8601First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Italy | Get Back GET 8015LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8601 / Buddah Records CRS 8601LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8601LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8601LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8601 / Curtom SVAS-95771LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | Curtom CRS 8601LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
32 vinyl pressings of Sweet Exorcist are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1974 and 2002.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Curtom CRS 8601.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CRS 8601, BDLH 5001, 840 037, 2318 099) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CRS-8601-A-² Bell Sound RCK XK S̶O̶N̶ and CRS-8601-B-² Bell Sound R̶C̶K̶ K̶ S̶O̶N̶ XK. 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.
