Vinyl pressings
by Eric B. & Rakim · 1986
Eric B. Is President was first pressed on vinyl in 1986. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1986, the album's first year, in 2 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.
ZK 014A MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK CSB ♪♪A-side runout etching
ZK 014B MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK CSB ♪♪B-side runout etching
ZK 014AA-side label
ZK 014BB-side label
BWAY 7431 A
BWAY 7431 B
̷Z̷K̷ ̷0̷1̷4̷ ̷A̷ BWAY 431 A ᐉ C S B ♪♪A-Side Runout Etching
BWAY-431-B B- HERbIE JR :^)B-Side Runout Etching
ᐉB-Side Runout Stamp
MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORKRunout Stamp Each Side
BWAY 7431 A
BWAY 7431 B
COOLX 129 A // 1∇420 P 11 2Machine stamp side A
COOLX 129 B // 1∇420 P 11 1Machine stamp side B
COOLX 129-ACentre label side A
COOLX 129-BCentre label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | UK | Cooltempo COOLX 129First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1986 | UK | Cooltempo COOLN 129 / Cooltempo COOLX 129First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1986 | US | Zakia Records ZK 014First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1986 | US | 4th & Broadway BWAY-43112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Zakia Records ZK 01412", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress |
| 1986 | US | Zakia Records ZK 014First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | US | 4th & Broadway BWAY 74317", Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1986 | US | 4th & Broadway PRO 7431First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | US | 4th & Broadway BWAY 7431First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1986 | US | 4th & Broadway BWAY-431First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1986 | US | 4th & Broadway BWAY-43112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | US | 4th & Broadway 162-440 431-112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | US | Zakia Records ZK 01412", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UK | 4th & Broadway BWAY 7431 / KingUnderground Records KU07 0517", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | UK | 4th & Broadway BWAY 7431 / KingUnderground Records KU07 0517", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | UK | 4th & Broadway BWAY 74317", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Special Edition | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Special Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Cooltempo COOLX 12912", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| ? | US | 4th & Broadway 162-440 431-112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue |
18 vinyl pressings of Eric B. Is President are listed here, from 2 countries, released between 1986 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1986, in US, UK. One of them is Zakia Records ZK 014.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ZK 014, BWAY 7431, BWAY-431, PRO 7431) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZK 014A MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK CSB ♪♪ and ZK 014B MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK CSB ♪♪. 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.
