Vinyl pressings
by Eric B. & Rakim · 1987
I Know You Got Soul was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
9 pressings came out in 1987, 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.
BWAY-438-A A-5 ᐉ HERbIE JR :¬)A-side runout, variant 1
BWAY-438-B A-1 ᐉ HERbIE JR :¬)B-side runout, variant 1
BWAY-438-A A ᐉ HERbIE JR :¬)A-side runout, variant 2
BWAY-438-B A-3 ᐉ HERbIE JR :¬)B-side runout, variant 2
BWAY7438-ASide A label
BWAY7438-BSide B label
COOLX 146 A/1 420 PRT 1 3Side A, etched, '1 3' stamped
COOLX 146 B/2 420 PRT 1 1Side B, etched, '1 1' stamped
COOLX 146 A/I 420 PRT ⋀ 2Variant 1: Side A etched, '⋀ 2' stamped
COOLX 146 B2 ⋀ TY1 3Variant 1: Side B etched, '⋀ TY1 3' stamped
COOLX 146 A/I 420 PRT ◠ ∴Variant 2: Side A, etched
COOLX 146 B2 ◠ TY1 ∴Variant 2: Side B, etched; 'TY1' stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | UK | Cooltempo COOL X 146First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1987 | UK | Cooltempo COOL 146First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1987 | UK | Cooltempo COOLX 146First year12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | UK | Cooltempo COOL X 146First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1987 | UK | Cooltempo COOL X 146First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1987 | UK | Cooltempo COOL X 146First year12", 45 RPM, White Label | 12", 45 RPM, White Label |
| 1987 | US | 4th & Broadway BWAY-438First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Stereo |
| 1987 | US | 4th & Broadway BWAY7438 / Island Records BWAY7438First year7", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| 1987 | US | 4th & Broadway 10012First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1988 | Europe | Chrysalis 609 873 / Cooltempo 609 87312", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Europe | Cooltempo 109 873 / Chrysalis 109 8737", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1988 | UK | Cooltempo COOLXR 14612", Promo, 45 RPM · Promo | 12", Promo, 45 RPM · Promo |
| 1988 | UK | Cooltempo COOLDJ 14612", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | UK | Cooltempo COOL XR 14612", 45 RPM, White Label | 12", 45 RPM, White Label |
| 1988 | UK | Cooltempo COOLXR 14612", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | US | 4th & Broadway 162 440 438-112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1998 | UK | Not On Label (Eric B. & Rakim) ERIC 112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Unknown | Not On Label (Eric B. & Rakim) ERIC B12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2005 | US | 4th & Broadway BWAY-43812", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Mr Bongo MRB71627", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | UK | Mr Bongo MRB71627", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 2020 | UK | Mr Bongo MRB71627", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Cooltempo COOLXR 14612", 45 RPM, White Label | 12", 45 RPM, White Label |
| ? | US | 4th & Broadway 162 440 438-112", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
27 vinyl pressings of I Know You Got Soul are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1987 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in US, UK. One of them is 4th & Broadway BWAY-438.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BWAY-438, BWAY7438, 10012, COOL X 146) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BWAY-438-A A-5 ᐉ HERbIE JR :¬) and BWAY-438-B A-1 ᐉ HERbIE JR :¬). 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.
