Vinyl pressings
by George Benson · 1969
Tell It Like It Is was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 6 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.
3039-1 // P VAN GELDERA-Side.etched/stamped, variant 1
3040 // P VAN GELDERB-Side.etched/stamped, variant 1
3039-1-AMIXT VAN GELDER A4A-Side., variant 2
3040-2-AMIXT VAN GELDER A4 6-7-69B-Side., variant 2
A&M SP-3039-RE1-M1 △18537 (1)Side A, etched
A&M SP-3040-RE1-M1 △18537-X (/)Side B, etched
MRencircled, Side A/B stamped
SP-3039Label, side A
SP-3040Label, side B
X△3576 6-7-69 3039 [MR in circle] VAN GELDERSide 1 runout
X△3576-X 6-7-69 3040 [MR inSide 2 runout
SP-3039Label, side A
SP-3040Label, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Canada | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Greece | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Italy | A&M Records SP 4020 / CTI Records SP 4020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Japan | A&M Records AML-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-7030First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | New Zealand | Calendar Records SR67-96214First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP-3020 / A&M Records SP 3020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Italy | A&M Records SLAM 63020LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP 3020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | A&M Records SP 3020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Japan | A&M Records LAX-3108 / A&M Records SP-3020LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 1976 | Philippines | A&M Records SP-3020LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | US | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | A&M Records L 36586LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | A&M Records L36586LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | Japan | A&M Records AMP-7030 / A&M Records SP-3020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | US | A&M Records SP-9-3020 / CTI Records SP-9-3020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB 2420236 / A&M Records SP-9 3020LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB 2420236 / A&M Records SP-9 3020LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Japan | A&M Records C25Y3814LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | A&M Records L36586LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP 3020 / A&M Records SP-3020LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | A&M Records AMP-18015 / CTI Records AMP-18015LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP 3020 / CTI Records SP 3020LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3020LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | A&M Records SP-3020LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
33 vinyl pressings of Tell It Like It Is are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1969 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, Canada, Greece, Italy and more. One of them is A&M Records SP 3020.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP 3020, SP-3020, SP 4020, AML-320) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 3039-1 // P VAN GELDER and 3040 // P VAN GELDER. 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.
