UK
1979- Label and catalog number
- Front Line FL 1044
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
FL-1044-A-1 JONZ
FL-1044-B-1 SOUND CLINIC
Vinyl pressings
Soon Forward
by Gregory Isaacs · 1979
22 pressings7 countriesRoots ReggaeLovers RockReggae
Soon Forward was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of Soon Forward
8 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 5 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.
US
1979- Label and catalog number
- Virgin International VIFL 1044
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
VIFL-1044AA
VIFL-1044B - 1B
Canada
1979- Label and catalog number
- African Museum C+C 001
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
C+C 001-A PARA
C+C 001-B PARA
Jamaica
1979- Label and catalog number
- African Museum FL 1044Virgin FL 1044
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
FL 1044 AEtched A
FL 1044 BEtched B
Jamaica
1979- Label and catalog number
- African Museum FL 1044Virgin FL 1044
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
FL 1044 AEtched A
FL 1044 BEtched B
Jamaica
1979- Label and catalog number
- African Museum AFM - 2656
- Format
- LP, Album
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 22 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1970s9 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Canada | African Museum C+C 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Jamaica | African Museum FL 1044 / Virgin FL 1044First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Jamaica | African Museum FL 1044 / Virgin FL 1044First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Jamaica | African Museum FL 1044LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Jamaica | African Museum AFM - 2656First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | South Africa | Virgin VNH 5033First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | South Africa | Virgin VIR (E) 3025First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Front Line FL 1044First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Virgin International VIFL 1044First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
1980s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Front Line VIP-6955LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
2000s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Europe | Virgin 7243 8 10627 1 5 / Virgin FL 21LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
2010s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | Tad's Record / African MuseumLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
2020s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US | Tad's Record / African MuseumLP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
Year unknown9 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Jamaica | African Museum AFM2656LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Jamaica | African Museum FL 1044LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Jamaica | African Museum FL 1044LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Jamaica | African Museum FL 1044LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Jamaica | African MuseumLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Jamaica | African MuseumLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Jamaica | African Museum FL 1044LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Jamaica | African Museum FL 1044LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | Virgin FL 1044LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
Tracklist
- A1Universal Tribulation3:46
- A2Mr. Brown3:07
- A3Down The Line3:33
- A4Lonely Girl3:59
- A5Bumping And Boring3:30
- B1My Relationship3:13
- B2Slave Market3:42
- B3Black Liberation Struggle2:46
- B4Jah Music3:00
- B5Soon Forward6:30
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Soon Forward are there?
22 vinyl pressings of Soon Forward are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1979 and 2025.
When was Soon Forward first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Canada, Jamaica and more. One of them is Front Line FL 1044.
How do I tell if my copy of Soon Forward is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FL 1044, VIFL 1044, C+C 001, AFM - 2656) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FL-1044-A-1 JONZ and FL-1044-B-1 SOUND CLINIC. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Soon Forward on vinyl worth?
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.
