Vinyl pressings
by Grover Washington, Jr. · 1971
Inner City Blues was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
5 pressings came out in 1971, 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.
RVG 98763·A·3 VAN GELDERSide A runout (Variant 1)
RVG 98763·B · 1 VAN GELDER ASide B runout (Variant 1)
p RVG-98763-A VAN GELDER AA-Side Runout (Variant 2)
p RVG-98763-B-1 VAN GELDERB-Side Runout (Variant 2)
RVG. 98763.A.-5 VAN GELDERSide A runout, variant 1
RVG. 98763.B-4 VAN GELDERSide B runout, variant 1
RVG. 98763.A VAN GELDERSide A runout, variant 2
RVG. 98763.B-5X VAN GELDERSide B runout, variant 2
S RVG 89763 A VAN GELDERRunout A
RVG 89763 B 1 VAN GELDERRunout B
(RVG 98763 A)Label A
(RVG 98763 B)Label B
S RVG 89763 A VAN GELDERRunout A
RVG 89763 B 1 VAN GELDERRunout B
(RVG 98763 A)Label A
(RVG 98763 B)Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | UK | Kudu KU 03First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Kudu KU-03First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Kudu KU-03First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Kudu KU-03First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Kudu KU-03LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1971 | US | Kudu KU-03First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Australia | CTI Records 6489 013LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Canada | Kudu KU-03 / CTI Records KU-03LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Kudu KU-03 / CTI Records KU-03LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Japan | Kudu SR-3323LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Spain | Kudu AC - 20.004 / Acción AC - 20.004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | UK | Kudu KUL 1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Brazil | Kudu OW 540LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Kudu SR-3363LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1974 | Japan | Kudu SR-3363LP, Album, Promo, Repress · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Repress · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-189V1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Canada | Motown M 189LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Spain | Apolo Records J & B -6028-L.P.LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | UK | Motown STMS 5055LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Motown WL72098LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Spain | Motown SNL1-60245LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1988 | Venezuela | Motown 102-38039LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Kudu KU-03LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Kudu KU-03LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Kudu 63.015LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Motown 230 ▪ 15 ▪ 064LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Kudu 63.015LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Kudu KU-03S1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Kudu KU-03S1 / Kudu KU-03LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Kudu 03 / Kudu KU-03 S1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Motown M5-189V1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Kudu 03 / Kudu KU-03 S1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Kudu KU-03LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Kudu 03 / Kudu KU-03LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Kudu KU-03LP | LP |
| ? | US | Motown M5-189V1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Afrts RL 36-2LP, Transcription | LP, Transcription |
39 vinyl pressings of Inner City Blues are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1971 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK. One of them is Kudu KU-03.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KU-03, KU 03) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RVG 98763·A·3 VAN GELDER and RVG 98763·B · 1 VAN GELDER A. 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.
