Vinyl pressings
by Howlin' Wolf · 1971
The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions 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.
25 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 11 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.
COC-49101-A1 STERLING RL ROLLING STONES RECORDSVar. 1: A-side runout
COC-49101-B2 STERLING RL ROLLING STONES RECORDSVar. 1: B-side runout
COC-49101-A2 STERLING RL ROLLING STONES RECORDSVar. 2: A-side runout
COC-49101-B2 STERLING RL ROLLING STONES RECORDSVar. 2: B-side runout
COC-49101-A1Var. 1: A-side runout, Machine stamped
COC-49101-B2Var. 1: B-side runout, Machine stamped
COC-49101-A2Var. 2: A-side runout, Machine stamped
COC-49101-B2Var. 2: B-side runout, Machine stamped
CH-60008-A [MR logo] △16146 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
CH-60008-B [MR logo] △16146 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
CH-60008-B̶ A [MR logo] △16146 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
CH-60008-B [MR logo] △16146-X STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
CH-60008-A STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
CH-60008-B STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
CH 1 60008 ALabel side A
CH 1 60008 BLabel side B
CH-60008-A2-1-11 D STERLING PRSide A runout, etched (Sterling stamped), variant 1
CH-60008-B1 11-1 STERLING PR &Side B runout, etched (Sterling stamped), variant 1
CH-60008-A2-1-111 STERLING D PRSide A runout, etched (Sterling stamped), variant 2
CH-60008-B1-11-11 STERLING D PRSide B runout, etched (Sterling stamped), variant 2
T1 CH-60008-A-1 STERLING RL BSide A runout, etched ["STERLING" and "B" are stamped]
T1 ̷C̷H̷ - ̷6̷0̷0̷8̷ CH-60008-B-1 STERLING RL ASide B runout, etched ["STERLING" and "A" are stamped]
CH 1 60008 ASide A label
CH 1 60008 BSide B label
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 | Argentina | Rolling Stones Records COC 49101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Australia | Rolling Stones Records COC 49101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Chess 9033-60008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Chess 9033-60008First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Chess 9033-60008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | France | Rolling Stones Records COC 49101First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | Rolling Stones Records COC 49 101 / Rolling Stones Records COC 49101First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Mexico | Rolling Stones Records 20031 / Rolling Stones Records 2314 002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Rolling Stones Records COC 49101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Rolling Stones Records COC 49101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Africa | Rolling Stones Records COC 49101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Spain | Rolling Stones Records HRSS 591-02First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Chess CH-60008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Chess CH 60008First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Chess CH-60008First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | France | Chess 515004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA VPL1 6709LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Chess CH-60008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Germany | Chess 6.24723 ASLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Italy | Frog Records BRP 2004LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Frog Records BRP 2004LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Frog Records BRP 2004LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Frog Records BRP 2004LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | UK | Chess CXMP 2008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Argentina | RCA Victor TLP-60006LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1983 | Yugoslavia | Chess 2420082 / PGP RTB 2420082LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Finland | Chess Records 101 BLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | Amiga 8 56 242LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | Italy | Chess DET 208LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | US | Chess CH-9297 / MCA Records CH-9297LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Brazil | Chess 00872 / MCA Records MCA CHESS 00872LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | Brazil | RGE 330.7019LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1990 | Europe | Roots RTS 113017LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
| 1990 | Mexico | Peerless M/S-2487-5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | UK | Chess CHC-9297 / MCA Records CHC 9297LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1991 | Spain | Zafiro 30112689LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Germany | Chess CH-60008 / Speakers Corner Records CH-60008LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Chess CH-60008LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2015 | US | Chess CH 60008 / Geffen Records B00019521-01LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2015 | US | Chess CH 60008 / Geffen RecordsLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited, Numbered |
| 2017 | Italy | ChessLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Europe | Trading Places TDP54069LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | US | Elemental Music 700169 / Chess 700169LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 2023 | Spain | ChessLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Finland | Chess CHESS-LP 101LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Chess 515004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Chess 515004Album, LP | Album, LP |
| ? | US | Chess CH-60008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Chess CH 60008LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
68 vinyl pressings of The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1971 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in UK, US, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Rolling Stones Records COC 49101, released July 26, 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use COC 49101, CH-60008, CH 60008, 9033-60008) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, COC-49101-A1 STERLING RL ROLLING STONES RECORDS and COC-49101-B2 STERLING RL ROLLING STONES RECORDS. 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.
