Vinyl pressings
by Isaac Hayes · 1971
Shaft 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.
42 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 15 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.
ES-0297 (2) (MR) MHC △16211Runout Album I side 1 - variant 1
ES-0300 (2) MJLS (MR) △16212 - X (3)Runout Album I side 2 - variant 1
ES-0298 (2) (MR) MHC △16211-X (T)Runout Album II side 1 - variant 1
ES-0299 (2) MHC (MR) △16212Runout Album II side 2 - variant 1
ES-0297 M JLS SON K-4802Etched Side 1
ES-0300 SON M HC K-4805Etched Side 2
ES-0298 SON M HC K-4803Etched Side 3
ES-0299 SON M HC K-4804Etched Side 4
ES-0297 SON K-4802Album 1 Side One etched
ES-0300 SON MHC K-4805Album 1 Side Two etched
ES-0298 SON MHC K-4803Album II Side One etched
ES-0299 SON MHC K-4804Album II Side Two etched
ES-0297-ENS 1 5002 B1 #3A:
ES-0298 ENS 2 5002 A1 #5 (#4 is scratched out)B:
ES-0299 ENS 3 5002 A2 #1C:
ES-0300-ENS 4 5002 A2 #1D:
ES-0297 SON ℳHCRunout side A [Album 1 Side One], etched
ES-0298 SON ℳHCRunout side B [Album 2 Side One], etched
ES-0299 SON ℳHCRunout side C [Album 2 Side Two], etched
ES-0300 ℳHC SONRunout side D [Album 1 Side Two], etched
ES-0297 SON K-4802Variant 1: Album 1 Side One Runout, etched
ES-0300 MHc ARPVariant 1: Album 1 Side Two Runout, etched (ARP stamped)
ES-0298 SON K-4803Variant 1: Album 11 Side One Runout, etched
ES-0299 MHc K-4804Variant 1: Album 11 Side Two Runout, etched
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 | Australia | Stax 2628 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Australia | Stax 2628 001First yearLP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, White Label · Promo |
| 1971 | Canada | Enterprise ENS-2-5002 / Enterprise ENS 2-5002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Canada | Enterprise ENS-2-5002 / Enterprise ENS 2-5002LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1971 | Canada | Enterprise ENS-2-5002 / Enterprise ENS 2-5002LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1971 | Canada | Enterprise ENS-2-5002 / Enterprise ENS 2-5002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Colombia | Stax 2628 002 / Stax 2325 049/50First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Stax 2628 002 / MGM Records 2628 002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Stax 2628 002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Stax 2628 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Stax 2628 001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Greece | Stax 2325062First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Iran | Hit SHLP - 625LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1971 | Italy | Stax 2628 002 LFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Italy | Stax 2628 002 LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | France | Stax 68.701LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | France | Stax 68.701LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | France | STAX 68.701LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Stax S 56.002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | US | Stax STX 88002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Stax SX2 021LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1989 | UK | Stax SX2 021LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | UK | Stax SX2 021LP, Album, Remastered, Reissue | LP, Album, Remastered, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Stax SX2 021LP, Album, Remastered, Reissue | LP, Album, Remastered, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Germany | ZYX Music ENS 2-5002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2006 | UK & Europe | Stax SX2 021LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | UK & Europe | Enterprise 0888072357754LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2014 | US | Enterprise ENS-2-5002 / Stax ENS2-5002LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | Europe | Enterprise 0888072029248LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2018 | US | Craft Recordings CR00036 / Enterprise CR00036LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2018 | US | Enterprise ENS-2-5002 / Stax ENS2-5002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | US | Craft Recordings CR00036 / Enterprise CR00036LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Italy | Enterprise ENS-2-5002LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 2023 | Italy | Universal Music Group International / EnterpriseLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2026 | Worldwide | Enterprise 00888072745490 / Craft Recordings 00888072745490LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Stax L 70087/8LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Stax 2628 002 / MGM Records 2628 002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Stax SRX 88002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Stax STX 88002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Moving Image Entertainment MIE 002/2 / Enterprise ENS-2-5002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Stax STX 88002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Mozambique | Stax TXD 22031LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | New Zealand | Stax 2628 001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | Stax 2628 001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Stax SX2 021LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| ? | US | Enterprise ENS-2-5002 / Enterprise ENS2-5002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Enterprise ENS-2-5002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Enterprise ENS-2-5002 / Enterprise ENS 2-5002LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
108 vinyl pressings of Shaft are listed here, from 28 countries, released between 1971 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Greece, Israel and more. One of them is Enterprise ENS-2-5002, released July 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ENS-2-5002, ENS2-5002, ENS 2-5002, 2659 007) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ES-0297 (2) (MR) MHC △16211 and ES-0300 (2) MJLS (MR) △16212 - X (3). 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.
