Vinyl pressings
by James Brown · 1974
Papa Don't Take No Mess was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1974, 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.
Ƨ PD-14255-A-S-1 7-24-74 STERLING RLA-Side Runout Etching
PD-14255-BS-1 7-24-74 37093B-Side Runout Etching
PD 14255-A-SA-Side Label
PD 14255-B-SB-Side Label
PD-14255-AS-2+-1-1 PR D STERLING RLA-Side Runout
PD-14255-BS-+-1-1 PR DB-Side Runout
PD-14255-AS-2-1-11 PR [STERLING] RLA
PD-14255-BS-2-1-11 D PRB
PD-14255-AS-3 2 MR ∆ 95383 [STERLING] RLSide A, Variant 1
PD-14255-BS-3 1 MR ∆ 95383-XSide B, Variant 1
PD-14255-AS-3 3 MR [STERLING] ∆ 95383Side A, Variant 2
PD-14255-BS-3 2 MR ∆ 95383-XSide B, Variant 2
PD⋅14255⋅AS⋅1 7-24-76 37096 STERLING RLSide A etched, Sterling stamped
PD-14255-A̸S̸-BS-1 7-24-76Side B etched
PD 14255-A-SCenter label side A
PD 14255-B-SCenter label side B
PD-14255-AM-1-XX 7-25-74A-Side Runout Etching (Variant 1)
PD-14255-AS-1-XX 7-25-74 [STERLING] (ᴤ)B-Side Runout Etching (Variant 1)
38026 PD-14255-AM-1-X 7-25-74A-Side Runout Etching (Variant 2)
38023 Ƨ PD-14255-AS-1-X 7-25-74 STERLINGB-Side Runout Etching (Variant 2)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Austria | Polydor 2066 504First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1974 | Belgium | Polydor 2066 504First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Belgium | Polydor 2066 504First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Canada | Polydor PD 14255First year7" | 7" |
| 1974 | France | Polydor 2066 504First year7" | 7" |
| 1974 | Germany | Polydor 2066 504First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1974 | Italy | Polydor 2066 504First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1974 | Jamaica | Polydor PD 14255First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1974 | Japan | Polydor DP 1948First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Polydor 2066 504First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1974 | US | Polydor PD 14255First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Polydor PD 14255First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Styrene, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1974 | US | Polydor PD 14255First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1974 | US | Polydor PD 14255First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1974 | US | Polydor PD 14255First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | US | Collectables COL 44277", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Polydor 2066 5047" | 7" |
| ? | Philippines | Polydor PRO-34047", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
21 vinyl pressings of Papa Don't Take No Mess are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1974 and 1992.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, Austria, Belgium, Canada and more. One of them is Polydor PD 14255.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PD 14255, 2066 504, DP 1948, 3-1 28) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Ƨ PD-14255-A-S-1 7-24-74 STERLING RL and PD-14255-BS-1 7-24-74 37093. 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.
