Vinyl pressings
by James Brown · 1973
The Payback was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 4 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.
PD-2-3007-A-1A STERLING RLSide A runout, variant 1
PD-2-3007-B-1B STERLING RLSide B runout, variant 1
PD-2-3007-C-1B STERLING RLSide C runout, variant 1
PD-2-3007-D-1A STERLING RLSide D runout, variant 1
PD-2-3007-A-1C (MR) △18423(5) STERLINGSide A runout
PD-2-3007-B-1C (MR) △18423-X(4) RL STERLINGSide B runout
PD-2-3007-C-1C (MR) △18424(6) RL STERLINGSide C runout
PD-2-3007-D-1C (MR) △18424-X(1) STERLINGSide D runout
PD-2-3007-A-1C (MR) V △18423(1) STERLINGA runout
PD-2-3007-B-1C (MR) △18423-X(3) STERLINGB runout
PD-2-3007-C-1C (MR) △18424(3) STERLINGC runout
PD-2-3007-D-1C (MR) △18424-X(1) STERLINGD runout
PD-2-3007-A-1A 10-13-73 STERLING RL PRunout side A
PD-2-3007-B-1A-1-11 P STERLING RLRunout side B
PD-2-3007-C-1A-1 STERLING RL PRunout side C
PD-2-3007-D-DJ-1 STERLING PRunout side D
22 PD-2-3007-A-1A 10-13-73 STERLING RLRunout variant #1 side A
22 PD-2-3007-B-1B STERLINGRunout variant #1 side B
22 PD-2-3007-C-1A STERLING RLRunout variant #1 side C
22 PD-2-3007-D-1A STERLING RLRunout variant #1 side D
PD-2-3007-A-1A 10-13-73Side A, etching, variant 1
PD-2-3007-B-1ASide B, etching, variant 1
PD-2-3007-C-1A ②Side C, etching, variant 1
PD-2-3007-D-1ASide D, etching, variant 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | France | Polydor 2675 084First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Polydor 2679 025First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Polydor 2488 160First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Germany | Polydor 2488 160First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Polydor PD 2-3007 / Polydor PD-2-3007LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1973 | South Africa | Polydor 2679 025First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | South Korea | Yegrin STR-19LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1973 | US | Polydor PD 2-3007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Polydor PD 2-3007 / Polydor 2672 015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Polydor PD 2-3007 / Polydor PD-2-3007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Polydor PD 2-3007First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Polydor PD 2-3007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Polydor PD 2-3007 / Polydor 2672 015LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1973 | US | Polydor PD 2-3007 / Polydor PD-2-3007First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | US | Polydor PD-2-3007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Zimbabwe | Trutone Music DPOL 155 / Polydor DPOL 155LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | South Africa | Polydor DGL 935/6LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | UK | Polydor 517 137-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1997 | US | Polydor PD-2-3007 / Polydor 2672 015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Polydor B0021512-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Europe | Strongly Felt SF73005LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 2026 | Europe | Polydor 00602488130158 / Universal Records Inc. 00602488130158LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Polydor B0021512-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2679 025LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK & Europe | Polydor 517 137-1LP, Album, Reissue, Mispress | LP, Album, Reissue, Mispress |
| ? | US | Polydor PD-2-3007LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Polydor PD 2-3007LP, Album | LP, Album |
37 vinyl pressings of The Payback are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1973 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, France, Germany, South Africa. One of them is Polydor PD 2-3007, released December 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PD 2-3007, PD-2-3007, 2675 084, 2679 025) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PD-2-3007-A-1A STERLING RL and PD-2-3007-B-1B STERLING RL. 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.
