Vinyl pressings
by John Lee Hooker · 1963
The Big Soul Of John Lee Hooker was first pressed on vinyl in 1963. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1963, the album's first year, in 3 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.
63-2957S 2-18-63 Δ5287 A-1 RA AudioMatrixSide A, etched and stamped
63-2958S 2-18-63 A-1 RA Δ5287-X AudioMatrixSide B, etched and stamped
63-2957Side A, label
63-2958Side B, label
63-2957 2-12-63 RA AB AudioMatrixSide A runout
63-2958 AB RA AudioMatrix 2-12-63Side B runout
63-2957Side A label
63-2958Side B label
63-2957S AudioMatrix 2-18-63 5287Side 1
63-2958S AudioMatrix 2-18-63 5287-XSide 2
AudioMatrix MR 63-2957 2-13-63 △5271 A-\Side A runout
AudioMatrix MR 63-2958 2-11-63 △5271X B-\Side B runout
63-2957Side A label
63-2958Side B label
AudioMatrix (MR) 63-2957 2-13-63 △5271 RA A-ISide A runout
AudioMatrix (MR) 63-2958 2-11-63 △5271X A I RASide B runout
63-2957Side A label
63-2958Side B label
63-2957 2-12-63 RA AB AudioMatrixSide A runout
63-2958 AB RA AudioMatrix 2-12-63Side B runout
63-2957Side A label
63-2958Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Canada | Vee Jay Records VJLP 1058First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1963 | Canada | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records SR1058First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | UK | Stateside SL 10053First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records V.J. 1058First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records VJLP 1058First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Vee Jay Records VJLPS 1058 / Vee Jay Records SR1058First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records VJLP1058/SR1058First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records VJLP1058/SR1058First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records VJLP 1058First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records VJLP 1058First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1963 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records LP1058First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue |
| 1969 | UK | Joy Records JOYS 147LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | Joy Records JOYS 147LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records V.J. 1058LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Vinyl Lovers 6785420LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | US | WaxTimeRecords 772380LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Vee Jay Records SR 1058 / Vee Jay Records VJLPS 1058LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Vee Jay Records LP 1058 / Vee Jay Records VJLP1058LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Vee Jay Records VJLP 1058LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Vee Jay Records VJLP 1058LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Vee Jay Records VJLP 1058LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Vee Jay Records VJLP1058LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Vee Jay Records VJLP1058LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Vee Jay Records VJLP 1058LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
25 vinyl pressings of The Big Soul Of John Lee Hooker are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1963 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1963, in US, UK, Canada. One of them is Vee Jay Records LP 1058.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LP 1058, VJLPS 1058, SL 10053, VJLP 1058) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 63-2957S 2-18-63 Δ5287 A-1 RA AudioMatrix and 63-2958S 2-18-63 A-1 RA Δ5287-X AudioMatrix. 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.
