Vinyl pressings
by Leon Russell · 1971
Leon Russell And The Shelter People 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.
22 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 10 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.
SW-1-8903 F6 #2 ▷━Side A etched, variant 1
SW-2-8903-F6 #2 ━◁Side B etched, variant 1
SW-1-8903-F5 ━◁Side A etched, variant 2
SW-2-8903-F6 ━◁Side B etched, variant 2
SW-1-8903 F6 #2 ✲Side A etched exc ✲ stamped, variant 1
SW-2-8903-F6 #2 ✲Side B etched exc ✲ stamped, variant 1
1-8903-F-1• 3 ✲Side A etched exc 3 ✲ stamped, variant 2
SH̶E̶ -2-8903-F-2•• 1 ✲ 2Side B etched exc 1 ✲ stamped, variant 2
1-8903-F-1•• 2 ✲ 2Side A etched exc 2 ✲ stamped
H̶E̶ -2-8903-F-2• 2 ✲Side B etched exc 1 ✲ stamped
SW 1-8903Side A label
SW 2-8903Side B label
SW-1-8903 - F6 #2 ----◁Side A, variant 1, etched
SW-2-8903 - F6 #3 ----◁Side B, variant 1, etched
SW-1-8903 - F6 #4 ----◁Side A, variant 2, etched
SW-2-8903 - F5 ----◁Side B, variant 2, etched
SW1 8903 F3 #2 0A side etched, '0' stamped
SW2 8903 F3 #2 0B side etched, '0' stamped
SW1 8903 F3 #1 0Side A etched except 0 stamped
SW2 8903 F2 #2 0Side B etched except 0 stamped
SW1 8903 F3 #3 0Side A etched except 0 stamped, Variant 1
SW2 8903 F3 #2 0Side B etched except 0 stamped, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Argentina | Philips 6369100First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Australia | Shelter Records SHE 705 / Shelter Records SHE-705First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | France | Philips 6369 100First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Philips 6369 100First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Italy | Philips 6369 100 LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Shelter Records SHE 705First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-1133First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Shelter Records SW-8903First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | A&M Records AMLS 65003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | A&M Records AMLS 65003First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Shelter Records SW-8903First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Shelter Records SW-8903First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Shelter Records SW-8903First yearLP, Album, 8", Sampler, Compilation | LP, Album, 8", Sampler, Compilation |
| 1971 | US | Shelter Records SW-8903First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Shelter Records SW-8903First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | MCA Coral MCA-683 / MCA Coral SRL-52008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Benelux | Shelter Records 27327 XAT / Shelter Records 27 327 XATLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Shelter Records SW-8903LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Shelter Records RJ-7061LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Scandinavia | Philips 6369 100LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA - 683 / Shelter Recording Company Inc. SRL - 52008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Shelter Records SW-8903LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Shelter Records SW-8903LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Shelter Records SW-8903LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Shelter Records SW-8903LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Shelter Records SW-8903LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Coral MCA - 683 / Shelter Recording Company Inc. SRL - 52008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Coral MCA - 683 / Shelter Recording Company Inc. SRL - 52008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
54 vinyl pressings of Leon Russell And The Shelter People are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1971 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Canada, Argentina and more. One of them is Shelter Records SW-8903, released May 3, 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SW-8903, SW-88903, AMLS 65003, 6369100) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SW-1-8903 F6 #2 ▷━ and SW-2-8903-F6 #2 ━◁. 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.
