US
1971- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records WS 1921Warner Bros. Records 1921
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo · Terre Haute
- Runout / matrix
S39894Side A print
S39895Side B print
TI WS-1921 39893-1-2Side A runout
TI WS-1921 39894-1-2Side B runout
Vinyl pressings
It Ain't Easy
by Long John Baldry · 1971
33 pressings10 countriesBlues RockFolk RockRock
It Ain't Easy 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.
How to spot a first pressing of It Ain't Easy
17 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 9 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.
US
1971- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records WS 1921
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
WS 1921 39893-1Runout Side 1
WS 1921 39894-1Runout Side 2
(S39893-1)Label Side 1
(S39894-1)Label Side 2
US
1971- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records WS 1921Warner Bros. Records 1921
- Format
- LP, Album · Santa Maria Press
- Runout / matrix
S39893A Side Label
S39894B Side Label
Ƨ \ WS-1921 39893-2 A 1C BHA Side Etch
Ƨ \ 39894-1B WS-1921-B BHB Side Etch
US
1971- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records WS 1921
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
\ WS-1921 39893-2 A 1C ᴮᴴ A5Side A etched
\ 39894-1B WS-1921-B A⁷ ᴮᴴSide B etched
39893-1A WS-1921-A ᴮᴴSide A etched [variant 1]
39894-1B WS-1921-B ᴮᴴSide B etched [variant 1]
US
1971- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records WS 1921Warner Bros. Records 1921
- Format
- LP, Album · Warner Bros. Records recording
- Runout / matrix
T1 WS-1921 39893-1-2A Side Runout variant 1
T1 WS-1921 39894-1-2B Side Runout variant 1
T1 WS-1921 39893-1-1Etched Side A variant 2
T1 WS-1921 39894-1-2Etched Side B variant 2
US
1971- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records WS 1921Warner Bros. Records 1921
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo · Pitman Pressing
- Runout / matrix
P WS-1921 39893-2-A A2Side A runout, variant 1
P WS-1921 39894-1 A12Side B runout, variant 1
P WS-1921 39893-1-A A1Side A runout, variant 2
P WS-1921 39894-1 I A2Side B runout, variant 2
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 33 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1970s20 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Argentina | Music Hall 12968/112968First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | France | Warner Bros. Records 46088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 088First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records K46088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBS 1921 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WBS.1921First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K46088First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921 / Warner Bros. Records 1921First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921 / Warner Bros. Records 1921First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921 / Warner Bros. Records 1921First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921 / Warner Bros. Records 1921First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
Year unknown13 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 1921 / Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records WS 1921LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8134WLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
Tracklist
- A1Intro: Conditional Discharge3:15
- A2Don't Try To Lay No Boogie-Woogie On The King Of Rock And Roll3:26
- A3Black Girl2:50
- A4It Ain't Easy4:52
- A5Morning, Morning2:38
- A6I'm Ready4:15
- B1Let's Burn Down The Cornfield4:12
- B2Mr. Rubin4:00
- B3Rock Me When He's Gone5:01
- B4Flying6:50
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of It Ain't Easy are there?
33 vinyl pressings of It Ain't Easy are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1971 and 1973.
When was It Ain't Easy first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records WS 1921.
How do I tell if my copy of It Ain't Easy is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WS 1921, K46088, 12968/112968, 46088) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S39894 and S39895. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is It Ain't Easy on vinyl worth?
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.
