Vinyl pressings
by Melvin Van Peebles · 1971
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song 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.
8 pressings came out in 1971, 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.
T SS-0221 - 2 M HCSide A Variant ‘T’ stamped, the rest etched. ‘M’ with serifs and small ‘HC’
V T SS-0222 - 2 M HCSide B Variant ‘V’ & ‘T’ stamped, the rest etched. ‘M’ with serifs and small ‘HC’
T SS-0221 -1 (etched)Side A Label
T SS-0237 -2 (etched)Side B Label
p SS-0221 M HCA-Side Runout Etching, Variant 1
p SS-0237 M HCB-Side Runout Etching, Variant 1
SS-0221 p M HCA-Side Runout Etching, Variant 2
p SS-0237 M HCB-Side Runout Etching, Variant 2
SS-0221Side A Label
SS-0237Side B Label
SS-0221-1 [stylized]M [smaller] HC T 1Side A etched runout
SS-0237-2 [stylized]M [smaller] HC T 1Side B etched runout
SS-0221Side A label
SS-0237Side B label
T 1 SM-0221 -1 M HCSide A Label, etched, aside from Terre Haute “T”.
T 1 SMl-0238 -1 M HCSide B Label, etched, aside from Terre Haute “T”
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 | Canada | Stax STS-3001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Stax 2325 047First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Stax STS-3001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Stax STS-3001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Stax STS-3001First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Stax STS-3001LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1971 | US | Stax STS-3001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Stax STS-3001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Stax STS-3001First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | France & Benelux | Stax STX 40095LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | UK | Stax STS 3001LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | Stax STS-3001LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Stax SXD 103LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
13 vinyl pressings of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1971 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, Canada, Germany. One of them is Stax STS-3001.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use STS-3001, 2325 047) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T SS-0221 - 2 M HC and V T SS-0222 - 2 M HC. 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.
