Vinyl pressings
by Muddy Waters · 1978
I'm Ready was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 8 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 AL⸱34928-1C C 4 STERLINGRunout, side A, etched ["C" and "STERLING" are stamped], variant 1
o T1 BL 34928-1D B 1 STERLINGRunout, side A, etched ["o" "B" and "STERLING" are stamped], variant 1
1T AL 34928-1C O B8 STERLINGRunout, side A, etched ["O" and "STERLING" stamped], variant 2
T1 BL 34928-1D A11 STERLINGRunout, side B, etched ["STERLING" stamped], variant 2
o T1 AL34928-1D A1 STERLINGSide A Runout, variant 1
o T -⃫ 1 BL34928-1C A⃫ 1B STERLINGSide B Runout, variant 1
AL 34928Side A Label
BL 34928Side B Label
P AL 34928-1C STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
P BA̶L 34928-1B A13 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
P AL 34928-1B STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
P BL 34928-1A STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
1S AL34928-1E A3 STERLINGSide A, etched [STERLING, stamped]
1S BL34928-1E A4 STERLINGSide A, etched [STERLING, stamped]
AL 34928Label, side A
BL 34928Label, side B
T AL34928-1C C3 STERLINGSide 1 etched [STERLING stamped]
T BL34928-1D B4 STERLINGSide 2 etched [STERLING stamped]
AL 34928-1B D STERLINGSide A etched, STERLING, D stamped
BxL34928-1B I A STERLINGSide B etched, x=crossed out character, I, STERLING, A stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | CBS SBP 237127First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 82235First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 82235 / Blue Sky AL 94328First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 82235 / Blue Sky AL 94328First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Blue Sky 25AP 888First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Blue Sky JZ 34928First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 237127 / Blue Sky SBP 237127First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Spain | Epic SKY 82235First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Blue Sky SKY 82235 / Blue Sky S SKY 82235First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | Blue Sky S SKY 82235First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Blue Sky JZ 34928First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Blue Sky JZ 34928First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Canada | Columbia PZ 34928 / Blue Sky PZ 34928First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 82235 / Blue Sky AL 34928First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Blue Sky JZ 34928First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK | BGO Records BGOLP108LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | UK | Blue Sky JZ 34928LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Blue Sky MOVLP559 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP559LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | US | Friday Music FRM-34928 / Blue Sky 88843079421LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | US | Friday Music FRM-34928 / Blue Sky 88843079421LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Europe | Blue Sky MOVLP559 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP559LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Epic WPZ 34928 / Blue Sky WPZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Epic PZ 34928 / Blue Sky PZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Blue Sky JZ 34928 / Blue Sky PZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Blue Sky JZ 34928 / Blue Sky PZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 34928LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
36 vinyl pressings of I'm Ready are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1978 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is Blue Sky JZ 34928, released January 20, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use JZ 34928, SKY 82235, S SKY 82235, PZ 34928) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T AL⸱34928-1C C 4 STERLING and o T1 BL 34928-1D B 1 STERLING. 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.
