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Illmatic by Nas, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Illmatic

by Nas · 1994

36 pressings7 countriesConsciousBoom BapJazzy Hip-HopHardcore Hip-Hop

Illmatic was first pressed on vinyl in 1994. 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 Illmatic

5 pressings came out in 1994, 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.

US

April 19, 1994
Label and catalog number
Columbia C 57684
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

AL-57684-1A 2-1 MASTERDISK TDSide A, runout, etched

BL-57684-1A 1-1Side B, runout, etched

AL 57684Side A, label

BL 57684Side B, label

Full details of this pressing

Europe

April 25, 1994
Label and catalog number
Columbia 475959 1Columbia COL 475959 1
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

01 475959 20 1A1 ARunout side 1, stamped [last A etched]

01 475959 20 1B1 ARunout side 2, stamped [last A etched]

Full details of this pressing

Europe

April 25, 1994
Label and catalog number
Columbia 475959 1Columbia COL 475959 1
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

01 475959 20 1A1 ASide A, stamped/"A" etched, Variant 1

01 475959 20 1B1 ASide B, stamped/"A" etched, Variant 1

01 475959 20 3A1 ASide A, stamped/"A" etched, Variant 2

01 475959 20 2B1 ASide B, stamped/"A" etched, Variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Europe

April 25, 1994
Label and catalog number
Columbia 475959 1Columbia COL 475959 1
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

01 475959 20 1A1 ARunout side A, stamped/"A" etched, Variant 1

01 475959 20 1B1 ARunout side B, stamped/"A" etched, Variant 1

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 36 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1990s5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1994BrazilColumbia 237.076First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1994USColumbia C 57684First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1994EuropeColumbia 475959 1 / Columbia COL 475959 1First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1994EuropeColumbia 475959 1 / Columbia COL 475959 1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1994EuropeColumbia 475959 1 / Columbia COL 475959 1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
2000s4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2004UKSimply Vinyl SVLP 377 / Columbia 475959 1000LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
2004USColumbia C 92328, C 92329LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
2004USColumbia C2 92072 / Sony Urban Music C2 92072LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2006EuropeColumbia 475959 1 / Columbia COL 475959 1LP, Album, Reissue, RepressLP, Album, Reissue, Repress
2010s13 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2012USGet On Down GET 51297 LP / Columbia 88691975251LP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · LimitedLP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited
2012USGet On Down GET 51297 LP / Columbia 88691975251LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
2014EuropeLegacy 88843046901LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl
2014EuropeColumbia 88843046901 / Legacy 88843046901LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2014USColumbia 88843046901 / Legacy 88843046901LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl
2014USNot On LabelLP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing
2014USColumbia 19075992031 / Legacy 19075992031LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl
2014USColumbia 88843046901 / Legacy 88843046901LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2014EuropeColumbia 88843046901 / Legacy 88843046901LP, Album, Reissue, RemasteredLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered
2017EuropeColumbia 475959 1 / Columbia COL 475959 1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
2017USGet On Down GET51297LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl
2018USGet On Down GET 51297 LP / Columbia 88691975251LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl
2019USGet On Down GET 51297 LP / Columbia 88591975251LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl
2020s9 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2020USColumbia GET 51297 LP / Get On Down GET 51297 LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl
2020NetherlandsColumbia COL 475959 1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl
2021EuropeColumbia 475959 1 / Columbia COL 475959 1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
2021EuropeColumbia 19439843111LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl
2022USA & EuropeGet On Down GET 51297 LP / Columbia 88591975251LP, Album, Reissue, RepressLP, Album, Reissue, Repress
2022EuropeColumbia 19658723181LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Colored vinyl
2024USGet On Down GET 56055-7 / Sony Music Commercial Music Group 196588219577", 45 RPM, Album, Stereo, Box Set, Limited Edition · Limited7", 45 RPM, Album, Stereo, Box Set, Limited Edition · Limited
2024JapanSony Records Int'l SIJP 189LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl
2024NetherlandsColumbia COL 475959 1 / Sony Music COL 475959 1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Repress · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl
Year unknown5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?UnknownMaster Cuts MC 6039LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?EuropeColumbia 475959 1 / Columbia COL 475959 1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?EuropeColumbia 475959 1LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?USPhat Classics PHC-1432LP, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?USGet On Down GET 51297 LP / Columbia 88691975251LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo

Tracklist

  1. 40 Side North
  2. A1The Genesis1:45
  3. A2N.Y. State Of Mind4:52
  4. A3Life's A Bitch3:29
  5. A4The World Is Yours4:50
  6. A5Halftime4:21
  7. 41st Side South
  8. B1Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park)4:06
  9. B2One Love5:24
  10. B3One Time 4 Your Mind3:17
  11. B4Represent4:13
  12. B5It Ain't Hard To Tell3:22

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Illmatic are there?

36 vinyl pressings of Illmatic are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1994 and 2024.

When was Illmatic first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1994, in US, Europe, Brazil. One of them is Columbia C 57684, released April 19, 1994.

How do I tell if my copy of Illmatic is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use C 57684, 475959 1, 237.076) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL-57684-1A 2-1 MASTERDISK TD and BL-57684-1A 1-1. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Illmatic 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.

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