Vinyl pressings
by Parliament · 1975
Chocolate City was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 6 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.
NBLP-7014-A-1 1-1 Az PRCSide A Runout (Etched)
NBLP-7014-B-1-1-1 Az PRCSide B Runout (Etched)
NBLP-7014-A-2 1-1 Az PRCSide A Runout (Etched)
NBLP-7014-B-2-1-1 Az PRCSide B Runout (Etched)
7014-1-A-1 AzRunout Side A, Variant 1
7014-2-B-RE2 AzRunout Side B, Variant 1
NBLP-7014-A AzRunout Side A, Variant 2
NBLP-7014-B Re1 AzRunout Side B, Variant 2
NBLP 7014-A 1A wcw AZ A 2 5 X2Side 1 (Variant 2)
NBLP 7014-B 1A wcw AZ SX A 2 5Side 2 (Variant 2)
NBLP 7014-ALabel A (variant 1)
NBLP 7014-BLabel B (variant 1)
NBLP-7014-A wcw AZ S-4581Side A runout
NBLP-7014-B wcw AZ S-4582Side B runout
7014-1Side A label
7014-2Side B label
NBLP-7014-A-1Label A
NBLP-7014-B-Rc 1Label B
NBLP-7014-A-1 AZSide A Runout
NBLP-7014-B RE 2 AZSide B Runout
NBLP-7014-B RE 1 AZSide B Runout variant 2. "RE" is barely visible
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | France | Casablanca CBLA 71012First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Casablanca SWX-6203First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Japan | Casablanca SWX-6203First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | New Zealand | Casablanca DRS 1016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | UK | Casablanca CAL 2012First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Brazil | Casablanca CBLP 9100 / Casablanca CBLP - 9100LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Japan | Casablanca 25S-116LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Japan | Casablanca 25S-116LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1988 | Japan | Casablanca PLP-7013 / P-Vine Special PLP-7013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | Mercury NBLP 7014 / UMe 00602577409196LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | US | Mercury B0029703-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | USA & Europe | Mercury B0029704-01 / UMe B0029704-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Casablanca NBLP 7014LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 5311778LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7014LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
26 vinyl pressings of Chocolate City are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1975 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Casablanca NBLP 7014, released March 12, 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NBLP 7014, CAL 2012, CBLA 71012, SWX-6203) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, NBLP-7014-A-1 1-1 Az PRC and NBLP-7014-B-1-1-1 Az PRC. 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.
