US
1987- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records 9 25677-1Warner Bros. Records 1-25677
- Format
- LP, Album
Vinyl pressings
The Black Album
by Prince · 1987
76 pressings8 countriesFunkMinneapolis SoundSoulGo-Go
The Black Album was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. 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 The Black Album
4 pressings came out in 1987, 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
1987- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records 1- 25677-DJ
- Format
- 12", 45 RPM, Album, Promo
- Runout / matrix
1-25677 - A - DJ - SH1 B - 29657 - SH1 1 8823 1-1Side A
1-25677 - B - DJ - SH1 B - 29658 - SH1 1 8823 - X 1-1Side B
1-25677 - C - DJ - SH1 B - 29659 - SH1 1 8824 1-1Side C
1-25677 - D - DJ - SH2 B - 29660 - SH2 1 8824 - X 1-2Side D
Canada
1987- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records 92 56771
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
92-56771-1 1A 2 GSide A/Hand Etched
92-56771-2 1B 2HZSide B/Hand Etched
Europe
1987- Label and catalog number
- Warner Bros. Records 925 677-1Warner Bros. Records WX 147
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
R/S Alsdorf 925677-1-A2Side A runout, machine stamped, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 925677-1-BSide B runout, machine stamped, variant 1
R/S Alsdorf 925677-1-ASide A runout, machine stamped, variant 2
R/S Alsdorf 925677-1-BSide B runout, machine stamped, variant 2
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 76 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s40 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 56771First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 925 677-1 / Warner Bros. Records WX 147First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1- 25677-DJFirst year12", 45 RPM, Album, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25677-1 / Warner Bros. Records 1-25677First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-925667LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1987 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-25677LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1987 | France | Erotic City Records NOIR-69LP, Mispress, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Mispress, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1988 | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1988 | Unknown | Rikardo Hammond RDLP 101LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1988 | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) WX 147 / Not On Label (Prince) 925677-1LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial |
| 1988 | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 1988 | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) P.B.A. 26821LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1988 | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1988 | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) WX 147LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
1990s7 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 9362-45793-1LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1994 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 9362-45793-1LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1994 | US | Warner Bros. Records PRO-A-7330LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1994 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-45793LP, Album, Numbered · Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Numbered · Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 1994 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-45793LP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1994 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-45793LP, Album, Numbered · Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered · Numbered |
| 1994 | US | Warner Bros. Records 1-45793LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
2010s4 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Unknown | Warner Bros. Records 125677DJLPLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Unknown | Warner Bros. Records 125677DJLPLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | Unknown | Warner Bros. Records 125677DJLPLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2016 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WX147 / Warner Bros. Records 925 677-1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
Year unknown25 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) BPA0001LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Erotic City Records NOIR-69LP, Album, Mispress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Mispress, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) 9362-45793-3LP, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) WX 147 / Not On Label (Prince) 925677-1LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) 9362-45793-3LP, Album, Remastered, Unofficial Release, LP, Compilation, Remastered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Remastered, Unofficial Release, LP, Compilation, Remastered, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince)LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Big Bomb RecordsLP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Prince) 9362-45793-3LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 925 677-1 / Warner Bros. Records WX 147LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Europe | Not On Label (Prince) WX 147 / Not On Label (Prince) 925 677-1LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
Tracklist
- A1Le Grind6:42
- A2Cindy C.6:14
- A3Dead On It4:35
- A4When 2 R In Love4:12
- B1Bob George5:36
- B2Superfunkycalifragisexy5:55
- B32 Nigs United 4 West Compton7:00
- B4Rockhard In A Funky Place4:30
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Black Album are there?
76 vinyl pressings of The Black Album are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1987 and 2016.
When was The Black Album first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in US, Canada, Europe. One of them is Warner Bros. Records 9 25677-1.
How do I tell if my copy of The Black Album is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 25677-1, 1- 25677-DJ, 92 56771, 925 677-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Black Album 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.
