Vinyl pressings
by Public Enemy · 1988
It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
16 pressings came out in 1988, 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.
AL-44303-1C MASTERDISK - DMM G1Runout side A (Silver), variant 1
BL 44303 1A G1Runout side B (Black), variant 1
AL-44303 C1 G4 MASTERDISK DMM F4Runout side A (Silver), variant 2
BL-44303- -C1 G4 MASTERDISK DMM D12Runout side B (Black), variant 2
BFW-44303-A C1 G4 B4 MASTERDISK DMM B4Variant 1, side A
BFW-44303-B-C1 G2 MASTERDISK DMM B4Variant 1,side B
BFW-4̶4̶3̶0̶3̶-̶A̶ 44303-A C1 G2 MASTERDISK DMM A14Variant 2, side A
BFW-44303-B-C1 G3 MASTERDISK DMM F2Variant 2, side B
AL-44303-1C MASTERDISK-DMM G2 A2Variant 1; Side A runout - etched
BL-44303-1C MASTERDISK-DMM G2 A6Variant 1; Side B runout - etched
AL-44303-1C MASTERDISK-DMM G1 B10Variant 2; Side A runout - etched
BL 44303 1A D G1 A4Variant 2; Side B runout - etched
BFW 44303 - A CI G4 MASTERDISK DMM A15scratched on runout groove Side 1, variant 1
BFW 44303 - B - CI G3 MASTERDISK DMM F26scratched on runout groove Side 2, variant 1
BFW 44303 - A CI G2 MASTERDISK DMM A19scratched on runout groove Side 1, variant 2
BFW 44303 - B - CI G4 MASTERDISK DMM C12scratched on runout groove Side 2, variant 2
BFW 44303 - A CI G4 MASTERDISK DMM A11A-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
BFW 44303 - B - CI G3 MASTERDISK DMM F18B-Side Runout Etching, variant 1
B̶F̶W̶-̶4̶4̶3̶0̶3̶-̶A̶ - AL-44303 - -̶A̶ C1 G4 MASTERDISK DMM E2A-Side Runout Etching, variant 2
BL B̶F̶W̶- 44303 - -̶B̶ C1 G2 MASTERDISK DMM B24B-Side Runout Etching, variant 2
B̶F̶W̶-̶4̶4̶3̶0̶3̶-̶A̶ AL-44303-A̶ C1 G4 MASTERDISK DMM F4A-Side Runout Etching
BL-B̶F̶W̶- 44303 - -̶B̶ -C1 G4 MASTERDISK DMM D12B-Side Runout Etching
AL 44303A-Side (Side Silver) label
BL 44303A-Side (Side Black) label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australia | Def Jam Recordings 462415 1 / CBS 462415 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Brazil | Epic 177.180/1-462415First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings DEF 462415 1 / CBS DEF 462415 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings DEF 462415 1 / CBS DEF 462415 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | CBS DEF 462415 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Spain | Def Jam Recordings DEF 462415 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | UK & Europe | Def Jam Recordings 462415 1 / CBS 462415 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | UK & Europe | Def Jam Recordings 462415 1First yearLP, Album, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, White Label, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Def Jam Recordings C 44303 / Def Jam Recordings FC 44303First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Def Jam Recordings BFW 44303First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1988 | US | Def Jam Recordings BFW 44303 / Def Jam Recordings FC 44303First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Def Jam Recordings BFW 44303 / Columbia FC 44303First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Def Jam Recordings FC 44303 / Columbia C 44303LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Def Jam Recordings BFW 44303 / Columbia C 44303First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Def Jam Recordings FC 44303 / Def Jam Recordings C 44303First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 527 358-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2000 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 214LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 2000 | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 214LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo |
| 2005 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 9827880LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2007 | UK | Def Jam Recordings SVLP5273583LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 0600753468210LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0019394-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2013 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0034237-01 / UMe B0034237-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | US | Island Def Jam Music Group B0019394-01 / UMe B0019394-01LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2014 | US | Island Def Jam Music Group B0019394-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2014 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0019394-01LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 2019 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 0600753468210LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 0600753468210LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | US | Def Jam Recordings B0034237-01 / UMe B0034237-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 00602455723864 / UMe 00602455723864LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2023 | US | Def Jam Recordings 80037975-01LP, Album, LP, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, LP, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| 2023 | USA & Canada | Def Jam Recordings B0037973-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2023 | USA & Canada | Def Jam Recordings 00602455723871 / UMe 00602455723871LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Def Jam Recordings 00602455723871 / UMe 00602455723871LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Europe | Def Jam Recordings 0600753468210LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Def Jam Recordings DEF 462415 1 / Columbia DEF 462415 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Def Jam Recordings DEF 462415 1 / CBS DEF 462415 1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Def Jam Recordings DEF 462415 1 / Def Jam Recordings BFW 44303LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
40 vinyl pressings of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1988 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, Canada, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Def Jam Recordings FC 44303, released April 1988.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FC 44303, BFW 44303, C 44303, BFC 44303) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL-44303-1C MASTERDISK - DMM G1 and BL 44303 1A G1. 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.
