Vinyl pressings
by Ramsey Lewis · 1970
The Best Of Ramsey Lewis was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 4 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.
LPS-839 Side 1 (fancy 'f') XCSV 142535-1B STM-4044-5 #18274A side, etched, Variant 1
LPS 839 Side 2 18275 STM 4045-8 (fancy 'f') XCSV 142536 T 1 AB side, etched, Variant 1
STM-4044-8 1T LPS-839 A Side 1 (fancy 'f') XCVS 142535-1A side, etched, Variant 2
STM-4045-2 #18275 LPS-839 C1 Side 2 (fancy 'f') XCSV142536-1A 1 T X XCSV14252361AB side, etched, Variant 2
X5RS-5399A side
X5RS-5400B side
LPS-839 Side1 18274 (MR) △14345 ③ STM-4044-7 [unfamiliar circle-logo]A Side runout
LPS-839 Side 2 18275 (MR) △14345-X ③ STM-4045-7 [unfamiliar circle-logo]B Side runout
18274A Side Label
18275B Side Label
XCSV142535-1A T STM-4044-1 #18274 LPS-839 Side 1A side runout, variant 1
XCSV 142536-1 LPS839 Side-2 18275 STM 4045-8B side runout, variant 1
XCSV 142535-1B STM-4044-5 #18274 LPS-839 Side 1A side runout, variant 2
STM-4045-5 LPS-839 Side 2 18275 XCSV 142536-1BB side runout, variant 2
T1 STM-4044-9 #18274-S LPS-839 Side 1 SBRunout side A
T1 STM 4045-9 #18275-S LPS-839 SB Side 2Runout side B
XCSV-142535 #18274Label side A
XCSV-142536 #18275Label side B
X5RS-5399-1 STM-4044-1 #18274 LPS-839 Side 1A side
X5RS-5400-1 STM-4045-1 #18275 LPS-839 Side 2 GRB side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Canada | Cadet LPS 839First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Canada | Cadet LPS 839First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | Italy | Chess HJC 170First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | South Africa | Cadet CDC 1025First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | US | Cadet LPS 839First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | US | Cadet LPS-839 DJFirst yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Cadet LPS 839First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | US | Cadet LPS-839 / Cadet LPS 839First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | US | Cadet LPS-839 / Cadet LPS 839First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Cadet LPS-839 / Cadet LPS 839First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Chess HJC 170LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | UK | Chess 6310 114LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | US | Cadet LPS-839 / Cadet LPS 839LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1972 | US | Cadet LPS-839 / Cadet LPS 839LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1973 | Italy | Chess HJC 170 / Cadet HJC 170LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Canada | Cadet CA 839LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Chess CHLS 268LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Cadet 9035-839LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | France | Cadet 515022 / Vogue 515022LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Israel | CBS 65396LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Netherlands | Chess HJC 170LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | New Zealand | His Master's Voice CHILS 1015LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Cadet LPS 839 / Cadet CA 839LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Cadet LPS 839LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
24 vinyl pressings of The Best Of Ramsey Lewis are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1970 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, Canada, Italy, South Africa. One of them is Cadet LPS 839.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LPS 839, LPS-839, LPS-839 DJ, HJC 170) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, LPS-839 Side 1 (fancy 'f') XCSV 142535-1B STM-4044-5 #18274 and LPS 839 Side 2 18275 STM 4045-8 (fancy 'f') XCSV 142536 T 1 A. 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.
