Vinyl pressings
by Sly & The Family Stone · 1968
Life was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1968, 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.
XSB136787-1D ISide A Stamped
XSB136788-1C I ASide B Stamped
Variant 1 XSB136787-1B I T C2Side A Stamped [ I T C2 etched]
Variant 1 XSB136788-1B I T D9Side B Stamped [ I T D9 etched]
XSB136787-1B T P C2A-side runout, variant 1
o XSB136788-1E P A6B-side runout, variant 1
d XSB136787-1A I P C 1A-side runout, variant 2
o XSB136788-1A I P C 3B-side runout, variant 2
XSB136787-1B I T ∴4A Side stamped [I T ∴4 etched]
XSB136788-1B I T D2B Side stamped [ I T D2 etched]
XSB 136787A Side label
XSB 136788B Side label
o XSB136787-1D Ƨ1 A1Runout A, stamped [except etched: Ƨ1 A1]
o XSB136788-1C Ƨ 1 A2Runout B, stamped [except etched: Ƨ 1 2]
XSB 136787Label A
XSB 136788Label B
XSB 136787Label A
XSB 136788Label B
o XSB136787-1D
o XSB136788-1E
XSB136787-1D 1Ƨ A5 oRunout A
XSB136788-1C 1Ƨ A2 oRunout B
XSB 136787Label A
XSB 136788Label B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Canada | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | France | Epic BN 8-26397First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Epic XBN S-26379First yearLP | LP |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Epic XBN S-26379First yearLP | LP |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Epic BN 26397 / Epic BN. 26397First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Epic 5-26397First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Jukebox, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Jukebox, Stereo |
| 1968 | Uruguay | CBS 27020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Epic BN 26397First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Epic ELPS 3597LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Taiwan | Tailee TLA-669LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1970 | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-977LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1971 | Canada | Epic BN 26397LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | Italy | Epic BN 26397LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | US | Epic E 30333LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | US | Epic E 30333LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1972 | Japan | Epic ECPL 43LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1972 | Japan | Epic ECPL 43LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | Taiwan | 中聲 CS-J-977LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1973 | US | Epic E 30333LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | US | Epic E 30333LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Epic E 30333LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Spain | Epic EPC 83622LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5145 / Epic LP 5145LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Epic 88843060701JK3LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1429 / Epic MOVLP1429LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5145 / Epic LP 5145LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Epic BN 26397LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26397LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26397LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| ? | US | Epic E 30333LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Epic E 30333LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Epic BN 26397LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
43 vinyl pressings of Life are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1968 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, Canada, France, Netherlands and more. One of them is Epic BN 26397, released July 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BN 26397, 5-26397, BN 8-26397, XBN S-26379) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XSB136787-1D I and XSB136788-1C I 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.
