Vinyl pressings
by Taj Mahal · 1968
The Natch'l Blues 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.
10 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 5 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.
o XSM137367-1A P F 4Side A runout, variant 1
o XSM137368-1D P A 3Side B runout, variant 1
o XSM137367-1A I P A 4Side A runout, variant 2
o XSM137368-1A I P A 3Side B runout, variant 2
o XSM137367-1B Ƨ 1 A11Runout A
o XSM137368-1B 1 Ƨ A7Runout B
XSM 137367Label A
XSM 137368Label B
o XSM137367-1C \ T A3Runout A stamped / T etched, Variant 1
o XSM137368-1C \ T A6Runout B stamped / T etched, Variant 1
o XSM137367-1C \ T A1Runout A stamped / T etched, Variant 2
o XSM137368-1C \ T A1Runout B stamped / T etched, Variant 2
S8 63397 A1 3 AStamped Side A
S8 63397 B1 2 AStamped Side B
63397 ASide A label
63397 BSide B label
S8 63397 A1 3 DRunout side A
S8 63397 B1 11 ARunout side B
8 63397 ALabel side A
8-63397 BLabel side B
XSM137367-1ASide A, stamped
XSM137368-1ASide B, stamped
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 | Columbia CS 9698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Canada | Columbia CS 9698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Canada | Columbia CS 9698First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Germany | CBS S 63 397First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 473596First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | UK | Direction S 58-63397 / Direction 8-63397First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Direction S 8-63397 / CBS CS 9698First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9698First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9698First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Columbia CS 9698First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP 50120LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | South Africa | Date DAS 2016LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | Direction 8-63397LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | Australia | CBS SBP 233649LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | Columbia PC 9698 / Columbia 9698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Edsel Records ED 231LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Edsel Records ED 231LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | UK | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| 2013 | US | Columbia 88883700461 / Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP755 / Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue · Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue · Numbered |
| 2013 | Europe | Columbia CS 9698 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP755LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2013 | US | Columbia CS 9698 / Columbia 88883700461LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 2017 | Italy | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2017 | Italy | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP755 / Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP-233649LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WCS 9698 / Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 9698 / Columbia 9698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 9698 / Columbia CS 9698LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
41 vinyl pressings of The Natch'l Blues are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1968 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Columbia CS 9698, released December 23, 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CS 9698, S 58-63397, S 8-63397, S 63 397) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, o XSM137367-1A P F 4 and o XSM137368-1D P A 3. 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.
