Vinyl pressings
by The Crusaders · 1975
Chain Reaction was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 10 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.
BTSD 6022 A 1B A\ I TML-M SRunout side A, variant 1
BTSD 6022 - B TML-S 1A A\ I SRunout side B, variant 1
BTSD 6022 A 1B 1A A8 I S TML-SRunout side A, variant 2
BTSD 6022 - B TML-S 1A B2 I SRunout side B, variant 2
BTSD 6022A - X (etched) TM - S (stamped)Side A, variant 1
BTSD 6022B - X (etched) TM - S (stamped)Side B, variant 1
BTSD 6022 A-X (etched) TML-S (stamped)Side A, variant 2
BTSD 6022-B-X (etched) TML-M (stamped)Side B, variant 2
BTSD 6022A-1 A7 TML-S TIRunout A etched, TML-S stamped, var 1
BTSD 6022B - 1 TMl - SRunout B etched, TML-S stamped, var 1
BTSD 6022A-1 D7 TML-S T1Runout A etched, D TML-S stamped, var 2
BTSD 6022B - 1 C10 TML - S T1Runout B etched, C TML-S stamped, var 2
TI BTSD 6022 A-2Side A (Etched) Side A
TI BTSD 6022 B-1Side A (Etched) Side B
TML-S(Stamped) Both Sides
P TML-M BTSD 6022A X B 0Runout side A variant 1, etched [P TML-M B 0 stamped]
P BTSD 6022-B TML-S A 0Runout side B variant 1, etched [P TML-S A 0 stamped]
P TML-M BTSD 6022A XRunout side A, variant 2
P BTSD 6022-B TML-SRunout side B, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | Blue Thumb Records BTSD-6022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | ABC Blue Thumb BTSD-6022 / Blue Thumb Records BTSD-6022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | ABC Blue Thumb 9307-6022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | Blue Thumb Records BTY. 28045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | Blue Thumb Records 89 534 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Blue Thumb Records SWX-6233First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | ABC Blue Thumb SWX-6233First yearLP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1975 | Mexico | ABC Records EDI-60209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Singapore | ABC Records BTSD-6022 / ABC Blue Thumb BTSD-6022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | ABC Blue Thumb BTSD-6022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | UK | ABC Records ABCL 5144 / ABC Records BTSD 6022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | UK | ABC Records ABCL 5144 / ABC Records BTSD 6022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | UK | ABC Records ABCL 5144 / ABC Records BTSD 6022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTSD-6022First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1975 | US | ABC Blue Thumb BTSD-6022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37146 / MCA Records BTSD-6022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37146 / MCA Coral MCA-37146LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-1648 / MCA Records MCA-37146LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | ABC Blue Thumb 89 534 XOTLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | ABC Records ABCL 5144 / ABC Records BTSD 6022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | ABC Records ABCL-5144 / ABC Blue Thumb BTSD-6022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Coral MCA -37146LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Coral MCA-37146LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
40 vinyl pressings of Chain Reaction are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1975 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is ABC Blue Thumb BTSD-6022, released July 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BTSD-6022, ABCL 5144, 9307-6022, BTY. 28045) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BTSD 6022 A 1B A\ I TML-M S and BTSD 6022 - B TML-S 1A A\ I S. 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.
