Vinyl pressings
by The Crusaders · 1972
Crusaders 1 was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1972, 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.
T1 BTS-6001 5973-2 [Artisan logo] ΛSide A runout
BTS-6001 T1 5974-2 [Artisan logo] ΛSide B runout
BTS-6001 T1 5975-2 [Artisan logo]Side C runout
BTS-6001 T1 5976-2 [Artisan logo] ΛSide D runout
BTS-6001 5973 [Artisan logo]A side runout etched [except Artisan logo]
BTS-6001 5974 [Artisan logo]B side runout etched [except Artisan logo]
T BTS-6001 5975-1 [Artisan logo]C side runout etched [except Artisan logo]
BTS-6001 5976 [Artisan logo]D side runout etched [except Artisan logo]
TI BTS-6001 5973-1 [Artisan logo] D 3Side A runout
BTS-6001 TI 5974-2 [Artisan logo] Λ 14Side B runout
BTS-6001 T I 5975-2 [Artisan logo] CSide C runout
BTS-6001 TI 5976-2 [Artisan logo] D 14Side D runout
S 1 BTS-6001 5973-Re 1 1B B2 [Artisan logo]Side A runout, variant 1
S 1 BTS-6001 5974-Re 1 1A [Artisan logo]Side B runout, variant 1
S 1 BTS-6001 5975-1C RE-1 B2 [Artisan logo]Side C runout, variant 1
Ƨ BTS-6001 5976-Re-1 1B B3 [Artisan logo]Side D runout, variant 1
TI BTS-6001 5973-1 [Artisan logo]A side runout etched [except Artisan logo]
BTS-6001 TI 5974-1 [Artisan logo] CB side runout etched [except Artisan logo]
TI BTS-6001 5975-1 [Artisan logo] A3C side runout etched [except Artisan logo]
BTS-6001 5976 [Artisan logo]D side runout etched [except Artisan logo]
S 1 BTS-6001 5973-Re 1 1ARunout A etched
S 1 BTS-6001 5974-1B A3Runout B etched
1 BTS-6001 5975-1ARunout C etched
1 BTS-6001 5976-Re1 1BRunout D etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Canada | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001-2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | France | Blue Thumb Records BT 10 001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Japan | Blue Thumb Records GW-213~4 / Blue Thumb Records GW-213First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | South Africa | Blue Thumb Records BTSJ 6001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Blue Thumb Records ILPS-9218 / Blue Thumb Records ILPS 9218First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Blue Thumb Records ILPS 9218LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1972 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001 / Chisa BTS 6001First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Brazil | RGE 3040034 / Blue Thumb Records 3040034LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Blue Thumb Records SJET-9543~4 / Blue Thumb Records SJET-9543LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Rhodesia | Blue Thumb Records ABCD 0084LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA2-6014LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records BTS 6001/2 / MCA Records MCA2-6014LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA2-6014 / Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | ABC Blue Thumb 86 630 ITLP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Blue Thumb Records 86 630 ITLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | ABC Blue Thumb 86 630 ITLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Blue Thumb Records SJET-9543~4LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Mexico | Blue Thumb Records GX 01-606LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | ABC Records ABCD 609LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | ABC Records ABCD 609LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | ABC Records ABCD 609LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | ABC Blue Thumb BTS 6001LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | ABC Blue Thumb BTS 6001LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA2-6014LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | ABC Blue Thumb BTS 6001LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001 / Blue Thumb Records SQBO-94399LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | US | ABC Blue Thumb BTS 6001LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
41 vinyl pressings of Crusaders 1 are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1972 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Blue Thumb Records BTS 6001.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BTS 6001, ILPS-9218, BTS 6001-2, BT 10 001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 BTS-6001 5973-2 [Artisan logo] Λ and BTS-6001 T1 5974-2 [Artisan logo] Λ. 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.
