Vinyl pressings
by The J.B.'s · 1972
Food For Thought 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.
14 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 7 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.
PE-5601-A-1A STERLING RL IAMRunout side A etched, STERLING IAM stamped
PE-5601-B-1ARunout side B etched
PE 5601 ALabel side A
PE 5601 BLabel side B
PE-5601-A-1C STERLING RL △17058 (1) (MR)Runout side A
PE-5601-B-1C △17058-X (1)Runout side B
PE-5601-A-1C MR [in circle] △17058(1) STERLING RLRunout side A
PE-5601-B-1C MR [in circle] △17058-X (1) STERLINGRunout side B
PE-5601-A-1A STERLING RL IAMRunout side A etched, STERLING IAM stamped
PE-5601-B-1ARunout side B etched
PE 5601 ALabel side A
PE 5601 BLabel side B
PE-5601-A-1ARunout A
PE-5601-B-1ARunout B
PE-5601-A-1C Ʌ MR △17058 (1) RL STERLINGRunout side A
PE-5601-B-1C Ʌ MR △17058-X (1) STERLINGRunout side B
(PE-5601-A)Label side A
(PE-5601-B)Label side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Unknown | Polydor 2391 034First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | People PE 5601First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Polydor 2391 034First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Polydor 2391 034First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Kenya | Polydor 2391 034First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Spain | Polydor 2391034First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | UK | Mojo 2918 004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | People PE 5601 / People PE-5601First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | US | People PE 5601 / People PE-5601First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | US | People PE 5601 / People PE-5601First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | France | Polydor 2391 034First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | Turkey | Polydor 2391 034LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Japan | P-Vine Records PLP-7014 / Polydor G25P-00013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Get On Down GET 54068-LP / People GET 54068-LPLP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2014 | US | Get On Down GET 54068-LP / People GET 54068-LPLP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Remastered, 7", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Reissue, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Remastered, 7", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Reissue, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2016 | US | Get On Down GET54068 / People GET54068LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | Polydor MP 2414LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| ? | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| ? | US | People PE 5601 / People 2391 034LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | People PE 5601LP | LP |
28 vinyl pressings of Food For Thought are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1972 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, France, Canada and more. One of them is People PE 5601, released June 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PE 5601, 2391 034, 2918 004, 2391034) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PE-5601-A-1A STERLING RL IAM and PE-5601-B-1A. 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.
