Vinyl pressings
by The O'Jays · 1972
Back Stabbers 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.
29 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 12 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.
PhilA. Int'l o AL-31712 ②Ⓐ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA o PSide A runout
PhilA. Int'l o PBL-31712 o ①Ⓑ KDLV MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA A4 T1Side B runout
Phila. Int'l AL-31712 MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA. 2ASide A runout etched, 2A circled
Phila. Int'l BL-31712 KDLJ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA. 1ASide B runout etched, 1A circled
AL 31712Side A label
BL 31712Side B label
T \ 2 Phila. Int'l PAL-31712 4B KDLJ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.Side A runout, variant 1
T \ Phila. Int'l PBL-31712 2B KDLJ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.Side B runout, variant 1
T \ 1 Phila. Int'l PAL-31712 1B KDLJ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.Side A runout, variant 2
T \ Phila. Int'l PBL-31712 2B KDLJ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.Side B runout, variant 2
MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA.Both sides runout stamped
Phila.Int'l AL-31712 1C 0 ASide A runout etched,0 stamped,1C circled-Var.1
Phila.Int'l BL-31712 1C 0 KDLJ B5Side B runout etched,0 stamped,1C circled-Var.1
S I Phila.Int'l AL-31712 1C 0 A26Side A runout etched,0 stamped,1C circled-Var.2
AL-31712-1A Side Etched
7A Side Etched (Encircled)
Mastering By Frankford/Wayne Phila.A Side Stamped
Phila. Int'l BL-31712-1B Side Etched
2 P.I.R. AL-31712-Z-5·· MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA. 1 ✲ CAP-1A side deadwax
2 P.I.R. BL-31712-Z-5·· MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA. 1 ✲ CAP-1A side deadwax
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 | Australia | CBS SBP 234209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Columbia KZ 31712 / Philadelphia International Records KZ 31712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Greece | CBS S 65257 / CBS KZ 31712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Israel | Philadelphia International Records EPC 65257 / CBS EPC 65257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | Epic ECPL-63First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Epic EPC 65257 / Philadelphia International Records KZ 31712First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Netherlands | CBS S 65257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Epic SBPC 474075 / CBS 65257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Epic SBPC 474075 / Epic KZ 31712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Epic SBPC 474075 / Philadelphia International Records SBPC 474075First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | South Africa | Philadelphia International Records STR 20071First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Spain | CBS S 65257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Sweden | Date DAS 2154First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Taiwan | Liming Record LM-2500LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1972 | UK | CBS S 65257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | US | Real Gone Music RGM-0377 / Sony MusicLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2016 | US | Philadelphia International Records RGM 0377 / Real Gone Music RGM 0377LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Philadelphia International Records RGM 0377 / Real Gone Music RGM 0377LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Club edition |
| 2025 | Europe | Strongly Felt SF72002LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia ZX 31712 / Philadelphia International Records ZX 31712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Columbia KZ 31712 / Philadelphia International Records KZ 31712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Philadelphia International Records ZX 31712 / Philadelphia International Records 31712LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Philadelphia International Records KZ 31712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Philadelphia International Records ZX 31712LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Philadelphia International Records KZ 31712 / Philadelphia International Records ZX 31712LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Philadelphia International Records KZ 31712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
46 vinyl pressings of Back Stabbers are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1972 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Philadelphia International Records KZ 31712, released August 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KZ 31712, S 65257, PIR 65932, SBP 234209) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PhilA. Int'l o AL-31712 ②Ⓐ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA o P and PhilA. Int'l o PBL-31712 o ①Ⓑ KDLV MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE PHILA A4 T1. 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.
