US
1973- Label and catalog number
- Stax STS-3015
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo · Sonic Pressing
- Runout / matrix
~CRM~ 666 STXS-0548-4 SS-0499 -L.NIX- SONRunout A
STXS-0549-4 SS-0500 -L. NIX- SONRunout B
SS-0499Label A
SS-0500Label B
Vinyl pressings
Be What You Are
by The Staple Singers · 1973
19 pressings10 countriesSoulGospelFunk / Soul
Be What You Are was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of Be What You Are
14 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 8 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.
US
1973- Label and catalog number
- Stax STS-3015
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo · Monarch Pressing
- Runout / matrix
STXS-0548-5 SS-0499 -REPL. -L.NIX- [MR logo] △18021 (1)Runout A, variant 1
STXS-0549-1 SS-0500 [MR logo] -L.NIX- △18021-X (3)Runout B, variant 1
STXS-0548-5 SS-0499 -REPL. -L.NIX- [MR logo] △18021 (4)Runout A, variant 2
STXS-0549-1 SS-0500 [MR logo] -L.NIX- △18021-X (4)Runout B, variant 2
US
1973- Label and catalog number
- Stax STS-3015
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
STS 3015 A S/W TVC ARunout side A, etched
STS 3015 B S/W TVC ARunout side B, etched
SS-0499Side A, label
SS-0500Side B, label
US
September 1973- Label and catalog number
- Stax SQS 3015
- Format
- LP, Album, Quadraphonic · Monarch Pressing
- Runout / matrix
QAL 3015SQS 1C (MR) Δ18591(2)Runout Side A (Matrix and (MR) Stamped, Else Etched)
Q BS3015SQS1A (MR) Δ18591-X(3)Runout Side B (Matrix and (MR) Stamped, Else Etched)
SQ-0499Matrix Side A, On Label
SQ-0500Matrix Side B, On Label
US
September 1973- Label and catalog number
- Stax SQS 3015Stax SQS-3015
- Format
- LP, Album, Quadraphonic · Sonic Pressing
- Runout / matrix
Q AL 3015 - SQS- 1E SONRunout Side A, Stamped (SON Etched)
Q BL 3015SQ-S -1C SONRunout Side B, Stamped (SON Etched)
SS-0499Matrix Side A, On Label
SS-0500Matrix Side B, On Label
US
1973- Label and catalog number
- Stax STS-3015
- Format
- LP, Album, Promo
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 19 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1970s16 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Canada | Stax STS-3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Stax 2369 027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Stax 2325 103First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Stax 2325 103First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Jamaica | Stax STS-3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | Stax TXL. 22024First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Korea | Stax SEL 200 043First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | UK | Stax 2325-103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Stax STS-3015First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Stax STS-3015First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | US | Stax STS-3015First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Stax STS-3015First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | US | Stax SQS 3015First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1973 | US | Stax SQS 3015 / Stax SQS-3015First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| 1974 | Spain | Stax 23 25 103LP, Album | LP, Album |
1990s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | US | Stax MPS-8553LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
Year unknown2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Stax STX 88010LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Mozambique | Stax TXL 22.024LP, Album | LP, Album |
Tracklist
- A1Be What You Are5:01
- A2If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)4:27
- Love Comes In All Colors / Tellin' Lies
- A5Touch A Hand, Make A Friend4:02
- A6Drown Yourself4:39
- B1I Ain't Raisin' No Sand6:32
- B2Grandma's Hands2:41
- B3Bridges Instead Of Walls4:03
- B4I'm On Your Side3:57
- B5That's What Friends Are For4:12
- B6Heaven3:35
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Be What You Are are there?
19 vinyl pressings of Be What You Are are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1973 and 1990.
When was Be What You Are first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Stax STS-3015.
How do I tell if my copy of Be What You Are is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use STS-3015, SQS 3015, 2325-103, 2369 027) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ~CRM~ 666 STXS-0548-4 SS-0499 -L.NIX- SON and STXS-0549-4 SS-0500 -L. NIX- SON. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Be What You Are on vinyl worth?
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.
