Vinyl pressings
by Barry White · 1976
Let The Music Play was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
47 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 33 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.
M-502-AS SHA side deadwax - etched
M-502-BS XB side deadwax - etched
M-502-ASA side label
M-502-BSB side label
M-502-AS SH 1Runout A etched; B2 stamped
M-502-BS X 2Runout B etched; A stamped
M-502-ASMatrix A on label
M-502-BSMatrix B on label
/ S M-502-AS-1A SH ΛSide A runout (Variant 1)
/ S M-502-BS-1A A 4Side B runout (Variant 1)
/ S M-502-AS-1A SH ΛSide A runout (Variant 2)
/ S M-502-BS-1B BSide B runout (Variant 2)
T1 M-502-AS-2 CRunout A
T1 M-502-BS-2 A 3Runout B
M-502-ASLabel A
M-502-BSLabel B
BT 502 A-1 ◇X 1 XSide A runout, etched
BT 502 B-1 ◇X 1 AXSide B runout, etched
✝BT 502-A✝Side A label
✝BT 502-B✝Side B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | 20th Century Records L 35805 / 20th Century Records T-502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Austria | 20th Century Records 6370 241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Brazil | 20th Century Records T-502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Brazil | 20th Century Records 6349 503First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | 20th Century Records 9209-502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Chile | Philips 6370241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Ecuador | Philips LP-30096First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | France | 20th Century Records STEC 208 / Disc'Az STEC 208First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | 20th Century Records 6370 241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | 20th Century Records 6370 241First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Germany | 20th Century Records 6370 241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Ghana | Philips 6370241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Greece | Philips 6370 241First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Ireland | 20th Century Records BT 502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Israel | 20th Century Records T-502 / 20th Century Records DELUXE 30994First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Brazil | Atlas 812 268-1 6LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Europe | 20th Century Records 0602567410577 / Universal Music Enterprises 0602567410577LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
50 vinyl pressings of Let The Music Play are listed here, from 34 countries, released between 1976 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Argentina, Colombia and more. One of them is 20th Century Records T-502, released January 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use T-502, BT 502, SUP 674, 6370241) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M-502-AS SH and M-502-BS X. 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.
