Vinyl pressings
by Bill Withers · 1975
Making Music was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1975, 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.
PAL-33704-1D (Artisan logo)Side 1 etched, logo stamped, variant 1
PBL-33704-1H (Artisan logo)Side 2 etched, logo stamped, variant 1
PAL-33704-1A (Artisan logo)Side 1 etched, logo stamped, variant 2
PBL-33704-1A (Artisan logo)Side 2 etched, logo stamped, variant 2
T1 PAL-33704-1F 0Runout, Etched, Side A
0 T1 PBL-33704-1FRunout, Etched, Side B
[Artisan Logo]Runout, Stamped, Sides A & B
AL 33704Label, Side A
Ƨ1 PAL-33704-1B o [Artisan logo] A4Runout side A, variant 1
Ƨ1 PBL-33704-1B o [Artisan logo] A1Runout side B, variant 1
Ƨ1 PAL-33704-1A [Artisan logo] A5Runout side A, variant 2
Ƨ1 PBL-33704-1B [Artisan logo] A3Runout side B, variant 2
P PAL-33704-1C I V [also has logo of Artisan Sound Recorders]Side A etched, P, I & V stamped, Variant 1
P PBL-33704-1H I F [also has logo of Artisan Sound Recorders]Side B etched, P, I & F stamped, Variant 1
PAL-33704-1D [Artisan Logo] 1A PSide A Runout - Variant 2
PBL-33704-1H [Artisan Logo] A PSide B Runout - Variant 2
AL 33704Label, Side A
BL 33704Label, Side B
P PAL-33704-1D [Artisan logo] ASide A runout
P PBL-33704-1G [Artisan logo] BSide B runout
AL 33704Side A label
BL 33704Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | CBS SBP 234722 PC 33704First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | Columbia KC 33704First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPO 113First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPO 113First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Netherlands | CBS CBS 69183First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | UK | CBS CBS 69183First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Columbia PC 33704First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Columbia PC 33704First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Columbia PC 33704First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | US | Columbia PC 33704LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1975 | US | Columbia PC 33704First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Columbia PC 33704First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Columbia PC 33704First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Venezuela | CBS CS-10.217First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1869 / Columbia MOVLP1869LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1869 / Columbia MOVLP1869LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
16 vinyl pressings of Making Music are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1975 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia PC 33704.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PC 33704, CBS 69183, SBP 234722 PC 33704, KC 33704) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PAL-33704-1D (Artisan logo) and PBL-33704-1H (Artisan logo). 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.
