Vinyl pressings
by Buddy Miles · 1971
A Message To The People was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 11 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.
SRM-1-608-A-1-1-1 S D PRA-Side Runout Etching
SRM-1-608-B-1-1-11 S PR DB-Side Runout Etching
SR 61334-A-M1A-Side Stamp crossed out
SR 61334-B-M1B-Side Stamp crossed out
SR 61334-A-M2 SRM-1-608-A HSide A runout stamped & etched, variant 1
SR 61334-B-M2 SRM-1-608-B HSide B runout stamped & etched, variant 1
S̶R̶ ̶6̶1̶3̶3̶4̶-̶A̶-̶M̶2̶ SRM-1-608-A HSide A runout stamped & etched, variant 2
S̶R̶ ̶6̶1̶3̶3̶4̶-̶B̶-̶M̶2̶ SRM-1-608-B HSide A runout stamped & etched, variant 2
SR 61334-A- M3Runout side A, stamped, crossed out, variant 1
SR 61334-B- M3Runout side B, stamped, crossed out, variant 1
SRM-1-608A-M3-A1D R A1DRunout side A, etched, variant 1
SRM-1-608-B-M3-B2A R B2ARunout side B, etched, variant 1
SR 61334-A-M1Side A runout stamped
SR 61334-B-M1Side B runout stamped
SRM1-608Side A label
SRM1-608SideB label
SRM-1-608A- M1 IT B2A side
SRM-1-608B- M2 IT AB side
SRM-1-608-A-11-1 S PR DA-Side Runout Etching
SRM-1-608-B-1-1 D S PRB-Side Runout Etching
SR 61334-A-M1A-Side Stamp crossed out
SR 61334-B-M1B-Side Stamp crossed out
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | Mercury 6338048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Mercury SRM 1-608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Mercury 6398 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Mercury 6338 048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Germany | Mercury 6338 048First yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Japan | Mercury SFX-7366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | Mercury SFX-7366First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1971 | Mexico | Mercury 19006 / Mercury 6338 048First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Mexico | Mercury 6338 048First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Mercury 6338048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Scandinavia | Mercury 6338 048 / Mercury 6338.048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Korea | Academy Record Company KMG 1016First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | UK | Mercury 6338 048 / Mercury 6338048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Mercury SRM 1-608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Mercury SRM 1-608First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Mercury 6463 033LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Colombia | Mercury 6338048LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Dominican Republic | Mercury 6338048LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury SRM 1-608LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
26 vinyl pressings of A Message To The People are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1971 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Mercury SRM 1-608.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SRM 1-608, SRM1-608, 6338 048, 6338048) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SRM-1-608-A-1-1-1 S D PR and SRM-1-608-B-1-1-11 S PR D. 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.
