Vinyl pressings
by Carole King · 1971
Music 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.
21 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 13 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.
p ODE SP77025-P4Side A runout, variant 1
p ODE SP 77026-P5Side B runout, variant 1
p ODE SP77025-P2Side A runout, variant 2
p ODE SP 77026-P6Side B runout, variant 2
T1 ODE SP77025-T2Side A runout, var. 1
T 2 ODE SP77026-T3Side B runout, var. 1
T1 ODE SP77025-T4Side A runout, var. 2
T2 ODE SP77026-T2Side B runout, var. 2
ODE SP 77025-S4Side A runout, var. 1
ODE SP 77026-S1Side B runout, var. 1
ODE SP 77025-S2Side A runout, var. 2
ODE SP 77026-S2Side B runout, var. 2
ODE SP77025-M2 △16576 (1)Side A Runout (Variant 1)
ODE SP77026-M2 △16576-X (6)Side B Runout (Variant 1)
ODE SP77025-M2 MR(Monarch Record stamp in circle) △16576 (3)Side A Runout (Variant 2)
ODE SP77026-M2 MR(Monarch Record stamp in circle) △16576-X (6)Side B Runout (Variant 2)
ODE SP77025-M2 △16576 (11)Side A Runout
ODE SP77026-M2 △16576-X (12)Side B Runout
SP-77025Side A Label
SP-77026Side B Label
SP-77025Matrix Side 1
SP-77026Matrix Side 2
0 P ODE SP-77025-P2Side 1 variant
P ODE SP-77026-P2Side 2 variant
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 | A&M Records SODL-934,435 / Ode Records SODL-934,435First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Canada | Ode Records SP77013 / Ode Records SP-77013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Canada | Ode Records SP 77013 / Ode Records SP77013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Ecuador | A&M Records 820004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Israel | A&M Records SP 77013First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Japan | Seiko SSLP-3315First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Ode Records 58575First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Africa | Ode Records AMLH 677013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Korea | Ode Records SP-77026 / Ode Records GP-257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | South Korea | Academy Record Company of Seoul Korea HD 45LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1971 | Spain | Ode Records HDAS 371-68 / A&M Records HDAS 371-68First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Taiwan | 先鋒 PRC-5216LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1971 | UK | A&M Records AMLH 67013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Ode Records SP-77013 / Ode Records SP77013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | US | Melody Recordings, Inc. SS-6002LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Spain | Epic EPC 32006LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Spain | Epic EPC 32066 / Epic EPC 32066 (PR)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-352 / Ode Records 88697609071LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2011 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-352LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Right On Records P146LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Epic ELPS 3845 / Ode Records PE 34949LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Colombia | A&M Records CI-74LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Colombia | A&M Records CI-74LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 32066 / Epic 32066LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 82319LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 32066 / Epic 32066LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | A&M Records AMLH 67013 / A&M Records AM 201LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Guatemala | A&M Records SP-77013LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Israel | Epic EPC 32066LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Japan | Epic 20-3P-103LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Malaysia | Rex Record NEW-12-336LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Malaysia | SAS YCY-2034LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | New Zealand | Epic ELPS 3845 / Ode Records ELPS 3845LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Epic EPC 82319LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
78 vinyl pressings of Music are listed here, from 32 countries, released between 1971 and 2011.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Japan, Singapore and more. One of them is Ode Records SP-77013, released December 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SP-77013, SP77013, AMLH 67013, AML-130) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, p ODE SP77025-P4 and p ODE SP 77026-P5. 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.
