US
September 1961- Label and catalog number
- Mercury SR 60627
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
SR 60627-A-MS1Side 1, stamped
SR 60627-B-MS1Side 2, stamped
Vinyl pressings
Pre-Bird
by Charles Mingus · 1961
41 pressings10 countriesPost BopJazz
Pre-Bird was first pressed on vinyl in 1961. 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 Pre-Bird
4 pressings came out in 1961, the album's first year. 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
September 1961- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MG 20627
- Format
- LP, Album, Mono
- Runout / matrix
MG 20627A MS1
MG 20627B MS1
US
September 1961- Label and catalog number
- Mercury SR 60627
- Format
- LP, Album, Promo, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
SR 60627-A-MS1 FSide 1
SR 60627-B-MS1 FSide 2
US
1961- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MG-20627Mercury MG 20627
- Format
- LP, Album, Promo, Mono · High Fidelity - Laminated Cover - For Broadcast Only - Not For Sale
- Runout / matrix
MG 20627A MS1 FSide 1, stamped, F etched
MG 20627B MS1 FFSide 2, stamped, FF etched together
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 41 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1960s12 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | US | Mercury MG-20627 / Mercury MG 20627First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1961 | US | Mercury SR 60627First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | Mercury MG 20627First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Mercury SR 60627First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1964 | Netherlands | Mercury 125 113 MCLLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | UK | Mercury SLML4009 / Mercury SLML.4009LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1965 | UK | Mercury LML.4009 / Mercury LML4009LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Limelight LM 82015LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Limelight LS 86015LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1965 | US | Limelight LS 86015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Limelight LM 82015LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1969 | US | Limelight LS 86015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
1970s11 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | UK | Mercury International SMWL21056 / Mercury International SMWL.21056LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Mercury SMWL21056LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1973 | Spain | Mercury 63 38 281LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Mercury MG 20627 / Mercury MG-20627LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1974 | Italy | Fontana 6430 078LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | TRIP TLP-5513LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1975 | Brazil | Mercury 6338906LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | AMIGA 8 55 496LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | AMIGA 8 55 496LP, Album, Promo, White Label, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, White Label, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | Japan | Mercury SFX-10545LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Japan | Mercury BT-5309LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
1980s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Japan | Limelight EXPR-1015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Japan | Limelight EVER-1015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Limelight LS 86015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
2010s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Spain | WaxTime 771909LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
2020s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | Now Or Never Recordings NON23001LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Mercury B003736801 / Verve Records B003736801LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Mercury B0037368-01 / Verve Records B0037368-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
Year unknown11 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | AMIGA 8 55 496LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Mercury SMX-7011 / Limelight LS-86015LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Mercury SFX-7278LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Mercury MG 20627 / Mercury IMPF 11004LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6336 321LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6336 321LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6336 321LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6336 321LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6336 321 / Limelight Records LS-86015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 6336 321LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Limelight LS 86015LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
Tracklist
- A1Take The "A" Train3:34
- A2Prayer For Passive Resistance3:49
- A3Eclipse3:45
- A4Mingus Fingus No. 23:22
- A5Weird Nightmare3:35
- B1Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me3:33
- B2Bemoanable Lady4:22
- B3Half-Mast Inhibition8:12
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Pre-Bird are there?
41 vinyl pressings of Pre-Bird are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1961 and 2023.
When was Pre-Bird first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US. One of them is Mercury SR 60627, released September 1961.
How do I tell if my copy of Pre-Bird is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SR 60627, MG 20627, MG-20627) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SR 60627-A-MS1 and SR 60627-B-MS1. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Pre-Bird 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.
