Vinyl pressings
by Commodores · 1981
In The Pocket was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 23 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-8955-MIA-15C ZUP#13= BEFA side runout groove, hand etched
M-8955-MIB-15A ZUP#13= BEFB side runout groove, hand etched
M8-955M1AA side label
M8-955M1BB side label
M-8955-MIA-15A ZUP =Side A, etched, variant 1
M-8955-MIB-15A ZUP =Side B, etched, variant 1
M-8955-MIA-15D ZUP -Side A, etched, variant 2
M-8955-MIB-15D ZUP -Side B, etched, variant 2
M-8955-MIA-15A ZUP#12=hand-etched on runout SIDE ONE
M-8955-MIB-15A ZUP#12=hand-etched on runout SIDE TWO
M-8955-MIA-15A ZUP#13= BEFRunout A, variant 1
M-8955-MIB-15A ZUP#13= BEFRunout B, variant 1
M-8955-MIA-15A ZUP#12=Runout A, variant 2
M-8955-MIB-15C ZUP#12=Runout B, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | Motown sup 80172First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Australasia | Motown STML 6207First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Australia | Motown M 8955First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Bolivia | Motown ML-600003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Brazil | Motown 104.8203First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Canada | Motown M 955First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Ecuador | Motown 312-0501First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | France | Motown 542010 / Vogue 542010First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Motown 260·15·021 / Bellaphon 260·15·021First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Motown ZL72260LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1981 | Japan | Motown VIP-6783First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | Motown VIP-6783First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Mexico | Motown MOW●29 / Motown MOW - 29First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Mozambique | Tamla Motown TMC 5423First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | Motown IM-46050First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Colombia | Motown MW 4171LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Panama | Motown M8-955M1LP, Album | LP, Album |
41 vinyl pressings of In The Pocket are listed here, from 27 countries, released between 1981 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Israel, Italy and more. One of them is Motown M8-955M1, released June 22, 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M8-955M1, STML 12156, 3C 064-64469, STML 6207) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M-8955-MIA-15C ZUP#13= BEF and M-8955-MIB-15A ZUP#13= BEF. 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.
