Vinyl pressings
by Crystal Gayle · 1977
We Must Believe In Magic was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 14 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.
UALA-771-G-1 RFS/MC 33Side A runout, variant 1
UALA-771-G-2 RFS/MC 33Side B runout, variant 1
UALA-771-G-1 M-2 RFS/MC 33Side A runout, variant 2
UALA-771-G-2 RFS/MC 77Side B runout, variant 2
T1 UALA-771-1-6 RFS/MCSide A Etched
T2 UALA-771-2-4 RFS/MCSide B Etched
UALA-771-G-1-1A RFS/MC C2 2SRunout Side A, variant 1
UALA-771-G-2-1A RFS/MC C1 XS 2SRunout Side B, variant 1
UALA-771-1(²) RFS/MC XX 7Runout Side A, variant 2
UALA-771-G-2 RFS/MC S2Runout Side B, variant 2
TI UALA-771-G-1 -2 A[Stamped]Side A, Etched
T2 UALA-771-2 - 3 RFS/MC D[Stamped] 3Side B, Etched
UALA-771-G-1 RFS/MC 77runout side 1 etched
UALA-771-G-2 RFS/MC 33runout side 2 etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | United Artists Records L 36351First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Brazil | United Artists Records UALP-12189First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA771-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA771-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA771-GFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | France | United Artists Records UALAF 771First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | United Artists Records UAS 30 108 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | United Artists Records GP-536First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | United Artists Records GP-536First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Netherlands | United Artists Records 5C 062-60314First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | New Zealand | United Artists Records L 36351First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Portugal | United Artists Records LP-S-13-43First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Singapore | United Artists Records UA-LA771-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | South Africa | United Artists Records UAG 30108First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | United Artists Records UAG 30108First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-043LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited |
| 1980 | Australia | United Artists Records UAC-5004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-043LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Remastered · Limited |
| 1981 | Canada | Liberty LN-10005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Liberty LN-10005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Liberty GO 2016LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | United Artists Records L 36351 / United Artists Records L-36,351LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA771-GLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Ireland | United Artists Records UAG 30108LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Israel | United Artists Records UALA 771LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Taiwan | New Jen Sheng JS-5225LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
46 vinyl pressings of We Must Believe In Magic are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1977 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is United Artists Records UA-LA771-G, released June 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UA-LA771-G, UAG 30108, L 36351, UALP-12189) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UALA-771-G-1 RFS/MC 33 and UALA-771-G-2 RFS/MC 33. 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.
