Vinyl pressings
by Dave Mason · 1973
Dave Mason Is Alive! was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 4 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.
T2 BTS 54 6045-2Runout side A, variant 1
T1 BTS 54 6045-2Runout side B, variant 1
T1 BTS 54 6045-5 ALRunout side A, variant 2
T1 BTS 54 6045-2 ARunout side B, variant 2
BTS 54 6045-1A A5Side A runout, variant 1
BTS 54 6046-1B A5Side B runout, variant 1
BTS 54 6045-1A A5Side A runout, variant 2
BTS 54 6046-1A B2Side B runout, variant 2
BTS 54 6045 1B B 1 1 SA side runout, variant 1
BTS 54 6046 1B A 1 S 1B side runout, variant 1
BTS 54 6045 1B B 2 1 SA side runout, variant 2
BTS 54 6046-1A B 1 S 1B side runout, variant 2
P BTS 54-6045-XSide A, etched exc. P stamped - Variant 1
P BTS 54 6046Side B, etched exc. P stamped - Variant 1
P BTS 54 6045 ASide A, etched exc. P, A stamped - Variant 2
P BTS 54 6046 X A5Side B, etched exc. P, A5 stamped - Variant 2
3SMX 42181 2ASide A runout
2SMX 42182 2ASide B runout
SMX42181Side A label
SMX42182Side B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | Blue Thumb Records BTL 34892 / Blue Thumb Records BTL-34,892First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Blue Thumb Records BTS 54First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Blue Thumb Records BT 10,022 / Blue Thumb Records BT. 10022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 54First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 54First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 54First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Blue Thumb Records BTS 54First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | ABC Blue Thumb BTS 54 / Blue Thumb Records BTS 54LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | ABC Blue Thumb 25 007 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | Japan | ABC Blue Thumb YS-8020-AULP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 1977 | Netherlands | ABC Blue Thumb 25 007 ETLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | MCA Records BTS 54 / MCA Records MCA-713LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | Germany | MCA Coral 0052.713LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | MCA Records BTS 54 / MCA Records BTS-54LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA 713 / MCA Coral MCA-713LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
15 vinyl pressings of Dave Mason Is Alive! are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1973 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, Australia, Canada, France. One of them is Blue Thumb Records BTS 54, released April 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BTS 54, BTL 34892, BT 10,022) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T2 BTS 54 6045-2 and T1 BTS 54 6045-2. 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.
