Vinyl pressings
by Donald Byrd & 125th Street, N.Y.C. · 1981
Love Byrd 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.
15 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 10 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.
5E-531-A2-SP Masterfonics [SRC logo] 1-1Side A runout - Variant 1
5E-531-B-SP [SRC logo] 1-1SN1- MasterfonicsSide B runout - Variant 1
[SRC logo] 5E-531-A2-SP 1-1SM21 MasterfonicsSide A runout - Variant 2
5E-531-B-SP [SRC logo] 1-1SN1- MasterfonicsSide B runout - Variant 2
5E-531-A4-AR Masterfonics B-15761-A4-1 JPRunout A
5E-531-B2-AR Masterfonics JP B-15762-B2-1Runout B
5E-531-ALabel A
5E-531-BLabel B
SE-531-A2-SP 1-1 Masterfonics (Speciality Identifier)Runout A
SE-531-B-SP (Speciality Identifier) 1-1SM2-1 MasterfonicsRunout B
5E-531-ALabel A
5E-531-BLabel B
K+52301+A W18 .STRAWBERRY.Runout side A
K+52301+B W15 .STRAWBERRY.Runout side B
K 52301 A*Label side A
K 52301 B*Label side B
R / S Alsdorf 52301 A2 STRAWBERRY (G)Runout side A
R / S Alsdorf 52301 B STRAWBERRY (G)Runout side B
ELK 52301-ALabel side A
ELK 52301-BLabel side B
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 | Europe | Elektra ELK K 52 301 / Elektra K 52 301First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | Elektra ELK K 52 301 / Elektra ELK 52 301First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Elektra ELK K 52 301 / Elektra ELK 52 301First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Elektra ELK 52 301First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Elektra P-11112 / Elektra 5E-531First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | Elektra P-11112First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Mexico | Elektra LWE-6070First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Elektra ELK52301First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | Netherlands | Elektra ELK52301First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | UK | Elektra K 52301First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Elektra 5E-531First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Elektra 5E-531First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Elektra 5E-531First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Elektra 5E-531First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Elektra 5E-531LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
16 vinyl pressings of Love Byrd are listed here, from 10 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Europe, France and more. One of them is Elektra 5E-531.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 5E-531, K 52301, ELK K 52 301, ELK 52 301) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 5E-531-A2-SP Masterfonics [SRC logo] 1-1 and 5E-531-B-SP [SRC logo] 1-1SN1- Masterfonics. 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.
