Vinyl pressings
by J.J. Cale · 1979
5 was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
32 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 17 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.
MCA 1828 CRS-1 XSY 153373-3J 回-G-回Runout A
MCA 1829 CRS-1 XSY 153374-3J 回-G-回Runout B
MCA 1828Label A
MCA 1829Label B
MCA1828 CRS-3 XSY153313-3L ◈-P-◈ IIIRunout A side, variant 1
MCA-1829 CRS-5 ◈-P-◈ IRunout B side, variant 1
MCA1828 CRS-3 XSY153373-3L ◈-P-◈ ̶I̶I̶I̶I̶Runout A side, variant 2
MCA-1829 CRS-2 XSY153374-3K ◈-P-◈ IIRunout B side, variant 2
MCA 1828 CRS-4 XSY 153373-3ORunout side A, Etched
MCA 1829 CRS-4 XSY 153374-3PRunout side B, Etched
700 6302209A..Side One Runout Etched
700 6302209B...Side Two Runout Etched
J̶J̶ ̶5̶ ̶A̶R̶E̶-̶3̶ ̶X̶S̶Y̶1̶5̶3̶3̶7̶3̶-̶3̶M̶ ISA 5018 A-4U RDRunout side A
J̶J̶ ̶5̶ ̶B̶ ̶R̶E̶-̶2̶ ̶X̶S̶Y̶1̶5̶3̶3̶7̶4̶-̶3̶A̶ ISA 5018 B-3U 2LRunout side B
ISA 5018-ALabel A
ISA 5018-BLabel B
XSY153373-3D SMX52157 5 SMX54481 8C JJ5A RE-2Side A
XSY153374-3E [strikethrough]SMX52158[/strikethrough] 2 SMX54482 8C JJ5-B RE-2Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Shelter Recording Company Inc. L 36995First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Shelter Records L 36995First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Shelter Recording Company Inc. 200 389First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Shelter Records 200 389 / Shelter Records 200 389-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Shelter Recording Company Inc. SR-3163 / MCA Records SR-3163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Shelter Recording Company Inc. SR-3163 / MCA Records SR-3163First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Eurodisc 913 280 / Shelter Records 200 389First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Shelter Records 200 389First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Shelter Records 200389First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Shelter Records 200 389 / Shelter Records 200 389-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Not On Label 200 389LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Germany | Shelter Records 200 389 / Shelter Records 200 389-320LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1979 | Greece | Epic EPC 83994First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Epic EPC 83994First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Israel | Mercury 6302209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Italy | Shelter Records SHL/18008LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | Shelter Records 200.389-ILP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | Shelter Records SHL/18008LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1981 | Italy | Shelter Records SHL/18008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Europe | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | France | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Greece | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 1982 | Italy | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Italy | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Netherlands | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Netherlands | Mercury 6302 209LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Greece | Mercury 6302209 / Mercury 6302 209LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | UK | Mercury PRICE 44LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | Mercury 810 313-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1992 | South Korea | Mercury 810 313-1 / Polygram Limited RP 3008LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Shelter Records 200 389 / Shelter Records 200 389-320LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Shelter Records 200 389 / Shelter Records 200 389-320LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 826 754-1LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Spain | Mercury 63 02 209LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury 422-810 313-1-M-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Mercury 810-313-1 M-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
61 vinyl pressings of 5 are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1979 and 1992.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is Shelter Records SR-3163.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SR-3163, ISA 5018, L 36995, 200 389) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA 1828 CRS-1 XSY 153373-3J 回-G-回 and MCA 1829 CRS-1 XSY 153374-3J 回-G-回. 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.
