Vinyl pressings
by Joe Ely · 1979
Down On The Drag 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.
10 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 6 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-1700-A-SS1 ⧈-G-⧈Side A runout, variant 1
MCA1701B-SS1 ⧈-G-⧈ STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
MCA•1700-A- SS1 ⧈-G-⧈Side A runout, variant 2
MCA 1701 B- SS1 ⧈-G-⧈ STERLING GCSide B runout, variant 2
"A" MCA 1700 ̶̷̸B̶̷̸ SS2 -̶̷̸ ̶̷̸1̶̷̸ ◈-P-◈ STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
MCA 1701 MCA ̶̷̸1̶̷̸7̶̷̸0̶̷̸0̶̷̸ - B - SS2 -̶̷̸ ̶̷̸2̶̷̸ STERLING GC ◈-P-◈Runout side B, variant 1
"A" 1700 B̶ SS2 -̶1̶ ◈-P-◈ STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
MCA 1701 MCA 1̶7̶0̶0̶-B-SS2 -̶2̶ STERLING GC ◈-P-◈Runout side B, variant 2
MCA·1700-A-SS1 ◈-P-◈ 2Runout side A
MCA 1701B-SS1 ◈-P-◈ STERLING GCRunout side B. "1700" corrected to "1701"
"A" MCA 1700 SS2 GC ◈-P-◈ STERLING
MCA 1701 B SS2 GC ◈-P-◈ STERLING
MCG 3532 A-1Side A
MCG 3532 B-2Side B
MCG·3532·A1 ASide A runout
MCG·3532·B1 ASide B runout
MCG.3532ASide A label
MCG.3532BSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | MCA Records MCA 3080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | MCA Records MCA 3080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | MCA Records MCA 3080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | South Africa | MCA Records MCA 698 / MCA Records MCA 3080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | MCA Records MCG 3532 / MCA Records 0C 064-62 467First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | MCA Records MCG 3532 / MCA Records 0C 064-62 467First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | MCA Records MCA 3080First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1979 | US | MCA Records MCA 3080 / MCA Records MCA-3080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | MCA Records MCA 3080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | MCA Records MCA-3080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | MCA Records MCA 3689801LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | US | MCA Nashville B0036898-01LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Scandinavia | MCA Records MCA 3080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
13 vinyl pressings of Down On The Drag are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1979 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is MCA Records MCA 3080.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA 3080, MCA-3080, MCG 3532, MCA 698) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA-1700-A-SS1 ⧈-G-⧈ and MCA1701B-SS1 ⧈-G-⧈ STERLING. 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.
