Vinyl pressings
by Joni Mitchell · 1979
Mingus 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.
34 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 15 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-505 A SP 1 - 1Variant 1 - side A runout
5E-505 B SP 1 - 1Variant 1 - side B runout
5E-505 A SP 1 - 2Variant 2 - side A runout
5E-505 B SP 1 - 2Variant 2 - side B runout
5E-505-A4-SP 1 - 1 [SRC logo]Side A runout, variant 1
5E-505-B6 SP 1 - 1 [SRC logo]Side B runout, variant 1
5E-505 A SP 1-2Side A runout, variant 2
5E-505 B-6 SP 1-1 [SRC logo]Side B runout, variant 2
5E-505 A CTH - 2 B P TISide A runout
5E-505 B CTH - 1 P TISide B runout
5E-505-A SPSide A label matrix
5E-505-B SPSide B label matrix
5E-505 A2 PRC-1-1Runout side A, etched, variant 1
5E-505 B2 PRC-11-1Runout side B, etched, variant 1
5E-505 A-2 PRC-1-11Runout side A, etched, variant 2
5E-505 B-2 PRC-1-1Runout side B, etched, variant 2
5E-505 A1 PRCW-1-3 PRCWRunout side A, variant 1
5E-505 B1 PRCW-1-4 PRCWRunout side B, variant 1
5E-505 A-3 PRCW-1 PRCWRunout side A, variant 2
5E-505 B-1 PRCW-1-4 PRCWRunout side B, variant 2
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 | Argentina | WEA 89120First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Argentina | Asylum Records 208622First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Elektra 5E-505First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | Asylum Records 5E-505 / Asylum Records 5E 505First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Australia | Asylum Records 5E-505First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Asylum Records AS 53091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Brazil | Asylum Records 52.002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Asylum Records X5E-505First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Asylum Records X5E-505First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Asylum Records AS 53 091 (5E-505)First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 091First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Asylum Records W 53091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Asylum Records AS 53091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Asylum Records W 53091First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Asylum Records 53091LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Asylum Records AS 53091 / Polygram AS 53091LP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | Suzy AS 53091 / Asylum Records AS 53091LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | Asylum Records ASY 53091LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Asylum Records 5E-505-ALP, Album, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Remastered, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UK, Europe & US | Asylum Records R1 505 / Asylum Records 0603497826704LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2024 | UK, Europe & US | Rhino Records RCV1 505LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Asylum Records 5E-505-BLP, Promo, White Label, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, White Label, Stereo · Promo |
| ? | Canada | Asylum Records X5E-505LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53091 / Asylum Records K 53 091LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53091 / Asylum Records K 53 091LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53091LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53091 / Asylum Records K 53 091LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 091 / Elektra K 53 091LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 091 / Asylum Records K 53 091LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Asylum Records AS 53 091 / Asylum Records K 53 091LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 091 / Asylum Records 5E-505LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 091LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 091LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Elektra/Asylum Records AS 53 091LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 091LP, Repress | LP, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Asylum Records AS 53 091 / Asylum Records 5E-505LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
65 vinyl pressings of Mingus are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1979 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Asylum Records 5E-505, released June 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 5E-505, K 53091, AS 53 091, AS 53091) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 5E-505 A SP 1 - 1 and 5E-505 B SP 1 - 1. 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.
