Vinyl pressings
by Muddy Waters · 1979
Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live 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.
23 pressings came out in 1979, 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.
STERLINGSide A/B: Printed (stamped)
AL-35712 A⃫L⃫-⃫3⃫5⃫6⃫3⃫6⃫ -1A V PSide A variant 1: etched
BL-35712-1A B⃫L⃫-⃫3⃫5⃫6⃫3⃫6⃫-⃫2⃫A⃫ PSide B variant 1: etched
A⃫L⃫-⃫3⃫5⃫6⃫3⃫6⃫ AL-35712-1F A 6 [STERLING] 5Side A variant 2: etched
̷A̷L̷-̷3̷5̷6̷3̷6̷-̷1̷F̷ AL-35712-1F A7 1SRunout Side A [Etched]
̷B̷L̷-̷3̷5̷6̷3̷6̷-̷2̷E̷ BL-35712-1E B2 1SRunout Side B [Etched]
STERLINGRunout Both Sides [Stamped]
o T₁ ̶A̶L̶ ̶3̶5̶6̶3̶6̶-̶1̶C̶ AL-35712-1C A STERLINGSide A runout, etched ["o" "A" & "STERLING" are stamped]
P o BL-35712-1B 1 ⛤STERLINGSide B runout, etched ["o" "1" & "STERLING" are stamped]
25 A̷L̷3̷5̷6̷3̷6̷–̷I̷F̷ AL–35712–IF SX A STERLINGSide A runout (variant 2)
P o BL-35712–1B 1 [five-pointed star] STERLINGSide B runout (variant 2)
P AL-35712-1B ̶A̶L̶ ̶3̶5̶6̶3̶6̶-̶1̶B STERLINGSide A runout
P BL-35712-1C STERLINGSide B runout
AL 35712Label side A
BL 35712Label side B
̷A̷L̷-̷3̷5̷6̷3̷6̷-̷1̷F̷ AL-35712-1F A 2SRunout Side A [Etched]
P BL-35712-1B B1Runout Side B [Etched]
STERLINGRunout Both Sides [Stamped]
AL-35712-1D T1 STERLING 0Runout side A, variant 1, etched, STERLING 0, stamped
BL-35712-1C T1 STERLING 0Runout side B, variant 1, etched, STERLING 0, stamped
A̶L̶ ̶3̶5̶6̶3̶6̶-̶1̶C̶ 0 AL-35712-1C B STERLING T1Runout side A, variant 2
B̶L̶ ̶3̶5̶6̶3̶6̶-̶2̶C̶ STERLING 0 BL-35712-1C D2 T1Runout 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 | Brazil | Epic 144354First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 83422First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | Blue Sky SKY 83422First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Italy | Epic EPC 83422First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Blue Sky 25AP 1347 (BS)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | New Zealand | Epic ELPS 3971 / Blue Sky ELPS 3971First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Portugal | Blue Sky SKY 83422First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Spain | Epic SKY 83422First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Blue Sky SKY 83422First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Blue Sky SKY 83422First yearLP, White Label | LP, White Label |
| 1979 | UK | Blue Sky SKY 83422First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Blue Sky JZ 35712First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | US | Blue Sky PZ 35712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Blue Sky JZ 35712First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | US | Blue Sky JZ 35712First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | Amiga 8 56 128LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK | BGO Records BGOLP109LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | US | Friday Music FRM-35712 / Blue Sky 88843079441LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1236LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Friday Music FRM-85712 / Blue Sky FRM-85712LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Epic ELPS 3971 / Blue Sky JZ 35712LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Epic ELPS 3971 / Blue Sky JZ 35712LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Brazil | CBS 188.102/1-467464 / CBS 188.102LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Epic 144354 / Epic 144.354LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Blue Sky WPZ 35712 / Epic PZ 35712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | Amiga 8 56 128LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 35712LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 35712 / Blue Sky JZ 35712LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 35712LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Blue Sky PZ 35712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
39 vinyl pressings of Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1979 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Canada, Brazil and more. One of them is Blue Sky JZ 35712, released February 2, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use JZ 35712, PZ 35712, SKY 83422, 144354) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, STERLING and AL-35712 A⃫L⃫-⃫3⃫5⃫6⃫3⃫6⃫ -1A V P. 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.
