Vinyl pressings
by Neil Diamond · 1970
Tap Root Manuscript was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1970, 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.
US 1184 T4 2Runout A etched, variant 1
US 1185 T4 4Runout B etched, variant 1
US 1184 T1 2Runout A etched, variant 2
US 1185 T4 4Runout B etched, variant 2
US 1184 T2 2Side A Variant 1 - Etched
US 1185 T1 2Side B Variant 1 - Etched
US 1184 T3 4Side A Variant 2 - Etched
US 1185 T3 1Side B Variant 2 - Etched
US1184 E2 T1Runout side A stamped, T1 etched, variant 1
US1185 E2 T2Runout side B stamped, T2 etched, variant 1
US 1184 T2 2 I̶I̶I̶I̶ I̶I̶I̶I̶Runout side A etched, variant 3
US 1185 T3 2 IIIIRunout side B etched, variant 3
US 1184 T11 △15330-XSide A etched
US 1185 T6 △15330-1XSide B etched
US 1184Side A label
US 1185Side B label
US 1184 HSide A Variant 1 - Stamped
US 1185 HSide B Variant 1 - Stamped
US 1184Side A - Label
US 1185Side B - Label
US-1184-T12 (MR) ▲15330 (2X)Side A Runout, variant 1
US-1184-T6 [circled 'MR'] △15330 (2)Side A Runout, variant 2
US-1185-T6 [circled 'MR'] △15330-X (1)Side B Runout, variant 2
US 1184Side A 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 3974First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 3974First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 3974First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Australia | MCA Records MAP/S 3974 / MCA Records MAPS 3974First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | UNI Records 73092First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Germany | UNI Records 6369-606 / UNI Records 6369 606First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | MCA Records MCA-5048First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | MCA Records MCA-5048First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | New Zealand | MCA Records MAP/S 3974First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Scandinavia | UNI Records 6369.606 / UNI Records MAPS 3974First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | South Africa | MCA Records SMCA 539First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | South Africa | MCA Records SMCA 539 / Gallo SMCA 539First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | UNI Records UNLS117LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1970 | US | UNI Records 73092First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | UNI Records SKAO 93501 / UNI Records 93501LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-37196LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA 2013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37196LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-2013 / MCA Records MCA 2013LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37196LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | MCA Records MCA-37196 / MCA Records MCA-1671LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Spain | MCA Records H-205.811LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | MCA Records MCAM-5031LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 3974LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 3974LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records 2013-1LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 3974LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Brazil | MCA Records MAP/S-3974LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records S 201 375 / MCA Records MAPS 3974LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 201 375-320 / MCA Records MAPS 3974LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | MCA Records MCMP 31016 / MCA Records MCA-2013LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | MCA Records 5C062.94998 / MCA Records MAPS 3974LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Philippines | MCA Records MCA 5271-9LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCL 1707LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCF 2509 / MCA Records MAPS 3974LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | UNI Records UNLS 117 / UNI Records US. 1185LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Records UNI 73092LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
92 vinyl pressings of Tap Root Manuscript are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1970 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, Australia, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is UNI Records 73092.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 73092, MAPS 3974, MAP/S 3974, 6369-606) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, US 1184 T4 2 and US 1185 T4 4. 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.
