Vinyl pressings
by Parliament · 1975
Mothership Connection was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1975, 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.
T2 NBLP-7022-1-1 AZ [flower] ARunout side A, variant 1
T1 NBLP-7022-2-1 AZ [two flying birds] DRunout side B, variant 1
G7 T1 NBLP-7022-1-1 AZ [flower]Runout side A, variant 2
T1 NBLP-7022-2-1 AZ [two flying birds]Runout side B, variant 2
1 5x5 NBLP-7022-AX-4-CSM AZ(Variant 1) Side 1 runout, etched
1 5 NBLP-7022-2 B-1A AZ ❀[flower symbol](Variant 1) Side 2 runout, etched
\ S NBLP-7022-AS-1C AZ E23(Variant 2) Side 1 runout, etched
| S NBLP-7022-2 B-1A AZ ❀[flower symbol] B9(Variant 2) Side 2 runout, etched
P1 NBLP-7022-A4 CP AZSide A, runout, variant 1
NBLP-7022-2 AZSide B, runout, variant 1
P NBLP-7022-1 AZ [flower] Λ 2Side A, runout, variant 2
P NBLP-7022-2 AZ Λ 3Side B, runout, variant 2
NBLP-7022-1 AS-1C AZ [flower] GRunout side A, etched
NBLP-7022-2 B-1ARunout side B, etched
P Ƨ S XS NBLP-7022-AS-1C AZ 1ASide A etched exc. P 1, stamped
P NBLP-7022-2 P AZ CSide b etched exc. P C, stamped
NBLP 7022-A kmc K AZRunout side A
NBLP 7022-B kmc K AZRunout side B
7022-ILabel side A
7022-IILabel side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | Casablanca NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Chile | Casablanca LP CAS 8005First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | El Salvador | Casablanca NBLP 7022 / Boni Discos NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | Casablanca CBLA 71013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Philippines | Casablanca NBLP-7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Taiwan | First Record FL-2750LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Venezuela | Casablanca LP-7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | Casablanca 1C 062-97 643First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | New Zealand | Casablanca NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Japan | Casablanca 25S-117LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Casablanca 422-824 502-1 M-1 / Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Casablanca 422-824 502-1 M-1 / Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Casablanca 422-824 502-1 M-1 / Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2007 | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Canada | Casablanca B0022994-01 / Republic Records B0022994-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | US | Casablanca B0022994-01 / Republic Records B0022994-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2015 | US | Casablanca B0022994-01 / Republic Records B0022994-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | US | Casablanca B0022994-01 / Republic Records B0022994-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | US | Casablanca B0022994-01 / Republic Records B0022994-01LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | Europe | BGP Records HIQLP 122LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2024 | US | UMe 602458671070 / Casablanca 602458671070LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Italy | CasablancaLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL2-592 / Casablanca MFSL2-59212", 45 RPM, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Casablanca NB 7007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Casablanca NB 7007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 203LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Simply Vinyl SVLP 203LP, Album, Reissue, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Reissue, Promo · Promo |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Casablanca 422-824 502-1 M-1 / Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7022LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Casablanca B0022994-01 / Republic Records B0022994-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
63 vinyl pressings of Mothership Connection are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1975 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and more. One of them is Casablanca NBLP 7022, released December 15, 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NBLP 7022, 1C 062-97 643, LP CAS 8005, CBLA 71013) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T2 NBLP-7022-1-1 AZ [flower] A and T1 NBLP-7022-2-1 AZ [two flying birds] D. 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.
