Vinyl pressings
by Rare Earth · 1973
Ma was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 20 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.
R546L-C5RS-7582-1 03B C5RS-7582-1-03B HRunout Side A
R546L-C5RS-7583-2 03A C5RS-7582-1-03A HRunout Side B
C5RS-7582-1Label Side A
C5RS-7583-2Label Side B
R546L-C5RS-7582-1 13A TVL ARunout side A
R546L-C5RS-7583-2-13A TVL ARunout side B
C5RS-7582-1Label side A
C5RS-7583-2Label side B
R546L-C5RS-7582-1 13A TVL ASide A runout
R546L-C5RS-7582-2 13B TVL ASide B runout
C5RS-7583-1Side A label
C5RS-7583-2Side B label
R546L-C5RS-7582-1 01BRunout Side A
R546L-C5RS-7583-2 01ARunout Side B
C5RS-7582-1Label Side A
C5RS-7583-2Label Side B
R546L-C5RS-7582 - 1 01B A 1 I I A1Runout A
R 546L-C5RS-7583-2 -01A I I A2Runout B
C5RS-7582-1Label A
C5RS-7583-2Label B
R546L-C5RS-7582-1 01BRunout Side 1 Variant 1
R546L-C5RS-7583-2 01ARunout Side 2 Variant 1
R546L-C5RS-7582-1 01B ɪ A2Runout Side 1 Variant 2
R546L-C5RS-7583-2 01A ɪ A2Runout Side 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Angola | Rare Earth REC 6001 / World Record Co. REC 6001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Australia | Rare Earth SREA.5004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Brazil | Tapecar R 546 / Rare Earth R546LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Rare Earth R 546LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Rare Earth 2C 066-94518First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Rare Earth 1C 062-94 518 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-94 518First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Greece | Tamla Motown SRE 3010First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | India | Motown SETML. 16First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Israel | Tamla Motown R 546LFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Italy | Rare Earth RSL ST/S 61018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Rare Earth SWX-6027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Rare Earth SWX-6027First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Rare Earth 5C 056-94518First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | EMI Electrola 1C 062-94 518 D / EMI Electrola 1C 062-94 518First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Rare Earth R 546LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Greece | Motown 16 008 / Motown 16.008LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | Tamla Motown 16008LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1984 | UK & Europe | Motown WL72286LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | UK & Europe | Motown WL72286LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | USA & Europe | Culture Factory USA, Inc. CFU01202LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Prodigal SREA-5004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Rare Earth 2C 066-94518LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Motown 250·15·010LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Prodigal 1C 038-94 518LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Rare Earth 1 C 062-94 518 / EMI Electrola 1 C 062-94 518LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Motown 250·15·010LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue | LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Prodigal 1C 038-94 518LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo 103LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK & Europe | Motown WL72286LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
51 vinyl pressings of Ma are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1973 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Angola, Australia and more. One of them is Rare Earth R 546L.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use R 546L, R546L, R 546L-DJ, SRE 3010) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, R546L-C5RS-7582-1 03B C5RS-7582-1-03B H and R546L-C5RS-7583-2 03A C5RS-7582-1-03A H. 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.
