Vinyl pressings
by Rod Stewart · 1971
Reason To Believe / Maggie May was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
38 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 21 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.
p 47706-3Deadwax side A, etched, variant 1
p 1-47698-4Deadwax side B, etched, variant 1
p 47706-8 1Deadwax side A, etched, variant 2
p 1-47698-7 1Deadwax side B, etched, variant 2
p 47706-9A-Side Runout, etched, variant 1
p 47698-7B-Side Runout, etched, variant 1
P 47706-13 BA-Side Runout, etched, variant 2
P 47698-11 3B-Side Runout, etched, variant 2
PR S 47706-1A-Side Runout Etched
PR S 47698-1B-Side Runout Etched
1-47706A-Side Label Matrix
1-47698B-Side Label Matrix
Mer-73224-A 47698-5 s IIIA side runout
Mer-73224-B 47706-5 s IIB side runout
1-47698A side label
1-47706B side label
47698-1-1-11 PR SA-Side Runout
47706-1 1-1 PR SB-Side Runout
1-47698A-Side Label
1-47706B-Side Label
6052097 1F//1▽420 11 4 3 04Variant 1, Side A, Stamped.
6052097 2F//1▽420 1 4 1 3 04Variant 1, Side B, Stamped.
6052097 1F//1▽420 112 3 9 04Variant 2, Side A, Stamped.
6052097 2F//1▽420 1 4 6 04Variant 2, Side B, Stamped.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Argentina | Mercury 6052113First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Australia | Mercury 6052 097First yearSingle, 45 RPM, 7" | Single, 45 RPM, 7" |
| 1971 | Belgium | Mercury 6052 097 / Mercury 6052097First year7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Brazil | Mercury 6052 113First year7", Single, Mono · Mono | 7", Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Canada | Mercury M. 73224First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | France | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | France | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | France | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Germany | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1971 | Germany | Mercury 6052 097First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Greece | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Greece | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, White Label, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Ireland | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Israel | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Italy | Mercury 6052 097First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | UK | Mercury CUT 201 / Mercury 60520977", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1987 | Germany | Mercury 888 972-77", Single, 45 RPM, Stereo, Reissue | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Belgium | Mercury 812 062-77", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Mercury TOP 0207", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 6052 0977", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | US | Solid Rock SR147", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
47 vinyl pressings of Reason To Believe / Maggie May are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1971 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, France, Argentina and more. One of them is Mercury 73224.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 73224, 6052 097, 6052113, 6052 113) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, p 47706-3 and p 1-47698-4. 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.
