Vinyl pressings
by Rufus & Chaka Khan · 1979
Masterjam 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.
20 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 13 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.
MCA 1959-AM3 ⧈-G-⧈Runout side A, variant 1
MCA 1960-AM3 ⧈-G-⧈Runout side B, variant 1
MCA 1959-AM1 ⧈-G-⧈ 2Runout side A, variant 2
MCA 1960-AM3 ⧈-G-⧈Runout side B, variant 2
MCA 1959-AM5Side 1 Runout Variant 1, etched
MCA 1960-AM5Side 2 Runout Variant 1, etched
MCA 1959-AM4Side 1 Runout Variant 2. etched
MCA 1960-AM4Side 2 Runout Variant 2, etched
MCA-1959-AM3 ⧈-G-⧈Runout A, variant 1
MCA-1960-AM3 ⧈-G-⧈Runout B, variant 1
MCA 1959-AM1 ⧈-G-⧈Runout A, variant 2
MCA 1960-AM3 ⧈-G-⧈Runout B, variant 2
MCA 1959-AM1 III ◈-P-◈ ⧈̸-̸G̸-̸⧈̸Runout A, variant 1
MCA 1960-AM3 ◈-P-◈ I ⧈̸-̸G̸-̸⧈̸Runout B, variant 1
MCA 1959-AM2 II ◈-P-◈ ⧈̸-̸G̸-̸⧈̸Runout A, variant 2
MCA 1960-AM1 ◈-P-◈ II ⧈̸-̸G̸-̸⧈̸Runout B, variant 2
MCA 1959-AM1 ⧈̶-̶G̶-̶⧈̶ ◈-P-◈ 1 2Runout A
MCA 1960-AM1 ⧈̶-̶G̶-̶⧈̶ ◈-P-◈ IIRunout B
MCA1959Label A
MCA1960Label B
MCA-MCG-4007-A-1 BILBOSide 1
MCA-MCG-4007-B-1Side 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 | Australia | MCA Records MCA-5103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Brazil | MCA Records 201 270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-5103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | MCA Records 201270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | MCA Records 201270First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | MCA Records MCA-4055First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-6211First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-6211First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Netherlands | MCA Records 1A 062-63419 / MCA Records MCA-5103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | New Zealand | MCA Records MCA 5103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | MCA Records MCA-5103 / MCA Records MCA 5103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | MCA Records MCA-5103 / MCA Records MCA 5103First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | South Africa | MCA Records ML 4342First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Taiwan | Jj Record JJB-6180 / 佳佳唱片 JJB-6180-ALP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1979 | Turkey | MCA Records MCA-5103 / MCA Records 1178First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Germany | MCA Records 201 270LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | MCA Records I-201.270 / MCA Records I-201270LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-5103LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-5103LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-5103LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-5103 / MCA Records MCA 5103LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 201 270 / MCA Records 201 270-320LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light B0001LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
29 vinyl pressings of Masterjam are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1979 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is MCA Records MCA-5103, released October 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA-5103, MCG 4007, 201 270, 201270) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA 1959-AM3 ⧈-G-⧈ and MCA 1960-AM3 ⧈-G-⧈. 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.
