Vinyl pressings
by The Grateful Dead · 1974
From The Mars Hotel was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
25 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 12 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.
GD102A-1F 1 SXA runout, variant 1
GD102B-1F 1 SXB runout, variant 1
GD102A-1B 1 SXA runout, variant 2
GD102B-1B 1 SXB runout, variant 2
GD102 A-1DSide A runout, variant 1
GD102 B-1DSide B runout, variant 1
GD102A-1HSide A runout, variant 2
GD102B-1HSide B runout, variant 2
GD102A-1F ASide A, final A has top pointing towards hole. XS is written over (or under) GD; the S gets lost in the D and the X falls between the G and D.
GD102 B-1B Z SXT ASide B, final A has top pointing towards hole. "Z" could be a "2"
GD102A-1F Ƨ SXT AVariant 1 Side A Runout, Etched
GD 102 B-1B Ƨ SXT A14Variant 1 Side B Runout, Etched
GD 102Side A Label
GD 102Side B Label
GD102A-1B 1 SXT B2Side A runout variant 1
GD102A-1G 1 SXT B2Side A runout variant 2
GD 102 B-1C 2 SXT A1Side B runout variant 1
GD 102 B-1B 2 SXT ASide B runout variant 2
GD102A-1-T MSRunout Side A, Variant 1
GD 102 B-1E MSRunout Side B, Variant 1
GD 102A-1K MSRunout Side A, Variant 2
GD 102 B-1J MSRunout Side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Australia | Grateful Dead Records GD 102First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Australia | Grateful Dead Records GD 102First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Grateful Dead Records GD 102First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Grateful Dead Records 59 302First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Grateful Dead Records GD 59 302First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Grateful Dead Records GD 59 302 / Grateful Dead Records 59 302First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Italy | Grateful Dead Records K 59302First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Grateful Dead Records P-8470GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Japan | Grateful Dead Records P-8470GFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Grateful Dead Records GD 59 302 / Grateful Dead Records 59 302-UFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Netherlands | Grateful Dead Records GD 59 302LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Atlantic GD 102First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | Grateful Dead Records K 59302 / Grateful Dead Records K59302First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Grateful Dead Records GD 102First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Grateful Dead Records GD 102First yearLP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Germany | United Artists Records 1C 064-63 826LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-172LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | Germany | Grateful Dead Records GDLP 4.00646 J / Line GDLP 4.00646 JLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1989 | UK | Grateful Dead Records GDV 4007LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Australia & New Zealand | Grateful Dead Records L 30164LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | USA & Canada | Friday Music FRM 102LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2018 | Europe | Grateful Dead Records 081227932152 / Rhino Records 081227932152LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2018 | US | Rhino Records R1 516247LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2019 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-48212", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | US | Rhino Records R1 726186 / Rhino Records 603497826445LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Rhino Records R1 726186 / Rhino Records 603497826445LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RPD1 726186 / Warner Records 603497826797LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Rhino Records R1 726186 / Rhino Records 603497826445LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Rhino Records R1 726186 / Rhino Records 603497826445LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Colombia | Atlantic WEA-10532 / Atlantic WEA. 10532LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | United Artists Records UAS 29903LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | United Artists Records UAS 29903LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Grateful Dead Records K 59302-U (GD 102)LP | LP |
| ? | Spain | Nuevos Medios 23 427LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | United Artists Records GD-102LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
58 vinyl pressings of From The Mars Hotel are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1974 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Grateful Dead Records GD 102, released June 27, 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use GD 102, K 59302, 59 302, GD 59 302) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, GD102A-1F 1 SX and GD102B-1F 1 SX. 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.
