Vinyl pressings
by The Mamas & The Papas · 1968
The Papas & The Mamas was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
28 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 18 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.
DS-50031-A-RE (MR) △11838Runout A variant 1
DS-50031-A-RE (MR) △11838-XRunout B variant 1
DS-50031-A-RE (MR) △11838Runout A variant 2
DS-50031-B-2 (MR) △11838-XRunout B variant 2
DS-50031-A-1 LWA side runout [variant 1]
DS-50031-B-1 LWB side runout [variant 1]
DS-50031-A-1 LWA side runout [variant 2]
DS-50031-B-2 LWB side runout [variant 2]
7S-DS 50031 A Bell Sound LWSide 1
7S-DS 50031 B Bell Sound LWSide 2
DS-50031-A-RE (ᴍʀ) △11838Runout A - Etched, exc. (ᴍʀ) stamped
DS-50031-A-RE (ᴍʀ) △11838-XRunout B - Etched, exc. (ᴍʀ) stamped
50031-A-SMatrix A on label
50031-B-SMatrix B on label
DS-50031-A-(2) (MR) △11838Runout A etched
DS-50031-B-3 X (MR) △11838-XRunout B etched
50031-A-SMatrix A on label
50031-B-SMatrix B on label
Λ1 DS-50031-A-1SSide A matrix (stamped)
Λ1 DS-50031-B-1SSide B matrix (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Argentina | RCA Victor AVL-3800First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | Argentina | RCA Victor Argentina S.A.I.C. AVL-3800First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Australia | RCA DS-50031First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Brazil | RCA Victor DLP-5009First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Canada | RCA Victor DSD-50031 / RCA Victor DS-50031First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Chile | RCA Victor CML - 2646-XFirst yearLP | LP |
| 1968 | France | RCA Victor 740.902 / RCA 740.902First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | RCA Victor LSD-10 180First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Israel | RCA Victor DS-50031First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Italy | RCA Victor FIPS 10804First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Japan | Victor SHP-5728First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Mexico | RCA Victor MIL 4045First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | RCA Victor DS-50031First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | South Africa | RCA 32-375 / RCA Victor 32-375First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | South Africa | RCA Victor 37-021First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Japan | Stateside HP-80350LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1971 | New Zealand | World Record Club SLZ 8376LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1971 | US | Dunhill DS-50031 / ABC Records DS-50031LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Dunhill DS-50031 / ABC Records DS-50031LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | Australia | World Record Club S/4983 / World Record Club S-4983LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1979 | US | Dunhill DS-50031 / ABC Records DS-50031LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Spain | MCA Records LB 250617-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Spain | MCA Records H-205818 / MCA Records 250617-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Spain | MCA Records 25 0617LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1986 | Spain | MCA Records LB 250617-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | RCA D-50031LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Coral MCA-710LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | MCA Coral DS-50031LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | ABC Dunhill DS-50031LP | LP |
| ? | USA & Canada | MCA Records DS-50031LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
46 vinyl pressings of The Papas & The Mamas are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1968 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Dunhill DS-50031, released May 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DS-50031, LP-DS-50031, DS 50031, SF-7960) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DS-50031-A-RE (MR) △11838 and DS-50031-A-RE (MR) △11838-X. 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.
