Vinyl pressings
by The Ramsey Lewis Trio · 1959
Down To Earth (Music From The Soil) was first pressed on vinyl in 1959. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year, in 4 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.
SR-80029-A FR1A-side, stamped, variant 1
SR-80029-B [SR-80030-B crossed out] FR1B-side, stamped, variant 1
SR_80029_A FR1 A1 ʷ̲ˢ̲ IA-side, stamped, variant 2
SR 80029 B S̷R̷_8̷0̷0̷3̷0̷_B̷ FR1 I A1 ʷ̲ˢ̲B-side, stamped, variant 2
IF MG-36150-A3 MS-IIIRunout side A
IF MG-36150-B4 MS-IVRunout side B
MG-36150-A3 MS-III FFA runout
MG-36150-B4 MS-IV FFB runout
MG-36150-A3 M5-III FA-side
MG-36150 B4 MS-IV FB-side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Argentina | Mercury MG-36150First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Canada | Mercury SR-80029 / EmArcy SR-80029First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | South Africa | Mercury MG 20536 / Mercury MG 20536 16First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | South Africa | Mercury SRJ 80029First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Canada | Mercury SR-80029First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Mercury SR-80029 / Mercury Emarcy Jazz SR-80029First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | Mercury MG-36150 / Mercury EmArcy Jazz MG-36150First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Mercury MG-36150 / Mercury Emarcy Jazz MG-36150First yearLP, Album, Mono, Promo · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Promo · Promo, Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | US | Mercury MG 20536LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Japan | Mercury SM-7238LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Fontana 858 050 FPY / Fontana International 858 050 FPYLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Japan | Mercury DMJ-5039 / Mercury MG-36150LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | Mercury SM-7238LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| ? | South Africa | Mercury SR 60213-4LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | South Africa | Mercury SR 60213-4LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Fontana SFJL 962 / Fontana International SFJL 962LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Mercury MG 20536LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Mercury SR-60213LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Trip TLP-5563LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Mercury SR-60213LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury MG 20536LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Mercury MG 20536LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Mercury MG 20536 / Mercury MG-20536LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
23 vinyl pressings of Down To Earth (Music From The Soil) are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1959 and 1992.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US, Canada, Argentina, South Africa. One of them is Mercury SR-80029, released May 1959.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SR-80029, MG-36150, MG 20536, SRJ 80029) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SR-80029-A FR1 and SR-80029-B [SR-80030-B crossed out] FR1. 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.
