Vinyl pressings
by Thelma Houston · 1979
Ride To The Rainbow 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.
13 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 9 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.
T7 - 365 R1 - A - 18 B KENDUN-D JHSide A runout, variant 1
T7 - 365 R1 - B - 18 B KENDUN-C JHSide B runout, variant 1
T7 - 365 R1 - A - ̶1̶8̶B̶ 12 BSide A runout, variant 2
T7 - 365 R1 - B - ̶1̶8̶A̶ 12ASide B runout, variant 2
T7 - 365 R1 - A - 1̶8̶A̶ 12ARunout side A, etched
KENDUN-C JHRunout side A, stamped
T7 - 365 R1 - B - 1̶8̶B̶ 12 BRunout side B, etched
KENDUN-D JHRunout side B, stamped
KENDUN-D fi AWH T7-365 R1- A- 1̶3̶B̶ 13BA-Side Runout Etching
KENDUN-D fi AWH T7-365-R1-B-1̶8̶B̶ 13BB-Side Runout Etching
T7-365R1-AA-Side Label
T7-365R1-BB-Side Label
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 | Motown T7 365First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Tamla T7-365R1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Tamla T7-365R1First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | France | Motown 2C 068 62870First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Motown 250·15·004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | Germany | Motown 1C 064-62 870First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Motown 3C 064-62870First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Motown STML 12117First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Tamla T7-365R1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Venezuela | Motown LPS-99.131First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Motown STML 12117First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Motown 5C06262870First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Tamla T7-365R1 / Tamla T7-365 R1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Tamla T7-365R1 / Tamla T7-365 R1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1979 | US | Tamla T7-365R1 / Tamla T7-365 R1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | Motown 2-47.082LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Japan | Tamla UIJY-75052LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
17 vinyl pressings of Ride To The Rainbow are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1979 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Netherlands, Australia and more. One of them is Tamla T7-365R1, released May 22, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use T7-365R1, STML 12117, 5C06262870, T7 365) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T7 - 365 R1 - A - 18 B KENDUN-D JH and T7 - 365 R1 - B - 18 B KENDUN-C JH. 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.
