Vinyl pressings
by Wishbone Ash · 1973
Live Dates was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
29 pressings came out in 1973, 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.
ZMCA-368-2W U 1Runout side A variant 1
ZMCA-370-1L G 1Runout side B variant 1
ZMCA-371-1L A 1Runout side C variant 1
ZMCA-369-1L H 1Runout side D variant 1
MCA 368 W1 REC 1 S1Side One
MCA 370 W1 REC 2 S2Side Two
MCA 371 W1 REC 2 S3Side Three
MCA 369 W1 REC 1 S4Side Four
MCA 368 W1 REC 1 S1 ⧈-G-⧈ DWJSide A runout, variant 1
MCA 370 W1 REC 2 S2 ⧈-G-⧈ DWJSide B runout, variant 1
MCA 371 W1 REC 2 S3 ⧈-G-⧈ DWJSide C runout, variant 1
MCA 369 W1 REC 1 S4 ⧈-G-⧈ DWJSide D runout, variant 1
MCA 368 W1 REC 1 S1 ⧈-G-⧈ DWJSide A, etched (⧈-G-⧈ is stamped)
MCA 370 W1 REC 2 S2 ⧈-G-⧈ DWJSide B, etched (⧈-G-⧈ is stamped)
MCA 371 W1 REC 2 S3 ⧈-G-⧈ DWJSide C, etched (⧈-G-⧈ is stamped)
MCA 369 W1 REC 1 S4 ⧈-G-⧈ DWJSide D, etched (⧈-G-⧈ is stamped)
MCA 368 W2 REC1 S1 DWJ ◈-P-◈Side A, Etched (◈-P-◈ is Stamped)
MCA 370 W2 REC 2 S2 DWJ ◈-P-◈Side B, Etched (◈-P-◈ is Stamped)
MCA 371 W2 REC 2 S3 DWJ ◈-P-◈Side C, Etched (◈-P-◈ is Stamped)
MCA 369 W2 REC 1 S4 DWJ ◈-P-◈Side D, Etched (◈-P-◈ is 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 7169 / Astor Records MAPS 7169First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA2-8006First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | MCA Records 410012/13First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | MCA Records 410012/13First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | MCA Records MAPS 7169-D/1-2First yearLP | LP |
| 1973 | Germany | MCA Records MAPS 7169-D/1-2First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | MCA Records MAPS 7169-D/1-2First yearLP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1973 | Italy | MCA Records MAPS 7169 / MCA Records MAPS 7169x2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | MCA Records MAPS 7169First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | MCA Records MCA-9244~45First yearLP | LP |
| 1973 | Japan | MCA Records MCA-9244~45First yearLP | LP |
| 1973 | Japan | MCA Records MCA-9244~45First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | MCA Records MCA-9244~45First yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Japan | MCA Records MCA-9244~45First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1973 | Malaysia | MCA Records MCA2-8006 / MCA Records MCA 2-8006First yearLP | LP |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA2-8006LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | France | MCA Records 300 748LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA2-8006LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | MCA Records 250 426-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP454 / MCA Records MOVLP454LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | MCA Records MCA 410012/13LP, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 7169 / Astor Records MAPS 7169LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Benelux | MCA Records 300 748-406 / MCA Records maps 7169LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | MCA Records MCA2-8006LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | MCA Records 250 426-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | MCA Records MCA 10396LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | MCA Records 300 748-406LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | MCA Records 300 748-406 / MCA Records 300 748 AE 202LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | MCA Records 410012/13LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | MCA Records 410012/13LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 82.002-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 300 748-406 / MCA Records maps 7169LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records MAPS 7169-D/1-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 82.002-2 / MCA Records MAPS:7169LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records MCA 10396LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records MAPS 7169-D/1-2 / MCA Records 6.28170 DXLP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
77 vinyl pressings of Live Dates are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1973 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in UK, US, France, Australia and more. One of them is MCA Records ULD 2-1/2, released December 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ULD 2-1/2, MCA2-8006, 410012/13, MAPS 7169) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZMCA-368-2W U 1 and ZMCA-370-1L G 1. 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.
