Using Discogs to Identify First Pressings of Vinyl Records

A1 in the deadwax doesn't necessarily indicate that a record is a first pressing. In this video we take two copies of the same record and use Discogs to identify which one is a first pressing and which one is a re-press.
Using catalog numbers, matrix numbers, and other deadwax info etched into the runout groove of a vinyl record is somewhat of a detective game.

[@Homebrew58]

Just above the full list of available releases is a button labeled "Find Your Version". There you can search for your unique etched and/or stamped markings. You can often narrow your search down to just a handful of albums instead of randomly scrolling through that sometimes very long list.

[@soundmatters]

Very good additional point.

[@alfonsvanrens4843]

i do not see that button!

[@tholt946]

Great video. Wish I'd watched this before I built my vinyl collection!

[@junkonli]

Great video Sound Matters! Learning more every day.

[@soundmatters]

Glad you liked :) Happy spinning

[@markhancockhecox]

GREAT video! Can’t wait to play detective!

[@stevedundee866]

Really good info ro know. Thank you so much :)

[@djjoeykmusic]

Great video! Thank you so much!!!

[@soundmatters]

Thanks for watching and I'm glad it helped!

[@DannerPlace]

Very helpful, thanks for posting. BTW, my monophonic single of SHE LOVES YOU/I'LL GET YOU, the Beatles, is a 1964 pressing from RCA's Rockaway plant, on the SWAN label. VBG

[@soundmatters]

Glad it helped. Thanks very much for your comment. Enjoy that record!

[@ronmartin4212]

The one HDN example you showed as the video intro copy.

[@Twin_Hook]

Good stuff, Mark. The one thing I would add is don't forget to look at the label itself. Most versions of original pressings will have varying runout etching - usually based on where the record was pressed. However, I've often seen multiple first pressings with identical runout etchings that had slight differences in the labels. It may be the list of tracks are centered under the spindle hole on one label vs. the list of tracks being left-justified. In other cases the placement of the various information (release name, artist, catalog number, etc.) is different. Sometimes it's as simple as font differences (e.g., a '1' serif vs. "|" sans-serif). Other times the rights organizations, or composers, are different). If you really want to know what release of a version you have, check the pictures of the labels that are in Discogs against your copy. In fact, sometimes there are a dozen first pressings, so I narrow down which version I have by comparing only the labels. Then, when the labels all look the same I will examine the runout etchings. Definitely like detective work!

[@soundmatters]

Thanks Jordan. Very good point indeed! You could see on the Genesis album that the second pressing appears to have a typo on the first track of side B. Is it wrong that I kind of enjoy the detective work - haha!

[@Twin_Hook]

@@soundmatters not at all! One little thing about a record could mean the difference between it being worth $5 and $500! I just wish everyone on Discogs shared the passion equally. I constantly feel as if I have a unique release when I'm sure it's just that the original poster didn't notice the little "P" faintly stamped into the runout. 😄

[@junkonli]

@@Twin_Hook ...but I have come across many errors on Discogs. Not everything is perfect on that website. Especially on complicated artists such as The Beatles with 100's or even 1000+ pressings. As of now, it is the best we have...so I just try to make my postings correct.

[@ronmartin4212]

That HDN pressing is the first Phillips plant copy,but EMI first contracted with PYE to press HDN copies in July,'64.The so called"chubby"font copies are the Pyes.

[@diggLincoln]

Very helpful thanks man

[@soundmatters]

Glad it was helpful :) - Happy record hunting

[@marcloev2072]

On sealed unopened albums - other than catalogue number, for most albums can you definitively declare it a first press if that depends on the label and runout matrix, which are not identifiable (since the record is sealed)?

[@junkonli]

Marc Loev This has been my question. How can you get the correct info to sell an Lp when it is sealed?

[@andycuthbert9967]

Very interesting - Maybe you can shine some light on something I have found over 50 years of record purchasing which (IMO) is a sure fire way to guarantee the best sounding version. In the notes on the sleeve you will sometimes see details such as "FUTURE DISC" or "STERLING SOUND". When this info is detailed the first thing I do is check the run out grooves and to see if the names mentioned are stamped on the record itself. I have different pressings of various albums and the best sounding copy is always the copy that has the matching stamps in the run out grooves. My take on it is it's something to do with the lacquer being created from the original master tape. If that is the case then is it not more important to get a pressing made from the Original Master Tape? Can any one explain what it is that I am describing - would love to know rather than my guesstimate.

[@soundmatters]

Hi Andy. Both Future Disc and Sterling Sound are mastering houses, so it refers to where the disc was cut. Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound cuts all the VMP Classics re-issues (usually from the original tapes) and is a very good mastering engineer. This may go some way to explaining why you like those editions - they've simply been mastered very well regardless of source. Hope this helps! Enjoy the music

[@andycuthbert9967]

@@soundmatters Makes sense though I had thought it was the lacquers being made by the mastering house and the difference in quality is massive. Unfortunately there are no such things as original tapes nowadays - or not of the older stuff - they are copies of copies of copies as the original magnetic masters deteriorate over time - most have been digitised so its as close as but wont be the original unless its a modern recording.

[@Mandibil]

The "Myth 5: A1 stamped in the dead wax indicates the first pressing" ... I dunno ... you have to basically have inside information from the cutters how many were initially made, to know if the lowest number is not the only first pressing. And if you make more than one "first" pressing, by definition only one of those can be a first pressing, even if they were basically made simultaneously. For instance some Moody Blues early presses have all sorts of combinations af Ax/Bx it seems which makes it likely that them being a major release back in the day, indicates they were all pressed at the same time (potentially first pressings). But I still go for the lowest number, similarly to A1/B1 (though some seem to not have any 1s but only 2s, 3s etc.) ... maybe following a rejection of the first test-pressing listen through

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

Hi....how can i tell a uk release from a u.s. import album...

[@wandagreer9144]

What if your deadwax ID is not listed in Discogs? For example - my copy of PC 38590 shows (HMP) AL-28590 G 1A G1. What does this mean? Thanks.

[@HunterNX_s]

Discogs contributors are not obliged to put all the information when registering a new contribution to the database, sometimes they leave out the matrix/runout. What remains to be done in this case is to make a detailed visual comparison (text position , color, ...) of the release images to see if something doesn't match, otherwise it's hard to find out.

[@blueser100]

I have the same issue with a record. Have spent a couple hours going through so many matrix numbers. Can’t find my pressing. Discogs forum is not helpful so far.

[@Mandibil]

List them to Discogs

[@vladimirlem1104]

how can i identify a 1st press or a repress cd ? Discogs dosen't tell

[@SixStringJoy]

On Discogs it mostly only says “release year”. But that’s when the album first came out. That doesn’t mean anything if I want an old pressing. Is there a way to know which year that album was pressed on discogs?

[@SixStringJoy]

Or does “released” actually mean the year that very copy was pressed? I’m not sure

[@kuglepen64]

Use the ‘Find my version' and type in the runout.

[@soundmatters]

Yes, forgot to mention that. Good point.

[@AntonyMetaxakis]

Where is that feature?

[@lucasblancke]

But why there are 4 variants matrix numbers for one pressing?

[@junkonli]

It is so complicated. Ya think it could be much easier.

[@Mandibil]

Ah no ... a pressing refers to the actual vinyl you have in your hand. Each variant is a pressing from a different matrix (cut). Figuring out which of the recorded matrices(found in the deadwax) - the first one to be used for pressing the vinyl - is the one referred to as the first pressing

[@ethanb2554]

WHAT IS THE BEST PRESSING OF FOXTROT?! Porky?

[@richardboughton8338]

.... so, the apostrophe S is on later pressings folks?

[@Audiojunkabus]

I have a feeling that most don't know WTF Pecko or Porcky is (for example)....... so this really does not help ordinary peeps like me