scdfndr Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 So, what do all those letters and numbers mean? Another newbie and I thought it might be helpful if some of you experts would by gracious enough to pass on some of your knowledge in this area. On the label and in the dead wax there are codes. (For example, I’ve noticed many of my LZ records have “SD” followed by numbers in the upper half of the label, ST-A- followed by numbers beneath the track listings.) Anyone willing to give us a brief lesson on what these mean and more importantly what we should look for as vinyl collectors? Much thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annamilia Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 The other newbie would be me - hope someone will share their expert knowledge with us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveZ98 Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 A starting point: https://rarerecordcollector.net/atlantic/led-zeppelin/led-zeppelin-i/ More than you ever wanted to know: https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/ultimate-led-zeppelin-vinyl-pressings.417639/ And even more, although you'll have to do some digging through the various threads: https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/search/82906631/?q=led+zeppelin+matrix&o=relevance&c[node]=2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pb! Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 These links are helpful but don't really answer the question. The numbers and letters on the label will refer to the catalog number (in this pic you can see it's 124). The small numbers (45-ATE-111) offer more detail - I figure the '45' is obvious. Who knows what 'ATE' means, but the 111 is specific to this side. The other side has 45-ATE-110. Usually you can assume 110 refers to the A-side and 111 to the B but that's not always the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pb! Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 In this pic, you can see the catalog # is SS2 201, and the tiny number on the bottom starts with ST and ends in PR. I assume ST stands for Stereo. The PR tells you the specific pressing plant (Presswell) that manufactured the record. Some companies don't specify that on the label but do in the run-out etching in the vinyl between the playing surface and the label itself, usually with little symbols. The CRC on the left side refers to Columbia Record Club, which is a mail-order only club here in the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annamilia Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Very interesting 🙂 Thank you guys!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scdfndr Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 This looks like a great place to start. Thanks all. A quick follow up, if you don’t mind. I see notations like these often: A/1, B/3, etc. Can anyone shed any light on what these designate? Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 On 1/13/2021 at 5:55 AM, scdfndr said: So, what do all those letters and numbers mean? Another newbie and I thought it might be helpful if some of you experts would by gracious enough to pass on some of your knowledge in this area. On the label and in the dead wax there are codes. (For example, I’ve noticed many of my LZ records have “SD” followed by numbers in the upper half of the label, ST-A- followed by numbers beneath the track listings.) Anyone willing to give us a brief lesson on what these mean and more importantly what we should look for as vinyl collectors? Much thanks! On 1/14/2021 at 4:33 PM, Annamilia said: The other newbie would be me - hope someone will share their expert knowledge with us! Try this article on for size. https://magazine.vinylmeplease.com/magazine/guide-deciphering-dead-wax/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scdfndr Posted January 16, 2021 Author Share Posted January 16, 2021 Awesome! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldManWith4Sticks Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 Whoah great idea and tyvm! I'll be hooverin this thread and those awesome links to scrutinise my 3 x over vinyl collection and stairway 45 single. Personally I love the sound of the .flac files, because you can tweak em with multiband & parametric eq's on an azzkicking, (custom) pc and sound system. ($7k rig, $3k a pop speakers x 2 -> in my time of buying lol). Until then I'll be listening to my original vinyl mudslide bootleg, which I'll be .flac-ing when my business allows me the time to do so. CheerZ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scdfndr Posted January 20, 2021 Author Share Posted January 20, 2021 Okay, lets put some of this knowledge to use. (Translation: someone tell me what I can’t figure out on my own.) I just picked up a used VG+ copy of LZI. On the label: SD 8216. Deadwax, there’s a bunch of stuff. ST-A-681461 on side A and same but ending in 2 on side B. Also in deadwax: A, AT, W, LWP, RP, RG. These last two appear only on side A. Who wants to play? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 ST-A-681461-PR ST = stereoA = Atlantic Records label68 = last two digits of the year Atlantic first received source (tape) and started working on mastering1461 = tape master number (for side one in this example)PR = Presswell pressing plant A = Atlantic AT = Mastered by/for Atlantic W = Audiodisc lacquer brand LWP = LongWear Plating RP = probably the Laquer-Cutting Engineer's initials RG = Rob Grenell, Mastering Engineer for Atlantic in the late 60s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scdfndr Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 2 hours ago, SteveAJones said: ST-A-681461-PR ST = stereoA = Atlantic Records label68 = last two digits of the year Atlantic first received source (tape) and started working on mastering1461 = tape master number (for side one in this example)PR = Presswell pressing plant A = Atlantic AT = Mastered by/for Atlantic W = Audiodisc lacquer brand LWP = LongWear Plating RP = probably the Laquer-Cutting Engineer's initials RG = Rob Grenell, Mastering Engineer for Atlantic in the late 60s Now THAT is what I’m talking about! Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Seriously, thank you. This is EXACTLY what I’m looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scdfndr Posted January 21, 2021 Author Share Posted January 21, 2021 12 hours ago, SteveAJones said: ST-A-681461-PR ST = stereoA = Atlantic Records label68 = last two digits of the year Atlantic first received source (tape) and started working on mastering1461 = tape master number (for side one in this example)PR = Presswell pressing plant A = Atlantic AT = Mastered by/for Atlantic W = Audiodisc lacquer brand LWP = LongWear Plating RP = probably the Laquer-Cutting Engineer's initials RG = Rob Grenell, Mastering Engineer for Atlantic in the late 60s Does this information allow me to determine whether this record was from the original or a subsequent pressing? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 19 hours ago, scdfndr said: Does this information allow me to determine whether this record was from the original or a subsequent pressing? Thanks It can but determining first pressings can be somewhat complex. It's important to note that for day of release, multiple pressing plants would have manufactured records. So, if they are all making records at the same time, but in different parts of the country, who is considered "first"?Presswell probably made the most copies. Other pressing companies who made vinyl Led Zeppelin records through the years include Monarch, Specialty, Columbia Terre Haute, Columbia Pitman, and later on Philips in Richmond, IN.For example, the earliest pressings of Led Zeppelin I were made simultaneously at Presswell and Monarch (this has been pretty much established by collectors). And possibly at other plants, too. Therefore, to have a "first US pressing" of LZ I, one would arguably need to have a Monarch copy and a Presswell copy, and perhaps some others, as well.Anyway, to determine if one has a first pressing of Led Zeppelin I look for 1841 Broadway on the label and -A or -AA cutting letters in the deadwax. I've seen them sell on ebay in VG+ condition for about $150.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annamilia Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 On 22.1.2021 at 8:00 PM, SteveAJones said: It can but determining first pressings can be somewhat complex. It's important to note that for day of release, multiple pressing plants would have manufactured records. So, if they are all making records at the same time, but in different parts of the country, who is considered "first"?Presswell probably made the most copies. Other pressing companies who made vinyl Led Zeppelin records through the years include Monarch, Specialty, Columbia Terre Haute, Columbia Pitman, and later on Philips in Richmond, IN.For example, the earliest pressings of Led Zeppelin I were made simultaneously at Presswell and Monarch (this has been pretty much established by collectors). And possibly at other plants, too. Therefore, to have a "first US pressing" of LZ I, one would arguably need to have a Monarch copy and a Presswell copy, and perhaps some others, as well.Anyway, to determine if one has a first pressing of Led Zeppelin I look for 1841 Broadway on the label and -A or -AA cutting letters in the deadwax. I've seen them sell on ebay in VG+ condition for about $150.00. This was SO useful, thank you so so much! This is exactly the record I am looking for. ☺️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 33 minutes ago, Annamilia said: This was SO useful, thank you so so much! This is exactly the record I am looking for. ☺️ Bear in mind we're merely discussing the first pressing of their first album in the US. The first pressing of their first album in the UK, etc. has different characteristics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annamilia Posted January 24, 2021 Share Posted January 24, 2021 22 hours ago, SteveAJones said: Bear in mind we're merely discussing the first pressing of their first album in the US. The first pressing of their first album in the UK, etc. has different characteristics. Yes, I read that but thanks 😉 I just expanded my 'wishlist' a little for LZ I since I have been looking for quite a while and don't feel like a UK 1st pressing is in the price range that I was hoping for at the moment (I won't stop looking of course. So I might go for a US pressing instead for a start 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scdfndr Posted January 29, 2021 Author Share Posted January 29, 2021 On 1/22/2021 at 2:00 PM, SteveAJones said: It can but determining first pressings can be somewhat complex. It's important to note that for day of release, multiple pressing plants would have manufactured records. So, if they are all making records at the same time, but in different parts of the country, who is considered "first"?Presswell probably made the most copies. Other pressing companies who made vinyl Led Zeppelin records through the years include Monarch, Specialty, Columbia Terre Haute, Columbia Pitman, and later on Philips in Richmond, IN.For example, the earliest pressings of Led Zeppelin I were made simultaneously at Presswell and Monarch (this has been pretty much established by collectors). And possibly at other plants, too. Therefore, to have a "first US pressing" of LZ I, one would arguably need to have a Monarch copy and a Presswell copy, and perhaps some others, as well.Anyway, to determine if one has a first pressing of Led Zeppelin I look for 1841 Broadway on the label and -A or -AA cutting letters in the deadwax. I've seen them sell on ebay in VG+ condition for about $150.00. Thanks for this. All very interesting and helpful. My recent purchase says 75 Rockefeller Plaza. Any idea what that means in relation to what pressing? Thanks all for everything! Great forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 3 hours ago, scdfndr said: Thanks for this. All very interesting and helpful. My recent purchase says 75 Rockefeller Plaza. Any idea what that means in relation to what pressing? Thanks all for everything! Great forum! Atlantic moved from 1841 Broadway to Rockefeller Plaza in the early 1970s, so that is a later pressing. Here is more on that... https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/757809 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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