Identify a First Pressing

How can you tell whether a metal LP is a first pressing or a later repress? The sleeve rarely says, and reissues often copy the original artwork exactly. The most reliable evidence sits in the runout groove, the smooth band of vinyl between the last track and the label, often called the dead wax. Read it carefully, then check the other details on the record against a documented release.

What the matrix numbers mean

The characters stamped or hand-etched into the dead wax are usually called the matrix or runout. They are added during manufacturing so that the plant can keep track of each side of each record. A typical runout contains a base matrix number, which often matches or resembles the catalogue number, followed by a side marker such as A, B, 1 or 2. Many runouts also carry a suffix that shows which version of the cut or stamper was used, plus extra marks such as the initials or signature of the mastering engineer, the logo of the pressing plant, or short codes for the lacquer, mother and stamper used in the plating process.

The exact meaning of these codes varies from plant to plant and from decade to decade, so there is no single rule. As a general pattern, a low suffix (for example, a hypothetical "A1") tends to point to an early cut, while higher numbers or new letters can point to later stampers or recuts. Treat that as a hint, not proof: not every repress receives a new number, and different plants pressing the same album at the same time can produce different runouts.

Other clues on the record

The matrix is only one part of the picture. Several other details help narrow down when and where a copy was made:

• Label design: labels often change colour, logo or small print between the first run and later represses.
• Catalogue number: a new catalogue number usually means a reissue, even when the artwork looks identical.
• Barcode: an original from before barcodes became standard should not have one; a barcode on such a record points to a later pressing.
• Sleeve and inserts: printer credits, copyright lines, gatefold construction, lyric sheets and posters can differ between runs.
• Pressing plant and country: many metal albums were pressed in several countries at once, each with its own runout and label details.

Comparing against Discogs

Discogs is the standard reference for this work. Each album has a master page listing every known version, and each release page records the label, catalogue number, barcode and the runout text for every side, usually typed exactly as it appears. Write down everything in your dead wax, including stamped and hand-etched text, then open the versions that match your country, label and catalogue number and compare the runouts character by character. The Discogs database guidelines also note that matrix numbers alone cannot always separate editions, so look for the version where every detail agrees, not just one.

Be alert to the signs of a bootleg or counterfeit. Warning signs include a runout with no matrix at all or one that looks crudely written, blurry or low-resolution artwork and label printing, a label or catalogue number that does not appear anywhere in the database, and a release that is not listed on the band's or label's own discography. Unofficial pressings of in-demand metal records are common, so a copy that looks too good to be true deserves extra checks.

Next time you pick up a record you think might be an original, photograph the runout on both sides in good light, note the label, catalogue number and barcode, and match all of them against the Discogs release pages before paying a first-pressing price.