In a nutshell...

The notion of a “first” pressing is somewhat misleading in this case.  Based on the other factors (dynaflex and/or the Motown ad as record sleeve) and information from other sources it would appear that most, even all, the lacquers were cut at roughly the same time.  

Even though the TS-310 pressing with the ‘D’ in the matrix is not dynaflex, I do have a copy with the Motown ad which seems to indicate an earlier pressing.  Not sure when the ads stopped so this is not definitive proof. 

One knowledgeable source indicated that the dynaflex was used in the earliest pressings (see 1^st thru 4^th lacquers below) and as the oil crisis faded thicker began to be used sometime circa 1975.  It's possible, though not expressly clear, that the 'C' and 'D' pressings can be dated to a later time.  Still waiting for some details to surface on this. 

Not sure how distribution channels worked either.  Would these have started in Indianapolis and then, due to demand, more lacquers were cut to keep up?  In other words, the lacquer with no lacquer was used up before an 'A' lacquer was cut?  This doesn't seem likely.

It would appear that multiple lacquers were cut based on geography and were distributed at the same time to meet pent up demand. One of the Motown engineers from that time has indicated that multiple lacquers were cut within a short period of time (within hours) from each other.

No matter what the answer is it quickly became, and remains, one of Motown's biggest sellers so none of these lacquers is what I would call rare.  When I began this little project, I was able, within a short period of time, to track down a copy of each variation on ebay.

"Earliest" pressing is somewhat relative in this case so I will refrain from using "first pressing" but will instead refer to the lacquers as identified by the letter in the matrix.

1^st lacquer* – TS-310, A4RS-2482-2 on Side 1; A4RS-2484-2 on Side 2; pressed at RCA’s Indianapolis plant; dynaflex vinyl

2^nd lacquer* –  TS-310, A4RS-2482-2-A on Side 1; A4RS-2484-2-A on Side 2; pressed at RCA’s Indianapolis plant; dynaflex vinyl  

3^rd lacquer – S-310, A4RS-2482-2-B on Side 1; A4RS-2484-2-B on Side 2; pressed at RCA’s Hollywood plant; dynaflex vinyl

4^th lacquer - S-310, A4RS-2482-2-C on Side 1; A4RS-2484-2-B on Side 2; pressed at RCA’s Hollywood plant; thicker vinyl

5^th lacquer - TS-310 or T-310, A4RS-2482-2-D on Side 1; A4RS-2484-2-D on Side 2; pressed at Southern Plastics (?); thicker vinyl

* There is some variation here.  In other words there is no letter at the end of the matrix on Side A and there is an 'A' at the end of the matrix on Side B.  This may be a separate lacquer altogether which would make a total of 6 lacquers.  Not sure how the process of making these lacquers worked so can't say for sure but either way both were cut and pressed at the Indianapolis plant. 

Feel free to contribute further details.

Thanks!

Mid 70s repress...

For a long time it has seemed that the matrix number A4RS-2682-2 on Side 1 and A4RS-2684-2 on Side 2 were used on all pressings throughout the 70s.

Seems this is not the case...

I've been investigating listings on ebay trying to dig deeper into this.  So far the information gathered here has been consistent.

However, a recent listing of a pressing with the TS-310 on the label has revealed the following matrix number: D5RS-7651-1.

This further reinforces the information but it does bring up the interesting point that represses began early thus narrowing down what is meant be an "original" pressing to a period of about two or three years.

According to RCA's code for pressing information the 'D' makes it a 1974 pressing, the '5' indicates that it was a lacquer provided by a non-RCA studio.  The 7651-1 would be the master information.

Not sure where the lacquer would have been cut.  Anyone have any idea?

Mysterious markings in the run out groove...

There are two markings in the run out groove that I haven't been able to figure out what they mean.

The first is present on every pressing, including the White Label Promo.  You can see it on the bottom (click the picture for a bigger view):

These markings are found on the TS-310 (with the 2D matrix) and the T-310 (also with the 2D in the matrix) pressings (click for a larger view).

A T-310 copy is below (as can be seen from the light brown rather than grey inside the Tamla label).  This mark is not found on the White Label Promo nor is it found on the two S-310 copies I have.

If anyone knows what these mean, drop me a line.

T-310

It appears that the pressings with a T-310 on the LP sticker are the last pressings, though I'm not sure what that means in terms of dates exactly.

These have a 'D' in the matrix (as do some of the TS-310 pressings) which should indicate a fourth (or fifth) lacquer and thus a later printing.

But no dates exist (that I am aware of) for the production of these lacquers.  According to a source at Motown, info on the pressing plants are long lost in the purchase order files that disappeared over the years.  Unless someone happened to scavenge them as the Donovan (home to the Motown offices after the Hitsville facility was outgrown) rotted away, these are lost to history.

Considering that this was a big selling album it's quite possible they all came out in a short period of time in order to meet demand.

Side 1:

Side 2:

Matrix numbers:

A4RS-2682-2-D, Side 1;
A4RS-2684-2-D, Side 2

There is no mark in the run out groove that indicates a particular pressing plant.   As far as the information I've gathered it was stamped at Dixie Record Pressing but I have yet to find any detailed information on that plant online.

The Tamla label also has a brownish tint to them compared to the usual light grey in all the other pressings.

The T-310 pressings are the only ones that have DeRouen spelled wrong.

TS-310

There are some variations on this one:

Side 1:

Side 2:

Matrix number:
A4RS-2682-2-A, Side 1;
A4RS-2684-2-A, Side 2 (shown below).

Letter 'I' indicates Indianapolis RCA plant pressing:

There is another variation with a 'D' in the matrix.  I am not sure if this was a later pressing or was simply a lacquer distributed to another region.

Side 1: 

Side 2:

Matrix number:
A4RS-2682-2-D, Side 1;
A4RS-2684-2-D, Side 2.

This is a thicker vinyl but it does have the Motown ad.  Also, 'Derouen' has a variation in the spelling (see note on the version below) and matches the S-310 version in this regard.

To add another twist, recently on the forum I came across another version which two people confirmed as owning (thanks for the pictures holygoof!) though I do not have a physical copy:

Side 1:

Side 2:

If you look closely you'll see the following:

Matrix number:

A4RS-2682-2, Side 1;
A4RS-2684-2, Side 2.


Notice that there is no letter in the matrix to indicate a lacquer.  This is the same lacquer that made the WLP.

There is an 'I' (for Indianapolis) in the dead wax, the vinyl is dynaflex and it has the Motown ad for a sleeve. The 'DeRouen' spelling matches the WLP.

So we have three variations here on versions with the TS-310 label: no letter in the matrix, an 'A' in the matrix and a 'D' in the matrix.

The other curiosity is the following, again based on information from the forum:

• First Dixie pressings had a 2.75" circular indent around the label and all first pressings used super-glossy paper stock for the labels and a grayish color within the Tamla logo. Later pressings substituted a lighter brown tint for the grayish color on the Tamla logo on top, and a duller but still somewhat glossy paper stock was used for the label.
• Dixie pressings were the ones that on "Right On" had the "DeRoven" misspelling, regardless of first, second or umpteenth pressing, while the other plants had it...as "Derouen" [or "DeRouen"].

Could the 'D' lacquers have went to both Southern Plastics (TS-310) and Dixie (T-310)?

TS-310 DJ White Label Promo

The White Label Promo is the only genuine "First Pressing" in the truest sense of the word.

However, this was never released to the public so it depends on how "first pressing" is understood.  Copies do show up time and again on ebay so keep an eye out. Popsike will give you a pretty good idea of the price range on this one.

Side 1:

Markings on run out groove:
TS-310
HS-1867
5-1
Matrix number: A4RS-2682-2:

Side 2:

Markings on run out groove:
TS-310
HS-1868
5-2
Matrix Number: A4RS-2684-2

This was stamped at RCA's plant in Indianapolis.  This is identified by the letter 'I' stamped in the run out groove:

All other identifiers in the run out groove are identical to later pressings.

DeRouen is spelled correctly:

There are three variations on this name among the different labels.

S-310

The S-310 pressings were done at RCA's Hollywood plant.

The "2B" and "2C" lacquers went to RCA in Hollywood.

Consider that it was during this time that Motown was making the move to Hollywood (i.e. Motown West) which is where the final mix of this album was done.  I have two copies of the S-310 pressing.

Side 1:

Side 2:

Here is the identification of them:


Matrix number: dynaflex vinyl
A4RS-2682-2-B, Side 1;
A4RS-2684-2-B, Side 2


Matrix number: thicker vinyl
A4RS-2682-2-C, Side 1;
A4RS-2682-2-B, Side 2

Derouen is spelled correctly, though notice the lower case 'r' compared to the 'R' of the TS-310 and WLP.

I don't know if there exists a version with the 'C' identification on both sides.

The other key identifier is the 'H' in the run out groove which indicates that this was pressed at the RCA plant in Hollywood. 

Both labels have the 'grey' in the Tamla label.