How to tell the year of release on a record with no dates

**discodevil** · July 26th, 2004, 05:38 AM

Could anyone tell me how do you tell what year a record was released when there is no date on the record or the cover sleeve.

I just purchased Madleen Kane's record Cheri.
A made in Australia release with 7 Records in pink vinyl, with no year dates on it!

One more thing what is the engraving on the vinyl that is near the record label at the end of each side. :evil:

**Bernie** · July 26th, 2004, 07:51 AM

From the record or jacket itself--nothing, but once in a blue moon you may find the date on the jacket's spine. Sometimes you can lookup or locate a pressing from a different country for more info. Check out the constantly updated Disco Records Vault A-Z for dates and more details on lots of records. In fact consider adding some of your records as well :-)

Madleen Kane's "Cheri" is from 1979.

**DISCODISK** · July 26th, 2004, 02:08 PM

yes records can be dated! those matrix numbers in the run out groove contain a lot of details year,city and even where it was pressed, each pressing plant and label had its own numbering system so youd need a book to fully understand all of this,this would apply to most records pressed in america in the 60s and many labels kept a system like this right into the 80s. will try to add an example later

**DISCODISK** · July 26th, 2004, 03:03 PM

heres an example im using the first r.c.a record i pulled out and its a 60s 0ne, lorraine chandler i cant hold on rca 8)
TPKM 3948
FIRST LETTER YEAR DATE [T=66,U=67,W=68,X=69,Z=70,A=71,B-72C=73 etc

SECOND LETTER format 45/33/l.p etc

THIRD LETTER type of account

FOURTH LETTER mono/stereo

SECOND SET OF FOUR NUMBERS[3948] master ref number

also in the run out groove away from the matrix number is a small letter R this indicates record was pressed at rockaway new jersey

also on the record label there is another set of numbers in this case 47-8980 the 47 refers to the client and the next four didgits indicate the master number ref from tape used to make the master

are you following :o :lol:
anyway that was r.c.a's way of doing things others had their own system
anyway im off to play this motownesque stomper havnt heard this in a while 8)

**Bernie** · July 26th, 2004, 03:52 PM

DISCODISK,

You da man!

**disco-disc** · July 26th, 2004, 04:06 PM

Discodisk............how do you know all this ?
Are you from the industry ? do you have a brief biog. ?

**markydefad** · July 26th, 2004, 04:23 PM

Discodisk is a most knowledgable and most generous man of mystery. He seems to know everything about every soul single released from 1960-???? including their catalog numbers!!!!! How he knows this stuff is beyond me!!!! But he sure knows his stuff!!!! :D :D :D