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Linda Ronstadt's LIVING IN THE U.S.A. LP Test Pressing


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Dead Wax Etchings:
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(on A-side): 

1 - 1    6E 155 A   SP  TML-M
(on B-side): 

1 - 1    6E 155 B   SP   TML-M
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Notes: 

The "1 - 1" notation identifies that the stamper (stamping plate) that pressed 
this record came from the first mother of the first metal master from the lacquer. 

There is no marking on this recording that indicates which lacquer was used.
According to my contact at Specialty, there were approximately 20 lacquers 
carved by Doug Sax for the initial printing, but that may be just the ones sent to 
Specialty. I've been told that closer to 50 lacquers were needed for the 1st run.

The "6E 155 A and B" notation identifies the record/stock # and the side. 

The "SP" notation identifies the pressing plant as Specialty Records. Their famous 
logo of big-S with little-R and little-C inside the loops of the S, is not pressed 
into this vinyl. Soon after this pressing, Warner Communications purchased 
Specialty Records, and it became the east coast pressing plant of the newly 
created WEA Manufacturing. (Allied Pressing was bought for the west coast.) 
In 2003 WEA Manufacturing (and several other related holdings) were sold
to Cinram for over $1 Billion. More Info About the Sale

The "TML-M" notation identifies The Mastering Lab as the facility where the lacquer 
was mastered. The final "M" is for Master Lathe. At least 3 lathes were in use 
there at this time, M (master), S (slave) and X (extra). 

 

The LP jacket was generic blank white with this 8 X 11 sheet attached:

This record arrived by overnight courier on 31 August 1978. (I still have the packaging.) I'm
not sure if it had ever been played prior to being sent to me, but since that date, it has only
been played once. I cleaned and re-calibrated my turntable before making one recording onto
a 4-channel multi-sync reel to reel recorder. That recording and a few cassettes made from the
reel to reel, were used to listen to the recording until the stock copies were released a month
later. Actually the white label promos arrived about 2 weeks later, and I did play them some,
but this platter has only had one needle-pass since it arrived.

Test pressings are often the best quality pressings of the run, as the stampers, mothers, and metal
masters used in manufacturing wear away a little each time they are used. Test pressings are always
the first, followed by white label promos. By the time stock copies get pressed, only the
codes in the dead wax (run-out groove) give any clue as to how early your copy is.