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Data as of Aug 9, 2026
Hamilton Bohannon – Let's Start The Dance
1978 · Canada · Mercury · Vinyl 7" 45 RPM
Offers · 1
- C$27.68ref VA-723F6Media VG+ · Very Good PlusSleeve NM🇨🇦 Ships from Canada
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Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Manufactured By
- Polydor Ltd. (2)
Specifications
- Artist
- Hamilton Bohannon
- Genre
- Electronic
- Style
- Disco
- Year
- 1978
- Label
- Mercury
- Catalog number
- M-74015
- Country
- Canada
Tracklist
- ALet's Start The Dance3:37
- BI Wonder Why3:18
About this record
Demand outpaces supply on this Canadian Mercury 45: 102 collectors want it against 74 who own one. Pressed at Polydor Ltd. in 1978 under catalogue M-74015, this 7-inch disco single arrived in the same year as the UK variant (Mercury 9199 830), but the Canadian pressing remains harder to locate in clean condition.
What drives its value
The want-to-have ratio of 102 to 74 signals genuine scarcity relative to collector interest. This Canadian pressing sits apart from the simultaneous UK release on the same label, a distinction that matters for completists building regional variants.
Mercury's Canadian operations routed production through Polydor Ltd., a detail visible only in the dead wax—not on the label itself. The 2-track 45 RPM format limits play-wear risk compared to LPs, but 7-inch singles from this era often surface with label damage or centre-hole wear.
Condition therefore drives value sharply; a mint copy commands a premium over a played VG example. The community rating of 3.75 across 4 votes reflects modest but genuine collector enthusiasm, typical of mid-tier disco funk crossovers that appeal to both soul and electronic-music audiences.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the catalogue number M-74015 printed on the Mercury label. The dead-wax runout will bear Polydor Ltd. (2) as the pressing plant identifier—check the vinyl itself near the label, not the sleeve.
The 7-inch 45 RPM format is standard; verify the label stock is Mercury's Canadian issue (glossy or matte finish varies by plant run). Grade by examining the vinyl surface under light for hairline scratches, which accumulate on 45s from jukebox or radio-station play.
Centre-hole damage is common; a tight, undamaged hole is a mark of careful storage. Sleeve condition is secondary to vinyl on 45s, but original Mercury sleeves from 1978 Canadian pressings are fragile—check for seam splits and ring wear.
The two tracks should play without skips; electronic production can mask minor surface noise, but pops indicate groove damage.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Other pressings of this release
Different editions of the same album — pressing decides value.
Frequently asked
How does the Canadian pressing differ from the UK Mercury 9199 830?
Both were released in 1978 on Mercury, but the Canadian pressing carries catalogue M-74015 and was manufactured at Polydor Ltd. (2). The UK pressing uses a different catalogue number (9199 830) and likely a different plant. Label graphics, vinyl weight, and pressing-plant runouts will differ; the Canadian version is less common in circulation outside North America.
Why do 102 collectors want this but only 74 have it?
The want-to-have ratio reflects scarcity: fewer clean copies surface on the secondary market than the number of collectors actively seeking it. 45 RPM singles from 1978 were often discarded or heavily played; Canadian pressings in particular were pressed in smaller quantities than UK or US variants. This imbalance typically sustains higher asking prices.
What should I look for when grading this 45?
Examine the vinyl surface under bright light for hairline scratches and scuffs—common on 45s from jukebox or radio use. Check the centre hole for damage or enlargement, which affects playback stability. Inspect the label for water stains, foxing, or peeling. Play-test both tracks if possible; electronic production can mask minor surface noise, but audible pops indicate groove damage that reduces value.
Is the Polydor Ltd. (2) pressing plant marking important?
Yes. The dead-wax plant identifier confirms this is the Canadian pressing rather than a misattributed copy. Polydor Ltd. operated multiple facilities; the (2) designation narrows the production run. Collectors verifying authenticity check the runout groove for this mark—it will not appear on the label, only on the vinyl itself near the centre.
Why is this a 2-track 45 and not a full album?
Hamilton Bohannon's Let's Start The Dance was released as a 7-inch 45 RPM single in 1978, the standard format for radio and jukebox promotion of disco and funk tracks. The A-side and B-side format was typical for Mercury's singles strategy. Full-length albums by Bohannon exist separately; this pressing is a single only.