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Data as of Jun 16, 2026
Spyro Gyra – Freetime
1981 · US · MCA Records · Vinyl LP Album
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Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Feb 2, 2026
- MMint
- $16.39
- NMNear Mint
- $14.66
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $11.21
- VGVery Good
- $7.76
- G+Good Plus
- $4.31
- GGood
- $2.59
- FFair
- $1.73
- PPoor
- $0.86
138 copies listed on Discogs from $1.06.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- MCA2669MCA-2669.MD5 RL. MASTERDISK ◈-P-◈MCA-2669.MD6 MASTERDISK RL ◈-P-◈ IIIMCA-2669- MD6 MASTERDISK RL ◈-P-◈ I
- Runout — side B
- MCA2670MCA-2670-MD5 RL MASTERDISK ◈-P-◈MCA-2670-MD5 MASTERDISK ◈-P-◈ IIMCA-2670-MD5 MASTERDISK ◈-P-◈ IIII
- Pressing Plant ID
- ◈-P-◈(Stamped in runouts)
- Record Company
- MCA Records, Inc.
- Pressed By
- MCA Pressing Plant, Pinckneyville
- Recorded At
- Secret Sound
- Mixed At
- House Of Music, West Orange, NJ
- Mastered At
- Masterdisk
- Lacquer Cut At
- Masterdisk
Specifications
- Artist
- Spyro Gyra
- Genre
- Jazz
- Style
- Jazz-Rock, Jazz-Funk, Fusion
- Year
- 1981
- Label
- MCA Records
- Catalog number
- MCA-5238
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- A1Freetime6:03
- A2Telluride5:18
- A3Summer Strut5:07
- A4Elegy For Trane4:35
- B1Pacific Sunrise7:53
- B2Amber Dream5:07
- B3String Soup3:30
- Producer
- Jay Beckenstein
- Producer
- Richard Calandra
- Producer [Assistant]
- Jeremy Wall
- Mastered By
- Bob Ludwig
- Engineer [Mixing Assistant]
- Julian Robertson
- Engineer [Mixing]
- Charlie Conrad
About this record
The runout etchings on this 1981 MCA pressing reveal a split mastering: sides A and B were cut at Masterdisk with the plant code ◈-P-◈, marking it as pressed at MCA's Pinckneyville facility rather than any third-party plant. Demand is modest—105 collectors want it against 2204 who own one—but the price spread tells the real story: a Mint copy commands 16.39 USD while a VG example drops to 7.76 USD, a swing driven entirely by the condition-sensitive nature of this fusion-funk title.
What drives its value
Spyro Gyra's Freetime sits in the deep catalog of 1980s jazz-fusion, where supply outpaces active demand. The price guide shows 138 copies currently for sale, with the lowest asking just 1.06 USD—a floor price that reflects the title's accessibility rather than rarity.
The real value emerges in condition: a Mint copy is worth 16.39 USD, but drop to NM and it falls to 14.66 USD; a VG+ reaches 11.21 USD, and a VG slides to 7.76 USD. This steep gradient means buyers are paying for surface quality and playback integrity, not scarcity.
The US original (MCA-5238) competes directly with a 1981 Japanese pressing (VIM-6263), both from the same year; the US pressing has no barcode, a detail that matters only if the Japanese variant does. Community ratings are solid at 3.85 out of 5 across 114 votes, suggesting consistent but not passionate collector interest.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the MCA catalogue number MCA-5238 on the front cover and spine label. The runout etchings are the fingerprint: side A reads MCA2669 with the etched note MCA-2669.MD5 RL.
MASTERDISK ◈-P-◈, while side B shows MCA2670 and MCA-2670-MD5 RL MASTERDISK ◈-P-◈. The ◈-P-◈ code identifies the MCA Pressing Plant in Pinckneyville as the manufacturer.
Grading hinges on vinyl surface condition and groove wear: Mint means unplayed, NM allows only light handling marks, VG+ permits light surface noise on quiet passages, and VG accepts moderate noise and light scratches. The label itself should show no barcode (a distinguishing feature of this US pressing versus later reissues or the Japanese variant).
Play-test the first track to assess whether groove damage or warping has occurred; fusion records like this one suffer audibly from even minor tracking distortion.
Further reading: grading a record, what makes a pressing valuable.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
Recorded at Secret Sound Studio, New York City/New York.
Mixed at House of Music, West Orange/New Jersey.
℗ © 1981 MCA Records, Inc. © 1981 Transcontinent Record Sales, Inc.
Runouts are etched, except for "MASTERDISK" and the "◈-P-◈"
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Other pressings of this release
Different editions of the same album — pressing decides value.
Frequently asked
What is a VG+ copy of Freetime worth?
According to the price guide, a VG+ graded copy is valued at 11.21 USD. This represents the middle ground between the NM price of 14.66 USD and the VG price of 7.76 USD, reflecting light surface noise and minor cosmetic wear but no skip or skip-prone damage.
How does the US pressing compare to the Japanese 1981 release?
Both were released in 1981 on MCA Records, but the US pressing carries catalogue MCA-5238 and has no barcode, while the Japanese pressing is catalogued VIM-6263. The US pressing was manufactured at MCA's Pinckneyville plant, as confirmed by the ◈-P-◈ runout code. The Japanese variant may command a premium depending on its own pressing plant and condition, but the US original is the more common of the two.
Why is there such a big price gap between Mint and VG condition?
The drop from 16.39 USD (Mint) to 7.76 USD (VG) reflects how surface noise and groove wear directly impact playback quality on fusion records, where clean high-end detail is central to the listening experience. Mint copies preserve the original mastering's clarity; VG copies introduce audible noise that degrades that clarity. Buyers of this title are willing to pay for silence.
Is Freetime rare or common?
It is common. The price guide shows 138 copies for sale at any given time, with the lowest asking price at 1.06 USD. Against a community pool of 2204 owners, demand is light—only 105 collectors want it. This is a title you will find regularly in bins; rarity is not a value driver here.
How do I verify the Masterdisk mastering credit?
Examine the dead-wax etchings on both sides of the vinyl. The etching MCA-2669.MD5 RL. MASTERDISK ◈-P-◈ on side A and MCA-2670-MD5 RL MASTERDISK ◈-P-◈ on side B confirm that both sides were mastered and cut at Masterdisk, a New York–based cutting facility. The ◈-P-◈ code designates the Pinckneyville pressing plant. These etchings are permanent and cannot be faked by later reissues.