Vinyl pressings
by B.B. King · 1978
Midnight Believer was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 11 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
AA 1061A △23266 (3)Side A runout, variant 1
AA 1061B △23266-X (1)Side B runout, variant 1
AA 1061A △23266 (1)Side A runout, variant 2
AA 1061B △23266-X (1)Side B runout, variant 2
AA 1061 A (2) A3 1SA SIDE ETCHED
AA 1061 B (2) D2 2SB SIDE ETCHED
AA-1061-AA SIDE LABEL
AA-1061-BB SIDE LABEL
Ƨ S SXT AA 1061 A (2)Runout side A variant 1
1 S AA 1061 B SXT BRunout side B variant 1
AA 1061 A (2) SXT Pi \ ƧRunout side A variant 2
AA 1061 B SXT Ƨ SRunout side B variant 2
AA 1061 A SP 1-1Side A Runout, Etched
AA 1061 B [SRC Logo] 1-1Side B Runout, Etched Except SRC Logo, Stamped
AA-1061-A-SPSide A Label
AA-1061-B-SPSide B Label
AA 1061 A SP 1-1A Runout
AA 1061 B [SRC Logo] 1-1B Runout
AA-1061-A-SPSide A Label
AA-1061-B-SPSide B Label
Side A: A ONE [Union Jack symbol] AA 1061AFirst A is stamped; "ONE" is etched in bubble writing; Union Jack stamped
Side B: A ONE [Union Jack symbol] AA 1061BFirst A is stamped; "ONE" is etched in bubble writing; Union Jack etched
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Germany | ABC Records 26116 XOT / ABC Records 26 116 XOTFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | ABC Records 26 117 XOTFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | ABC Records ABC 493First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | ABC Records YX-8137-ABFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | ABC Records YX-8137-ABFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Portugal | ABC Records MP-9.027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | South Africa | ABC Records ABCL 345First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | ABC Records MCL 1802First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | ABC Records ABCL 5246First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | ABC Records AA-1061 / ABC Records AA-1061First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | ABC Records AA 1061 / ABC Records AA-1061First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Venezuela | ABC Records LP-7077First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | ABC Records AA 1061 / ABC Records AA-1061First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | ABC Records 9022-1061First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | ABC Records 68.059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-4059LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-27011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-27011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | MCA Records MCL 1802LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | MCA Records MAA 1061LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Israel | ABC Records AA 1061LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | ABC Records ABCL 5246 / MCA Records ABCL 5246BLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Direct-Disk Labs SD 16616 / MCA Records SD 16616LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
33 vinyl pressings of Midnight Believer are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1978 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is ABC Records AA 1061, released February 16, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AA 1061, AA-1061, MCL 1802, ABCL 5246) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AA 1061A △23266 (3) and AA 1061B △23266-X (1). Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
