Vinyl pressings
by Blood, Sweat And Tears · 1980
Nuclear Blues was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 12 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.
MCA-2151 CR·1 回-G-回Side A Hand Etched
MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A Stamped
WallySide A Hand Etched
MCA-2151 CR 2 回-G-回Side B Hand Etched
MCA-2151 CR-3 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally ◈-P-◈Runout side A, variant 1
MCA-2152 CR-1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL Wally ◈-P-◈Runout side B, variant 1
MCA-2151 CR-3 ◈-P-◈ II MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyRunout side A, variant 2
MCA-2152XV CR-3 ◈-P-◈ I MASTERED BY CAPITOL WallyRunout side B, variant 2
S-7490 MCA-2151 F-5Side 1 runout
S-7491 MCA-2152 F-5Side 2 runout
S-7490 MCA-2151 F-5 wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide 1 runout variant
S-7491 MCA-2152 F-5 wally MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide 2 runout variant
MCF-3061-A1 ASide A
MCF-3061-B1 ∴Side B
ULS 663-1 24 6 80 SBside A runout area data
ULS 663-2 12 6 80 SBside B runout area data
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Asia | MCA Records MCA 5462-9First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Australia | MCA Records MCA 3227 / LAX Records MCA 3227First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | LAX Records MCA-3227First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | LAX Records MCA-3227 / MCA Records MCA-3227First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Far Out Productions 0060.288 / LAX Records 0060.288First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Germany | Far Out Productions 31 477 3 / LAX Records 31 477 3LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | Germany | MCA Records 202.029First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | MCA Records 14C 062-63963First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | LAX Records AW-1044First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Promo · Promo, Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Japan | LAX Records AW-1044First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | Netherlands | MCA Records 202.029First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Scandinavia | MCA Records MCA-3227 / MCA Records MCA 3227First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | South Africa | MCA Records ML 4460 / MCA Records MCA 3227First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | UK | MCA Records MCF 3061 / MCA Records MCA 3227First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | LAX Records MCA-3227 / MCA Records MCA-3227First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Masters MA 025884LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Bigtime 2215 235LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Masters MA 025884LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
27 vinyl pressings of Nuclear Blues are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1980 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, UK, Yugoslavia, Asia and more. One of them is LAX Records MCA-3227.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA-3227, L33-1865, MCF 3061, LPS 1007) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA-2151 CR·1 回-G-回 and MASTERED BY CAPITOL. 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.
