Vinyl pressings
by England Dan & John Ford Coley · 1976
Nights Are Forever was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
22 pressings came out in 1976, 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.
ST-BT-763643-A MASTERFONICS Glm (PR)Side 1 Etched
ST-BT-763644-A MASTERFONICS Glm (PR)Side 2 Etched
ST-BT-763643-PRSide 1 Label
ST-BT-763644-PRSide 2 Label
ST-BT-763643-AAA-II-III MASTERFONICS-GAM PRC (PR)Runout A, variant 1
ST-BT-763644-AAA-1 PRC MASTERFONICS-GAM (PR)Runout B, variant 1
ST-BT-763643-AAA-1 MASTERFONICS-GAM PRC (PR)Runout A, variant 2
ST-BT-763644-AAA-1 PRC MASTERFONICS-GAM (PR)Runout B, variant 2
ST-BT-763643-AA △21148 (4) MASTERFONICS GLN (PR)Side A Runout - Etched
ST-BT-763644-AA △21148-X MASTERFONICS GLN (PR)Side B Runout - Etched
MR (in circle)Side A/B Runout - Stamped
ST-BT-763643-AAEtched Side One
ST-BT-763644- AAEtched Side 2
ST-BT-763643-Matrix Label Side One
ST-BT-763644-Matrix Label Side Two
ST-BT-763643-AAA MASTERFONICS Glm (yd) PRC[outer ring, below MASTERFONICS]Side 1 Etched (Variant 1)
ST-BT-763644-AAA—l-III PRC MASTERFONICS-Glm (yd)Side 2 Etched (Variant 1)
ST-BT-763643-AAA+-1 PRC MASTERFONICS (PR)Side 1 Etched (Variant 2)
ST-BT-763644-AAA—l-II PRC MASTERFONICS (PR)Side 2 Etched (Variant 2)
ST-BT-763643-A MASTERFONICS Glm (PR)Side A Etched
ST-BT-763644-A MASTERFONICS Glm (PR)Side B Etched
ST-BT-763643-PRSide A Label
ST-BT-763644-PRSide B Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | Atlantic BT 89517First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Big Tree Records BT 89517First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Atlantic K50297First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Greece | Atlantic A 0132 / Atlantic 0132First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Israel | Atlantic K 50297First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Italy | Big Tree Records W 50297First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | Big Tree Records P-10236AFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | Big Tree Records P-10236AFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Big Tree Records ATL 50297 (BT 89517)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | New Zealand | Atlantic BT 89517First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Philippines | Atlantic BT 99517 / Big Tree Records BT 99517First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Taiwan | Holy Hawk Record Co. Ltd. HH-6182LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1976 | UK | Big Tree Records K 50297 / Atlantic K 50297First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Atlantic K 50297First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | US | Big Tree Records BT 89517First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Big Tree Records BT 89517LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Taiwan | 新建聲唱片音樂帶出版有限公司 JS-5117 / New Jen Sheng JS-5117LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Big Tree Records BT 89517LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | Uruguay | Big Tree Records 113.091LP, Album | LP, Album |
28 vinyl pressings of Nights Are Forever are listed here, from 14 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Big Tree Records BT 89517.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BT 89517, K 50297, K50297, A 0132) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-BT-763643-A MASTERFONICS Glm (PR) and ST-BT-763644-A MASTERFONICS Glm (PR). 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.
