Vinyl pressings
by Giorgio Moroder · 1979
E=MC² was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 18 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.
C-2 ᐉ NBLP-7169-AS-RE-1 K-2 AZ ❀Runout side A
C-3 ᐉ NBLP-7169-BS-RE-1 A-4 AZ ❀Runout side B
NBLP 7169 ASLabel side A
NBLP 7169 BSLabel side B
TI NBLP-7169-AS-RE-1 TH-2 AZ[drawing of a flower] ASide A run out, etched
T NBLP-7169-B5-RE-1 TH-2 AZ[drawing of a flower] ΛSide B run out, etched
TI NBLP-7169-AS-RE-1 TH-3 AZ[drawing of a flower] A2Side A run out, etched Variant 1
TI NBLP-7169-BS-RE-1 TH-4 AZ[drawing of a flower] ΛSide B run out, etched Variant 1
\S NBLP-7169-AS-RE-1 SM-1 AZ❀ S\A-side runout variant 1
\S NBLP-7169-BS-RE-1 SM-1 AZ❀ AB-side runout variant 1
\S NBLP-7169-AS-RE-1 SM-1 AZ❀ A2A-side runout variant 2
\S NBLP-7169-BS-RE-1 SM-2 AZ❀ A2B-side runout variant 2
C-1 NBLP-7169-AS-RE-1 K-2 AZ [FLOWER]Run-out area side A [hand-etched]
C-2 NBLP-7169-BS-RE-1 K-4 AZ [FLOWER]Run-out area side B [hand-etched]
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Argentina | RCA Victor AVSI-4740First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor VPL1 4204 / RCA Victor VPL1-4204First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Oasis 200 842-320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Bolivia | Oasis OSLP-S-6002First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed | LP, Album, Partially Mixed |
| 1979 | Brazil | Young 304.1160First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Brazil | Young 304.1160First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7169First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Atlantic 50 640First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Atlantic 50 640 / Atlantic 50640First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Oasis 200 842 / Oasis 200 842-320First yearLP, Album, Partially Mixed, Stereo | LP, Album, Partially Mixed, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Oasis 30 553 2 / Bertelsmann Club 30 553 2LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1979 | Greece | Oasis MILP 10054 / Minos MAL - MILP 10054First yearLP | LP |
| 1979 | Italy | Durium D.A.I. 30 331 / Durium Marche Estere D. AI 30-331First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Durium D.A.I. 30.331 / Durium Marche Estere D. AI 30-331First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Limited |
| 1979 | Italy | Durium D.A.I. 30.331 / Durium Marche Estere D. AI 30-331First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Sweden | Lotus Records DS 4093LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Casablanca 25S-27LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Casablanca 25S-27LP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Repertoire Records V171LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UK | Repertoire Records (UK) Ltd V171cLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | India | Polydor 2310 696LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Turkey | Yankı 663 / Yankı 6002LP, Album | LP, Album |
39 vinyl pressings of E=MC² are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1979 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Jamaica, Argentina and more. One of them is Casablanca NBLP 7169, released August 27, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NBLP 7169, NBLP 7169 DJ, OASLP 507, AVSI-4740) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, C-2 ᐉ NBLP-7169-AS-RE-1 K-2 AZ ❀ and C-3 ᐉ NBLP-7169-BS-RE-1 A-4 AZ ❀. 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.
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