Vinyl pressings
by Giorgio Moroder · 1978
Midnight Express 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.
36 pressings came out in 1978, 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.
NBLP-7114-AS TH-2 AZ [flower] 8 T1Side A runout, variant 1
NBLP-7114-BS T-1 AZ [flower] CTC 36 T1Side B runout, variant 1
NBLP-7114-AS TH-1 AZ [flower] CTC T1Side A runout, variant 2
NBLP-7114-BS P-1 AZ [flower] 5 CSide B runout, variant 2
NBLP-7114-AS R-1 AZ [Flower symbol] S-6039Runout Side A
NBLP-7114-BS R-2 AZ [Flower symbol] S-6040Runout Side B
NBLP 7114 ASLabel Side A
NBLP 7114 BSLabel Side B
NBLP-7114-A 25/10/T RobSide 1 Label
NBLP-7114-B 25/10/T RobSide 2 Label
NBLP-7114-AS Az '[❀ flower] S-6039Runout A
NBLP-7114-BS Re Az '[❀ flower] S-6040Runout B
NBLP-7114-AS R-1 AZ (Flower) S-6039Side 1
NBLP-7114-AS R-2 AZ (Flower) S-6040Side 2
O NBLP-7114-AS SM-1 A7 CB/2 BRunout Side A
P NBLP-7114-BS SM-1 AZ [etched flower] 5 c2Runout Side B
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 | Argentina | Casablanca SUP80018First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7114LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7114First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Casablanca NBLP 7114LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1978 | France | Casablanca 406-CBSE. 71035First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Casablanca 9128 018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | Casablanca 406-CBSE. 71035 / Casablanca VG 407 CBSE 71035First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Casablanca 9128 018First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Casablanca NB 7043First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Casablanca 9128 018First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Greece | Casablanca CBLP 50030First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Hong Kong | Casablanca NBLP 7114 / Shun Cheong Trading Co. Hong Kong NBLP 7114First yearLP | LP |
| 1978 | Italy | Casablanca CALP 5022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Casablanca CALP 5022 / Casablanca CA. LP 5022First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Italy | Casablanca CALP 5022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | France | Casablanca 9128 018LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Mexico | Casablanca LPR-43018-ALP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | South Africa | Casablanca STAR 5178LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | UK | Casablanca 9128 018LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Casablanca 25SA-265 / Polystar 25SA-265LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Brazil | Casablanca 9128 018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | Casablanca PRICE 91 / Phonogram PRICE 91LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | Spain | Casablanca 91 28 018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | South Korea | Casablanca 824 206-1 / Casablanca SEL-RP 1091LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | US | CasablancaLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | The Control Group CGO 099 / Casablanca CGO 099LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Casablanca 9128 018LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Casablanca 406-CBSE. 71035 / Casablanca CB 71035LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Casablanca 9128 018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Casablanca 9128 018LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Casablanca 9128 018LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Casablanca 9128 018LP, Reissue, White Label | LP, Reissue, White Label |
| ? | Hong Kong | Casablanca NBLP 7114LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | India | Casablanca 9128018LP | LP |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7114LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Casablanca NBLP 7114LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
72 vinyl pressings of Midnight Express are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1978 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Ireland and more. One of them is Casablanca NBLP 7114, released September 11, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NBLP 7114, NBLP 7114 DJ, CAL 2030, SUP80018) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, NBLP-7114-AS TH-2 AZ [flower] 8 T1 and NBLP-7114-BS T-1 AZ [flower] CTC 36 T1. 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.
