Vinyl pressings
by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five · 1982
The Message was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
47 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 13 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.
VID-235-ASide A runout groove, etched
VID-235-BSide B runout groove, etched
STERLINGSide A runout groove, stamped
(VID-235-A-19)Side A label
VID-235-A STERLINGRunout side A
VID-235-BRunout side B
VID 235 ALabel side A
VID 235 BLabel side B
VID-235-A-APSide A Label
VID-235-B-APSide B Label
VID-235-A [illegible character]Side A runout etching
VID-235-BSide B runout etching
STERLINGSide A & B runout stamp
SH-584-ASide A label
VID - 235 - A STERLINGSide A
VID - 235 - BSide B
VID-235-A 19Side A Label
VID-235-B 19Side B Label
VID- 235- A STERLINGA etched, STERLING stamped
VID- 235- BB etched
VID-235-A-SUA Label
VID-235-B-SUB 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor TDS-118First year12", Single, 45 RPM | 12", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1982 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor 104093First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1982 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor 104089First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor 104093First year7", Single, Mispress | 7", Single, Mispress |
| 1982 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor TDS-118First year12", Single, 45 RPM | 12", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1982 | Brazil | RCA 101.8255First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Canada | Sugar Hill Records SH 584First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Canada | Sugar Hill Records SH-787XFirst year7", Promo · Promo | 7", Promo · Promo |
| 1982 | Canada | Sugar Hill Records SH 584First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Canada | Sugar Hill Records SH-584First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1982 | France | Vogue 310953 / Sugar Hill Records 310953First year12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1982 | France | Sugar Hill Records 101696First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | France | Sugar Hill Records 310953 / Vogue 310953First year12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", Single, 33 ⅓ RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1982 | France | Sugar Hill Records 101696First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1982 | Germany | Sugar Hill Records 6.13 611 / Sugar Hill Records 6.13611 ACFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Japan | P-Vine Records PLP-631712", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1997 | UK | Not On Label FLASH 112", 33 ⅓ RPM, White Label | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, White Label |
| 1997 | UK | Deepbeats DEEP12 00112", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 1997 | US | Rhino Records R0 72449 / Sugar Hill Records B-BOY 199712", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Reissue |
| 1998 | Japan | P-Vine Records PLP-632912", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | UK | Antidote ANTTW01012", 33 ⅓ RPM | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| 2004 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-58412", Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2005 | UK | Not On Label12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | UK | Sugar Hill Records SHL 117R / BMG SHL 117R12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | CBS CBSA-32327", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | UK | Not On Label FLASH 212", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, White Label | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, White Label |
| ? | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-58412", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Repress |
62 vinyl pressings of The Message are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1982 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in US, UK, Australia & New Zealand, Brazil and more. One of them is Sugar Hill Records SH-584, released July 1, 1982.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SH-584, SH 584, 620152, SH 787) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VID-235-A and VID-235-B. 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.
