US
October 1982- Label and catalog number
- Sugar Hill Records SH 268
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
M-2 VID-326-A STERLING JackA-Side Runout Etching
VID-327-B STERLINGB-Side Runout Etching
VID 326-A 19A-Side Label
VID 326-B 19B-Side Label
Vinyl pressings
The Message
by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five · 1982
31 pressings15 countriesElectroDiscoFunkHip Hop
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.
How to spot a first pressing of The Message
14 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 9 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.
US
1982- Label and catalog number
- Sugar Hill Records SH-268
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
VID- 326-ASide A runout etched
VID - 327- BSide B runout etched
SH-268-ASide A label
SH-268-BSide B label
US
1982- Label and catalog number
- Sugar Hill Records SH 268
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
VID-326-A STERLING JackA-Side Runout
VID-327-B STERLING JackB-Side Runout
VID 327 AA-Side Label
VID 327 BB-Side Label
US
1982- Label and catalog number
- Sugar Hill Records SH 268
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
'M-2 VID-326-A Sterling JackSide A runout etching, STERLING stamped
VID-327-B M 3 Sterling JackSide B runout etching, STERLING stamped
'M-2 VID-326-A STERLING JackSide A Variant 2
M-2 VID-327-B STERLING JackSide B Variant 2
UK
1982- Label and catalog number
- PRT RCS 972
- Format
- LP, Album
UK
1982- Label and catalog number
- Sugar Hill Records SHLP 1007
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
SHLP-1007-A1 DAMONT SEtchings side A
SHLP-1007-B1 DAMONT REtchings side B
SHLP.1007-ACentre label side A
SHLP.1007-BCentre label side B
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 31 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s21 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor VPL1 6650 / RCA Victor VPL 16650First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Sugar Hill Records SH 268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Sugar Hill Records SH 268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | Sugar Hill Records 540040 / Vogue 540040First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Germany | Sugar Hill Records 6.25362 / Sugar Hill Records 6.25362 AOFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Ireland | Sugar Hill Records 6.25362First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Scandinavia | Sound Of Scandinavia SOSLP-079 / Sound Of Scandinavia SOSLP 079First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Sweden | Sound Of Scandinavia SOSLP 079First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1982 | UK | PRT RCS 972First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | UK | Sugar Hill Records SHLP 1007First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH-268First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH 268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH 268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH 268First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104.8252LP, Album | LP, Album |
2000s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Italy | Earmark 644001LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2000 | Italy | Earmark 44001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
2010s5 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH 268LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2011 | UK & Europe | Sugar Hill Records 0600753360200Album, Reissue, LP | Album, Reissue, LP |
| 2017 | US | 8th Records ETH268HLPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | US | Sugar Hill Records SH 268LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2019 | Worldwide | BMG BMGCAT324DLP / Sugar Hill Records BMGCAT324DLPLP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
2020s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Worldwide | Sugar Hill Records BMGCAT782DLPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Sugar Hill Records RCV1 721412 / Sugar Hill Records 603497833726LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
Year unknown1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Sugar Hill Records SH 268LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
Tracklist
- A1She's Fresh4:56
- A2It's Nasty4:15
- A3Scorpio5:10
- A4It's A Shame (Mt. Airy Groove)4:58
- B1Dreamin'5:45
- B2You Are4:49
- B3The Message7:11
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Message are there?
31 vinyl pressings of The Message are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1982 and 2023.
When was The Message first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in US, UK, Australia & New Zealand, Canada and more. One of them is Sugar Hill Records SH 268, released October 1982.
How do I tell if my copy of The Message is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SH 268, SH-268, RCS 972, SHLP 1007) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M-2 VID-326-A STERLING Jack and VID-327-B STERLING. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Message on vinyl worth?
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.
