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The Midnight Special by Harry Belafonte, album cover

Vinyl pressings

The Midnight Special

by Harry Belafonte · 1962

50 pressings14 countriesEasy ListeningFolkGospelSoul

The Midnight Special was first pressed on vinyl in 1962. 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 Midnight Special

23 pressings came out in 1962, the album's first year, in 8 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

April 1962
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LSP-2449
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Indianapolis Pressing
Runout / matrix

N70 Y 5153-6S Ⅰ A1A stamped

N70 Y 5154-6S Ⅰ A2B stamped

N7OY-5153A label

N7OY-5154B label

Full details of this pressing

US

April 1962
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LSP-2449
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Rockaway Pressing
Runout / matrix

N7O Y 5153‑20S 1B R CSide A, stamped

N7O Y 5154‑13S A1 R CSide B, stamped

N7OY-5153Side A, label

N7OY-5154Side B, label

Full details of this pressing

US

1962
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-2449
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Terre Haute Pressing
Runout / matrix

N7 0P5151--19S T ^111Runout A variant 1

N7 0P5152- 13S T ^1111111Runout B variant 1

N7 0P5151-10S T C111Runout A variant 2

N7 0P5152-12S-- TRunout B variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1962
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LSP-2449RCA Victor LSP 2449
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Terre Haute Pressing
Runout / matrix

N70 Y 5153-6SVariant 1, side A runout

N70 Y 5154-6SVariant 1, side B runout

N70 Y 5153-18S ^ IIIIIVariant 3, side A runout

N70 Y 5154- 8S ^ IIIIIIIIIIIVariant 3, side B runout

Full details of this pressing

US

1962
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LSP-2449
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Hollywood Pressing
Runout / matrix

N70 Y 5153-21S HSide 1 stamped

N70 Y 5154-14S HSide 2 stamped

Full details of this pressing

US

1962
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-2449
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Indianapolis Pressing
Runout / matrix

N7 0P5151-6 S 2 I Λ1Runout side A, variant 1

N7 0P5151-6 S I x Λ1Runout side B, variant 1

N7 0P5151-6 S Y I Λ2Runout side A, variant 2

N7 0P5152-6 S Ix Λ2Runout side B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 50 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1960s26 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1962CanadaRCA Victor LSP-2449First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1962CanadaRCA Victor LPM-2449First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962CanadaRCA Victor LPM-2449First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962FranceRCA Victor 430.525 / RCA Victor 430.525First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962GermanyRCA VICTOR LPM-2449First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1962GermanyRCA VICTOR LSP-2449First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1962GermanyRCA VICTOR LPM-2449First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1962ItalyRCA Victor LPM / LSP 2449 / RCA Victor LPM 2449First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962JapanVictor RA-5085First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962PeruRCA Victor LPM-2449 / FTA FTA LPM-2449First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962UKRCA Victor SF-5132First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1962UKRCA Victor RD-27262 / RCA Victor LPM-2449First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962USRCA Victor LPM-2449First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962USRCA Victor LSP-2449 / RCA Victor LSP 2449First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1962USRCA Victor LSP-2449First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
All 26 pressings from the 1960s
1970s6 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1972AustraliaRCA Camden CAS-7176LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1972GermanyRCA International (Camden) CDS 6022LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1972GermanyRCA International (Camden) CDS 6022LP, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressingLP, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing
1972UKRCA Camden CDS 1100LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1977PhilippinesRCA ANL1-2324LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1977USRCA ANL1-2324LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980s4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980UKRCA International INTS 5029 / RCA International NL 12324LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1981AustraliaRCA International VAL1 0311LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
1984EuropeRCA International NL 82324LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1984South AfricaRCA Victor GSL 198 / RCA Victor GSL 198LP, AlbumLP, Album
2000s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2003GermanyRCA Victor LPM-2449 / Speakers Corner Records LSP-2449LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
Year unknown13 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?AustraliaRCA L101284LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?AustraliaRCA SL101284LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?BrazilRCA Victor LPM-2449LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?GermanyRCA VICTOR LPM-2449LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?GermanyRCA VICTOR LSP 2449LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?JapanVictor SHP 5062LP, AlbumLP, Album
?JapanRCA RCA-5121LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?New ZealandRCA RPL 3300LP, AlbumLP, Album
?USRCA Victor LSP-2449LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?USRCA Victor LSP-2449LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?USRCA Victor LSP-2449LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?USRCA Victor LSP-2449 / RCA Victor LSP 2449LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?USRCA Victor LSP-2449LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo

Tracklist

  1. A1Midnight Special3:55
  2. A2Crawdad Song3:32
  3. A3Memphis Tennessee4:53
  4. A4Gotta Travel On4:20
  5. A5Did You Hear About Jerry?2:52
  6. B1On Top Of Old Smokey5:54
  7. B2Muleskinner3:26
  8. B3Makes A Long Time Man Feel Bad5:40
  9. B4Michael Row The Boat Ashore3:54

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of The Midnight Special are there?

50 vinyl pressings of The Midnight Special are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1962 and 2003.

When was The Midnight Special first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1962, in US, UK, Italy, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor LSP-2449, released April 1962.

How do I tell if my copy of The Midnight Special is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LSP-2449, LPM-2449, SF-5132, RD-27262) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, N70 Y 5153-6S Ⅰ A1 and N70 Y 5154-6S Ⅰ A2. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is The Midnight Special 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.

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