Vinyl pressings
by Iron Maiden · 1981
Maiden Japan was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
25 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 12 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.
12 EMI 5219 A-2A-Side runout - variant 1
12 EMI 5219 B-1B-Side runout - variant 1
12 EMI 5219 A-2 3 1 MJA-Side runout - variant 2
12 EMI 5219 B-1 3 1B-Side runout - variant 2
12 EMI 5219 A-2 6 MJA Side runout, variant 1
12 EMI 5219 B-1 6B side runout, variant 1
12 EMI 5219 A-2 29 1 MJA Side runout, variant 2
12 EMI 5219 B-1 15 2B side runout, variant 2
MLP-1-15000 F-1 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side A runout, variant 1
MLP-2-15000 F-1 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side B runout, variant 1
MLP-1-15000 F-1 F4 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side A runout, variant 2
MLP-2-15000 F-1 F4 Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Side B runout, variant 2
MPL-1-15000 F-3 · Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲Side One Etched
MPL-2-15000 F-3 · Wally MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲Side Two Etched
MPL-1-15000 F2 Wally ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide A Etched
MPL-2-15000 F7 Wally ─◁ MASTERED BY CAPITOLSide B Etched
07534-A2 ZSide A runout
07534-B1 ZSide B runout
1 C K 062-07 534 Z ASide A label
1 C K 062-07 534 Z BSide B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australasia | EMI MLP 101First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album, EP | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album, EP |
| 1981 | Australia | EMI MLP 101First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP |
| 1981 | Barbados | Capitol Records SQ-15017First year12", EP | 12", EP |
| 1981 | Canada | Harvest MLP-15000First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Harvest MLP-15000First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Europe | EMI Electrola 1C K 062-07 534 Z / EMI 1C K 062-07 534 ZFirst year12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1981 | Europe | EMI Electrola 1C K 062-07 534 Z / EMI 1C K 062-07 534 ZFirst year12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | EMI 2C 052 52894 Z / EMI 2C 052-52.894First year12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | EMI 2C 052 52894 Z / EMI 2C 052-52.894 ZFirst year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | EMI 2C 052 52894 Z / EMI 2C 052-52.894 ZFirst year12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | EMI 3C 050-07534First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Stereo |
| 1981 | Japan | EMI EMS-4100412", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | Harvest MLP 15000First year12", 45 RPM, Mini-Album | 12", 45 RPM, Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Spain | EMI 056-10 7534 1First year12", 45 RPM, Mini-Album | 12", 45 RPM, Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Spain | EMI 056-10 7534 1First year12", 45 RPM, Mini-Album | 12", 45 RPM, Mini-Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Peru | EMI ELD 05.21.129212", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Repress | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Unknown | EMI 2514912", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Unknown | EMI 2514912", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Unknown | EMI 2514912", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Unknown | EMI 2514912", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | Unknown | EMI 2514912", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Unknown | EMI 2514912", Mini-Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | 12", Mini-Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
| 2024 | Unknown | EMI 2514912", Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Unknown | EMI 2514912", Test Pressing, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial, Test pressing | 12", Test Pressing, Unofficial Release, White Label · Unofficial, Test pressing |
| 2024 | Europe | EMI12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Europe | EMI12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Europe | EMI12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Europe | EMI12", Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Picture disc | 12", Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Picture disc |
| 2024 | Europe | EMI12", Picture Disc, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing, Picture disc | 12", Picture Disc, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | EMI EMI 2514912", Mini-Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | 12", Mini-Album, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Unknown | EMI 251497", Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | 7", Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 0773312", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Partially Unofficial, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Partially Unofficial, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 0773312", EP, Partially Unofficial, Reissue | 12", EP, Partially Unofficial, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 0773312", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Partially Unofficial, Reissue, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Partially Unofficial, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 07733 / Capitol Records 31C 064 0773312", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Reissue, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | EMI 31C 064 0773312", EP, Reissue, Stereo | 12", EP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | EMI 052-107534612", 45 RPM, EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", 45 RPM, EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Greece | EMI 052-1075346 / EMI 062 107534612", 45 RPM, EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", 45 RPM, EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Peru | EMI ELD 05.21.129212", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", EP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | Peru | EMI ELD 05.21.129212", Mini-Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", Mini-Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| ? | South Korea | Stereophonic RK 712", Mini-Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", Mini-Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 61912", Mini-Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", Mini-Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | Stereophonic RK 712", Mini-Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", Mini-Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Capitol Records SQ-1501712", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album, Reissue | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album, Reissue |
95 vinyl pressings of Maiden Japan are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1981 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in UK, US, Europe, Japan and more. One of them is EMI 12EMI 5219.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 12EMI 5219, MLP-15000, MLP 15000, 1C K 062-07 534 Z) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 12 EMI 5219 A-2 and 12 EMI 5219 B-1. 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.
