Vinyl pressings
by Joe Ely · 1978
Honky Tonk Masquerade 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.
9 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 5 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.
MCA 1420 W2 LB ◈-P-◈Side A runout, variant 1
MCA 1421 W-2 LB ◈-P-◈Side B runout, variant 1
MCA 1420 W-1 LB ◈-P-◈Side A runout, variant 2
MCA 1421 W-1 LB ◈-P-◈Side B runout, variant 2
MCA 1420 W-1 ▣-G-▣ LBSide A runout
MCA 1421 W-1 LB ▣-G-▣Side B runout
MCA 1420Side A label
MCA 1421*Side B label
MCA 1420 W-1 LBSide ONE runout etched
MCA 1421 W-1 LBSide TWO runout etched, ◈-P-◈ stamped, var. 1
MCA 1420 W-1 ▣-G-▣ LBSide A runout, etched; "▣-G-▣" is stamped
MCA 1421 W-1 ▣-G-▣ LBSide B runout, etched, "▣-G-▣" is stamped
MCA 1420Side A label
MCA 1421Side B label
MCF 2832 A-1 HTMSide A
MCF 2832 B-1Side B
MCF∙2832.A.1 Aside A runout
MCF∙2832.B.1 Aside B runout
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 | Australia | MCA Records MCA 2333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2333 / MCA Records MCA-1420/MCA-1421First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | MCA Records MCF 2832First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | MCA Records MCF 2832First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | MCA Records MCA 233LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1978 | US | MCA Records MCA-839 MCA-2333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | MCA Records MCA-2333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | MCA Records MCA-2333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | MCA Records MCA-2333First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | MCA Records 0062.109First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-839LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-839 / MCA Records MCA-2333LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-2333, MCA-839LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | US | MCA Records Nashville B0036896-01LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Italy | MCA Records MCMP 31020LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-2333LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-2333LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
17 vinyl pressings of Honky Tonk Masquerade are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1978 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Germany, Australia and more. One of them is MCA Records MCA-2333, released February 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA-2333, MCA-839 MCA-2333, MCF 2832, 0062.109) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA 1420 W2 LB ◈-P-◈ and MCA 1421 W-2 LB ◈-P-◈. 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.
