Vinyl pressings
by John Cougar Mellencamp · 1979
John Cougar was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1979, 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.
RVL-7401-A-PRC-R-A-1-1 MASTERDISKSide A runout, variant 1
RVL-7401-B-PRC-R-A-1-1Side B runout, variant 1
RVL-7401-A-PRC-R-1-1-1-2-8 MASTERDISKSide A runout, variant 2
RVL-7401-B-PRC-R-1-1-2-1-17Side B runout, variant 2
T R+P 7001[scratched out] A - CTH-2 Criteria [logo] RVL 7401Side A, Etched [Criteria logo, Stamped]
T I RVL-7401-BS-RE-CT 2 MASTERDISKSide B, Etched [MASTERDISK, Stamped]
RVL-7401-A R⃫L⃫P⃫ ⃫4⃫0⃫0⃫1⃫ ⃫A⃫ CP 2 [Criteria logo] MFSide A etched, exc. Criteria logo stamped, Variant 1
RVL-7401-BS-RE-CP4 1 BSide B etched, exc. 1 & B stamped, Variant 2
P RVL-7401A-1ASide A, Variant 2
P RVL-7401B-1ASide B, Variant 2
RVL-7401-A PRC-R-1-1 Criteria [logo]Runout Side A, Etched [Criteria logo, Stamped]
RVL-7401-B PRC-R-1-1 MASTERDISKRunout Side B, Etched [MASTERDISK, Stamped]
\ T ̶R̶L̶P̶-̶7̶0̶0̶1̶ ̶A̶ CTH-2 RVL 7401 [Criteria logo] MF A7Variant 1: runout Side A
T \ RVL-7401-BS-RE-CT1 MASTERDISK / H.W.Variant 1: runout Side B
\T R̵L̵P̵-̵7̵0̵0̵1̵ -A-CTH-2 RVL 7401 [Criteria logo] MF BVariant 2: runout Side A
T \ RVL-7401-BS-RE-CT2 J1 MASTERDISK HW.Variant 2: runout Side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Argentina | WEA 208771 / Riva RVLP 9First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records WS 3513 / Riva WS 3513First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 678 / Riva RVLP 9First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Canada | Riva RVL-7401LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1979 | Canada | Riva RVL-7401First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Riva RVLP 9 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 678First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 678 / Riva RVLP 9First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 678 / Riva RVLP 9LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Mercury 814 995-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1979 | Portugal | Warner Bros. Records U 56678First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | Riva RVLP 9First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Riva RVL-7401First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | US | Riva R-163466 / Riva 814 995-1 M-1LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1979 | US | Riva RVL-7401 / Riva 6372.900LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1979 | US | Riva RVL-7401First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | WEA 56678LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Japan | WEA P-11336LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Japan | WEA P-11336LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1984 | Japan | Mercury 20PP-86LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Spain | Mercury 814 995-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Spain | Mercury 814 995-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australasia | Riva 814 995-1 / Mercury 814 995-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australasia | Mercury 814 995-1 / Riva 814 995-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australasia | Mercury 814 995-1 / Riva 814 995-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australasia | Mercury 814 995-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Riva MIP-1-9402LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | Canada | Riva MIP-1-9402LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Riva MIP-1-9402LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Mercury 814 995-1 / Mercury 814 995-1 QLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 814 995-1 / Mercury 814 995-1 QLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 814 995-1 / Mercury 814 995-1 QLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 814 995-1 / Riva 814 995-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 814 995-1 / Riva 814 995-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | Mercury 814 995-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Riva RVL-7401LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Riva RVL-7401 / Sire RVL-7401LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
47 vinyl pressings of John Cougar are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1979 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is Riva RVL-7401.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RVL-7401, RVLP 9, WS 3513, WB 56 678) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RVL-7401-A-PRC-R-A-1-1 MASTERDISK and RVL-7401-B-PRC-R-A-1-1. 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.
