Vinyl pressings
by John Cougar Mellencamp · 1985
Scarecrow was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
38 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 25 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.
422-824865-1-AS-(PRC-R scratched out) ES RL EMW MasterdiskRunout Side A
422-824865-1 BS-ES RL EMW MasterdiskRunout Side B
422-824865-1-AS-HRM1 MASTERDISK C-2 ᐉRunout A, variant 1
422-824865-1-BS-HRM1 MASTERDISK B-4 ᐉRunout B, variant 1
422-824865-1-AS-HRM1 B- ᐉ MASTERDISK RLRunout A, variant 2
422-824865-1-BS-HRM1 MASTERDISK B-2 ᐉRunout B, variant 2
422-824865-1 AS-PRC-R-1-2-2-Q RLRunout etched side A, variant 1
422-824865-1 BS-PRC-R-1-3-2-Q RLRunout etched side B, variant 1
422-824865-1 AS-PRC-R-1-2-2-Q RL-2 2/S - 25S-2Runout etched side A, variant 2
422-824865-1 BS-PRC-R-1-3-4-Q RL 01 2/S - 25S-2Runout etched side B, variant 2
4̶2̶2̶-̶8̶2̶4̶-̶8̶6̶5̶-̶1̶-̶A̶S̶-̶P̶1̶ 422-824-685-1-AS-P1 MASTERDISKRunout side A, variant 1
422-824-865-BS-p P(4) 4̶2̶2̶-̶8̶2̶4̶-̶8̶6̶5̶-̶1̶ ̶B̶S̶-̶P̶ MASTERDISK RLRunout side B, variant 1
4̶2̶2̶-̶8̶2̶4̶-̶8̶6̶5̶-̶1̶-̶A̶S̶-̶P̶1̶ 422-824-685-1-AS-P' A MASTERDISK P(AP)Runout side A, variant 2
422-824-865-BS-P P(4A) 4̶2̶2̶-̶8̶2̶4̶-̶8̶6̶5̶-̶1̶ ̶B̶S̶-̶P̶ MASTERDISK RL 1Runout side B, variant 2
A2J 422-824865-1-AS-RCA-IN - 1 MASTERDISK IRunout, side A, etched, A2 MASTERDISK I stamped, I turned sideways
A1 J 422-824865-1-BS-RCA-IN - 1 MASTERDISK IRunout, side B, etched, A1 MASTERDISK I stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Argentina | Mercury 824 865-1 / Mercury 27276First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 865-1 / Riva 824 865-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 865-1 / Riva 824 865-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 865-1 / Riva 824 865-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 865-1 / Riva 824 865-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Brazil | Mercury 824 865-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Canada | Riva RVLS 7505First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Riva RVLS 7505First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Riva RVLS 7505LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1985 | Canada | Riva RVLS 7505LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1985 | Colombia | Mercury 824865First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Ecuador | Riva LP-70057 / Riva 824 865-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | Mercury 824 865-1 / Riva 824 865-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | Mercury 824 865-1 / Riva 824 865-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | Mercury 824 865-1 / Riva 824 865-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP508LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | US | Mercury B0023938-01 / UMe B0023938-01LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2016 | US | Mercury B0024798-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | US | Mercury B0024798-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Worldwide | Mercury 00602445837519LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2022 | Worldwide | Mercury 0602448034908LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | Worldwide | Mercury 00602445877751CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo, CD, Stereo, Blu-ray, Blu-ray Audio, Reissue, Stereo, Multichannel, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo, CD, Stereo, Blu-ray, Blu-ray Audio, Reissue, Stereo, Multichannel, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Mercury 824 865-1LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Riva 422-824 865-1 M1LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Club edition |
55 vinyl pressings of Scarecrow are listed here, from 27 countries, released between 1985 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, UK, Japan, Australasia and more. One of them is Riva 824 865-1 M-1, released August 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 824 865-1 M-1, RIVH 2, 824 865-1, 28PP-1012) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 422-824865-1-AS-(PRC-R scratched out) ES RL EMW Masterdisk and 422-824865-1 BS-ES RL EMW Masterdisk. 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.
