Vinyl pressings
by Joni Mitchell · 1988
My Secret Place was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1988, 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.
7-27887-A-SHI Q R-20410-SHI MASTERDISK Δ 20705 1-1Runout, Side A
SP 7-27887-B-SRI 1-2 SP-AR MASTERDISK R-20411-SRI Δ 20705-X D1Runout, Side B
7-27887-ALabel, Side A
7-27887-BLabel, Side B
PRO-A1-3116-SH1 [Allied a logo] B-31332-SH1 MASTERDISK ∆ 20709 1-1Side A runout
PRO-A2-3116-SH1 [Allied a logo] B-31333-SH1 MASTERDISK ∆ 20709-X 1-1Side B runout
7-27887-A-SH1 Q R-20410-SH1 MASTERDISK ∆ 20705 1-1Runouts
7-27887-ALabels
✳ GEF 37 (T) A-1 ✳ MT 1 DAMONT ARunout, side A, etched
✳ GEF 37 (T) B-1 ✳ MT 1 DAMONT CRunout, side B, etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australia | Geffen Records 7-27876First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Canada | Geffen Records 92 78877First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1988 | Europe | Geffen Records 927 887-7First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | UK | Geffen Records GEF 37 / Geffen Records 927 876-7First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1988 | UK | Geffen Records GEF 37T / Geffen Records GEF 37 (T)First year12", 45 RPM | 12", 45 RPM |
| 1988 | UK | Geffen Records GEF 37 (DJ)First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1988 | US | Geffen Records PRO-A-3116First year12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo | 12", Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM · Promo |
| 1988 | US | Geffen Records 9 27887-7 / Geffen Records 7-27887First year7", 45 RPM, Styrene, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Geffen Records 7-27887First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Styrene, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Styrene, Stereo · Promo |
| 1988 | Europe | Geffen Records 927 876-7First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
10 vinyl pressings of My Secret Place are listed here, from 5 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK, Europe, Australia and more. One of them is Geffen Records 9 27887-7.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 9 27887-7, PRO-A-3116, 7-27887, GEF 37) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 7-27887-A-SHI Q R-20410-SHI MASTERDISK Δ 20705 1-1 and SP 7-27887-B-SRI 1-2 SP-AR MASTERDISK R-20411-SRI Δ 20705-X D1. 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.
