Vinyl pressings
by M · 1979
Moonlight And Muzak 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.
37 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 17 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.
MCAT̶ 541 A1 ⋀ A BILBO BOPPA!Side A runout
MCAT̶ 541 B1 TA1PE BSide B runout
MCA 541ASide A label
MCA 541BSide B label
MCAT 541 A1 A BILBO BOPPA ! ⋀Side A run-out
MCAT 541 B1 TA1PE ⋀Side B run-out
MCAT 541ASide A label
MCAT 541BSide B label
MCAT 541 . A.2 MCAT 541 . A.2Runout, A-side, etched
⋀ ⋀Runout, A-side, stamped
MCAT 541 B1 TA1PERunout, B-side, etched
⋀Runout, B-side, stamped
MCAT 541-A-2 5 Λ MCAT 541-A-2 ΛSide A runout
MCAT 541 B1 15 TA1PE ΛSide B runout
MCAT 541ASide A label
MCAT 541BSide B label
SRE-49136XAA-9233V1-S-WW1 -------◁ BILGO-JMS KENDUM-CA side runout
SRE 49136 XAA-9230-S-WW1 -------◁ BILGO IN L.A. FROM LONDON M JMS KENDUN-CB side runout
XAA9233V1SA side label
XAA 9230 SB side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | MCA Records MCA 1653First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Australia | MCA Records DS 12059First year12", 45 RPM, Single | 12", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Austria | MCA Records 32 081 / MCA Records MCA 32081First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Canada | Sire SRE 49136 CFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Canada | Sire SRE49136First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | France | EMI 2C 052-52868 / EMI 2C 052 52868First year12" | 12" |
| 1979 | France | EMI 2C 008 63471 / EMI 2C 008 - 63.471First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | EMI 008.63471First year7", White Label | 7", White Label |
| 1979 | Germany | MCA Records 0032.081 / MCA Records 0032. 081First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | MCA Records 0932.001First year12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 1979 | Ireland | MCA Records MCA 541First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Italy | MCA Records MCAN 49373First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-1373First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1979 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-1373First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | EMI 1A K052Z-63471First year12", 45 RPM, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Germany | MCA Records 600 16912", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | MCA Records 1012427", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1980 | Peru | MCA Records F-MCA 0000541.17", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1980 | Zimbabwe | Gallo PD 17907", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1980 | South Africa | MCA Records PD 17907", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
42 vinyl pressings of Moonlight And Muzak are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1979 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is MCA Records MCA 541, released November 9, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA 541, MCAT 541, SRE 49136, PRO-A-842-RE) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCAT̶ 541 A1 ⋀ A BILBO BOPPA! and MCAT̶ 541 B1 TA1PE B. 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.
