Vinyl pressings
by Mercyful Fate · 1984
Don't Break The Oath was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. 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 1984, the album's first year, in 4 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.
RR 9835-A//55196-1Run-out side A - Stamped, variant 1
RR 9835-B//55196-1Run-out side B - Stamped, variant 1
RR 9835-A//55195-1Run-out side A - Stamped, variant 2
RR 9835-B//55196-1Run-out side B - Stamped, variant 2
MFN 28 A1 MPORunout side A
MFN 28 B2 TY MPORunout side B
A-1 ᐉ MX8011‧A MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK ¢Variant 1, Side A runout
A-1 ᐉ MX8011‧BVariant 1, Side B runout
A-2 ᐉ MX8011‧A MASTERED BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK ¢Variant 2, Side A runout
A-2 ᐉ MX8011‧BVariant 2, Side B runout
MX 8011 A PDSide A
MX 8011 B PDSIde B
MX8011-A MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK ¢ A-1 ▷A Side
MX8011-B A-2 ▷B Side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Canada | Roadrunner Records RRR-200 / Attic RRR-200First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9835LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | France | Music For Nations MFN 28LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1984 | US | Combat MX 8011 / Combat MX8011First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | US | Combat MXPD 8011First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
| 1984 | US | Combat MXPD 8011First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
| 1984 | US | Combat MX-8011LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1984 | US | Combat MX 8011First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Combat MX 8011First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9835First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | Music For Nations MFN-28 / Roadrunner Records MFN 28First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Far East Metal Syndicate SP25-5134First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Japan | Far East Metal Syndicate SP25-5134First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1986 | US | Combat MX 8011LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Combat MX 8011LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | South Korea | Jigu Records Corporation JRPL-1037LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RRCAR 8769-1 / Cargo Records RRCAR 8769-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2007 | Germany | Roadrunner Records RRCAR 8769-1 / Cargo Records RRCAR 8769-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2007 | Germany | Roadrunner Records RRCAR 8769-1 / Cargo Records RRCAR 8769-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2007 | Germany | Roadrunner Records RRCAR 8769-1 / Cargo Records RRCAR 8769-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Unknown | Music For Nations MFN-28 / Roadrunner Records MFN-28LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2013 | Unknown | Music For Nations MFN-28 / Roadrunner Records MFN-28LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
| 2013 | Unknown | Music For Nations MFN-28 / Roadrunner Records MFN-28LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2013 | Unknown | Not On Label (Mercyful Fate)LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing |
| 2013 | UK | Not On Label (Mercyful Fate)LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Picture disc |
| 2014 | France | Music For Nations MFN 28LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2014 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-15307-1LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2018 | USA & Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-25073-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9835LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2020 | US | Metal Blade Records 251551LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Germany | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Germany | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2020 | Germany | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Germany | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Germany | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Germany | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-25155-1 / Metal Blade Records 039842515519LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-25155-1 / Metal Blade Records 039842515564LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | Germany | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 2024 | US | Metal Blade Records 3984-25155-1LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Europe | Metal Blade Records 3984-15682-1 / Metal Blade Records 039841612912LP, Album, Reissue, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Estúdio Eldorado 3.052 / Estúdio Eldorado 3052LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Brazil | Estúdio Eldorado 3.052LP, Album, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Test pressing |
| ? | Brazil | Estúdio Eldorado 3052 / Roadrunner Records RR 9835LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9835LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| ? | Europe | Roadrunner Records RR 9835LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
53 vinyl pressings of Don't Break The Oath are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1984 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in Europe, US, Japan, Canada. One of them is Roadrunner Records RR 9835, released September 7, 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RR 9835, MFN-28, MX 8011, MXPD 8011) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RR 9835-A//55196-1 and RR 9835-B//55196-1. 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.
