Vinyl pressings
by Nick Gilder · 1978
City Nights was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 8 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.
CHR-1202-AS-1C A8 S2Side A Runout, variant 1
CHR-1202-BS-1B A4 S1Side B Runout, variant 1
CHR-1202-AS-1D 1SSide A Runout, Variant 2
CHR-1202-BS-1B 1SSide B Runout, Variant 2
T1 CHR-1202-A ③Side A Etched
T1 CHR-1202-B ③Side B Etched
(CHR-1202-AS)Side A Label
(CHR-1202-BS)Side B Label
1S CHR-1202-AS-1C S1CSide A Etched
1S CHR-1202-BS-1CSide B Etched
(CHR-1202-AS)Side A Label
(CHR-1202-BS)Side B Label
CHR- 1202 - AS - 1C̶̷̸ D 1 SRunout side A
CHR- 1202 - BS - 1A 1 SRunout side B
T1 CHR-1202-A ④Side A runout, variant 1
1S CHR-1202-BS-1C S1 SXTSide B runout, variant 1
T1 CHR-1202-A ③ DSide A runout, variant 2
1S CHR-1202-BS-1C S1 SXTSide B runout, variant 2
CHR 1202 A // 1 P
CHR 1202 B // 1 P
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | Chrysalis L 36748First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Australia | Chrysalis L36748First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR 1202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Chrysalis CHR 1202LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Europe | Chrysalis 51 1202 / Chrysalis 511202First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Chrysalis 6307 641 / Chrysalis CHR 1202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Chrysalis WWS-81158First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Chrysalis WWS-81158First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Chrysalis L 36748 / Chrysalis CHR 1202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Chrysalis CHR 1202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Chrysalis CHR 1202First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Chrysalis CHR-1202LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | US | Chrysalis CHR 1202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Chrysalis CHR 1202First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Chrysalis CHR 1202LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
18 vinyl pressings of City Nights are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1978 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Chrysalis CHR 1202.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CHR 1202, L 36748, L36748, 51 1202) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CHR-1202-AS-1C A8 S2 and CHR-1202-BS-1B A4 S1. 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.
