Vinyl pressings
by Night Ranger · 1983
Midnight Madness was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 10 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.
MCA-3687-AZ 1 ❀ ◈-P-◈ IIIII MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side A runout, variant 1
MCA-3688 AZ 1 ❀ ◈-P-◈ III MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side B runout, variant 1
MCA-3687 AZ 4 ❀ ◈-P-◈ IIIII MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side A runout, variant 2
MCA-3688 AZ 4 ❀ ◈-P-◈ III MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side B runout, variant 2
MCA-3687 AZ 6 ❀ 回-G-回 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side 1 Etched [回-G-回 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF. - stamped], Variant 1
MCA-3688 AZ 5 ❀ 回-G-回 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side 2 Etched [回-G-回 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF. - stamped], Variant 1
MCA-3687 AZ 5 ❀ 回-G-回 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side 1 Etched [回-G-回 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF. - stamped], Variant 2
MCA-3688 AZ 2 ❀ 回-G-回 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.Side 2 Etched [回-G-回 MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF. - stamped], Variant 2
MCA-3687Side 1
MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A.CALIFSide 1
MCA-3688Side 2
MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A.CALIFSide 2
MCA-3687-AZ 4 ❀ ◈-P-◈Side A, variant 1
MCA-3688 BG 5 ⁀⁀ ⁀⁀ /// ◈-P-◈Side B, variant 1
MCA-3687-AZ 4 ❀ //// // ◈-P-◈Side A, variant 2
MCA-3688 BG 5 ⁀⁀ ⁀⁀ /// ◈-P-◈Side B, variant 2
MCA-3687-BG6 ❀ 回-G-回Side 1
MCA-3688-BG6 ❀ 回-G-回Side 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Argentina | MCA Records 83856First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Argentina | MCA Records 83856First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Canada | Epic PEC 90697First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-5456LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1983 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-5456First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Ecuador | MCA Records LP- 33611First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | MCA Records 205 906First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Italy | MCA Records 25 0581-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Italy | MCA Records ML 4771First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 2702First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1983 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 2702First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 2702First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Limited |
| 1983 | Scandinavia | MCA Records MCA-5456 / MCA Records MCA 5456First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | South Africa | MCA Records ML 4771First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | UK | MCA Records MCF 3209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | France | MCA Records MCA-5456 / Lmlr 783 270LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Philippines | Epic QEL-25041LP | LP |
38 vinyl pressings of Midnight Madness are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1983 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, UK, Argentina, Canada and more. One of them is MCA Records MCA-5456.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA-5456, MCF 3209, 83856, PEC 90697) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA-3687-AZ 1 ❀ ◈-P-◈ IIIII MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF. and MCA-3688 AZ 1 ❀ ◈-P-◈ III MASTERED AT ALLEN ZENTZ L.A., CALIF.. 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.
