Vinyl pressings
by Our Daughter's Wedding · 1981
Digital Cowboy was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 9 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.
MLP-1-19000-Z-2 . 1 ✲ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK TCSide A runout, variant 1
MLP-2-19000-Z-1. 1 ✲Side B runout, variant 1
MLP-1-19000-Z-3Side A runout, variant 2
MLP-2-19000-Z-3Side B runout, variant 2
MLP-1-19000-Z-5 #2 .─◁ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK TCSide A runout
MLP-2-19000-Z-5 .─◁Side B runout
MLP-1-19000-Z-1 . 1 ✲ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK TCSide A runout
MLP-2-19000-Z-1. 1 ✲Side B runout
MLP-1-19000-Z-3 0 1 ✲ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK TCSide A runout
MLP-1-19000-Z-3 0Side B runout
MLP 100A 301' MAXICUTHAS INITIALS 'AP' or 'AR'
MLP 100B 301' MAXICUTHAS INITIALS 'AP' or 'AR'
MLP.19000.A [Capitol Records "Target" logo] TLC-A GGRunout side A
[Capitol Records "Target" logo] MLP.19000.B TLC-A GGRunout side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | EMI America MLP.100First year12", Mini-Album | 12", Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Canada | EMI America MLP-19000First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Mini-Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | France | EMI America 030-86424ZFirst year12", Mini-Album | 12", Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Germany | EMI America 1C 032-86 424 Z / EMI Electrola 1C 032-86 424 ZFirst year12", Mini-Album | 12", Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Italy | EMI America 3C 050-86424First year12", Mini-Album | 12", Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Japan | EMI America EYS-41008First year12", Mini-Album | 12", Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Japan | EMI America EYS-41008First year12", Mini-Album, Promo · Promo | 12", Mini-Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | EMI America MLP-19000First year12", Mini-Album | 12", Mini-Album |
| 1981 | Portugal | EMI America 11C 054-86424 / Valentim De Carvalho 11C 054-86424First year12", Mini-Album | 12", Mini-Album |
| 1981 | US | EMI America MLP-19000First year12", Mini-Album, Stereo | 12", Mini-Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | EMI America MLP-19000First year12", Mini-Album, Stereo | 12", Mini-Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | EMI America MLP-19000First year12", Mini-Album, Stereo | 12", Mini-Album, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | EMI America MLP-19000First year12", Mini-Album, Stereo | 12", Mini-Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | EMI America 14C 062-8642412", Mini-Album, Stereo | 12", Mini-Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | EMI America 14C 062-8642412", Mini-Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 12", Mini-Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
15 vinyl pressings of Digital Cowboy are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1981 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, Australia, Canada, France and more. One of them is EMI America MLP-19000.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MLP-19000, MLP.100, 030-86424Z, 1C 032-86 424 Z) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MLP-1-19000-Z-2 . 1 ✲ MASTERING BY FRANKFORD/WAYNE NEW YORK TC and MLP-2-19000-Z-1. 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.
