Vinyl pressings
by Pere Ubu · 1978
The Modern Dance 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.
7 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 3 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.
BLANK RECORDS 001 - A - CP4 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
BLANK RECORDS 001 - B - CP3 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
BLANK RECORDS 001 - A - CP3 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
BLANK RECORDS 001 - B - CP4 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
T1 BLANK RECORDS-BR-001 A CT2 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
T1 BLANK RECORDS-BR-001-B-CT2 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
T1 BLANK RECORDS-BR001-A-CT1 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 2
T1 BLANK RECORDS BR001-B-CT1 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 2
BLANK RECORDS 001 - A - CS5 STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
BLANK RECORDS 001 - B - CS5 STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
1S BLANK RECORDS 001 - A - CS5 STERLING A2Side A runout, variant 2
1S BLANK RECORDS 001 - B - CS5 STERLING A1Side B runout, variant 2
BLANK RECORDS BR - 001 - A - CT2 STERLINGRunout A
BLANK RECORDS SBR 001 - B - CT1 STERLINGRunout B
{7 scratched out stamped characters} 1Y // 1 ▽ 420 03 1 9100052 1Y11 12 1Runout side 1 stamped / etched / stamped variant 1
{7 scratched out stamped characters} 2Y // 1 ▽ 420 03 1 1 9100052 2Y11 8Runout side 2 stamped / etched / stamped variant 1
{7 scratched out stamped characters} 1Y // 1 ▽ 420 03 1 1 9100052 1Y11 4Runout side 1 stamped / etched / stamped variant 2
{7 scratched out stamped characters} 2Y // 1 ▽ 420 03 1 1 9100052 2Y11 6Runout side 2 stamped / etched / stamped variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | US | Blank Records 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Blank Records BLANK 001 / Blank Records 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Blank Records 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Blank Records 001 / Blank Records BLANK 001First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Mercury 6338 874First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | Mercury 9100 052 / Blank Records 001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | Mercury 9100 052First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Italy | Base Record ROUGH 22LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Italy | Base Record Rough 22LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | New Zealand | GAP Records RTGAP 1004 / Rough Trade RTGAP 1004LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | UK | Rough Trade ROUGH 22LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Rough Trade ROUGH US 7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Australia | GAP Records RTGAP 1004 / Rough Trade RTGAP 1004LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Spain | Rough Trade 43 135 / Nuevos Medios 43 135LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | UK & Europe | Fontana SFLP3 / Fontana 834 267-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered |
| 1988 | UK & Europe | Fontana SFLP3 / Fontana 834 267-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Italy | Get Back GET 54 / Get Back Get 54LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Italy | Get Back GET 90054LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2007 | Italy | Blank Records 001LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2007 | US | Blank Records BLANK 001 / Blank Records 001LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP647LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2015 | UK | Fire Records FIRELP 360LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | UK | Fire Records FIRELP360LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | UK | Fire Records FIRELP 360LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | UK | Fire Records FIRELP 360LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Blank Records 001LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | Get Back GET 54 / Get Back Get 54LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Go International GILP 22LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Italy | Get Back get90054 / Lo-Cost get90054LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Blank Records 001LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue | LP, Album, Mispress, Reissue |
30 vinyl pressings of The Modern Dance are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1978 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Netherlands. One of them is Blank Records 001, released February 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 001, BLANK 001, 9100 052, 6338 874) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BLANK RECORDS 001 - A - CP4 STERLING and BLANK RECORDS 001 - B - CP3 STERLING. 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.
