Vinyl pressings
by Prince · 2021
Welcome 2 America was first pressed on vinyl in 2021. 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 2021, 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.
[MPO logo] ® 21 214501 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A2Side A
[MPO logo] ® 21 214500 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-BSide B
[MPO logo] ® 21 214749 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-CSide C
19439859801ASide A label
[MPO logo] ® 21 224552 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A2Side A, variant 1
[MPO logo] ® 21 224430 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-BSide B, variant 1
[MPO logo] ® 21 224204 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-CSide C, variant 1
[MPO logo] ® 21 224552 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A2Side A, variant 2
20-0769 / 19439859801-A² [MPO logo] ® 21 218424 BGRunout, side A
20-0769 / 19439859801-B [MPO logo] ® 21 218079 BGRunout, side B
20-0769 / 19439859801-C [MPO logo] ® 21 221817 BGRunout, side C
19439859801ALabel, side A
[MPO logo] ® 21 214547BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A2Runout, side A, variant 1
BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-BRunout, side B, variant 1
[MPO logo] ® 21 215554 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-CRunout, side C, variant 1
[MPO logo] ® 21 216338 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A²Runout, side A, variant 2
[MPO logo]® 21210691 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A²Side A runout, variant 1
[MPO logo]® 21213400 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-BSide B runout, variant 1
[MPO logo]® 21213451 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-CSide C runout, variant 1
[MPO logo]® 21210291 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A²Side A runout, variant 2
[MPO logo] ® 21 217596 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A2Variant 1 - Side A, runout
[MPO logo] ® 21 215193 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-BVariant 1 - Side B, runout
[MPO logo] ® 21 220994 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-CVariant 1 - Side C, runout
[MPO logo] ® 21 217582 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A2Variant 2 - Side A, runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Spain | The Prince Estate 194399021217 / NPG Records 194399021217First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 2021 | Europe | NPG Records 19439866161 / Legacy 19439866161First yearAll Media, Album, Deluxe Edition, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched, CD, Album, Blu-ray, Stereo | All Media, Album, Deluxe Edition, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched, CD, Album, Blu-ray, Stereo |
| 2021 | Europe | NPG Records 19439859801 / Legacy 19439859801First yearAll Media, Album, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched | All Media, Album, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched |
| 2021 | Europe | NPG Records 19439892961 / Legacy 19439892961First yearAll Media, Album, Limited Edition, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched · Limited, Colored vinyl | All Media, Album, Limited Edition, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | Legacy 19439866161 / NPG Records 19439866161First yearAll Media, Deluxe Edition, LP, Album, LP, Single Sided, Album, Etched, CD, Album, Blu-ray | All Media, Deluxe Edition, LP, Album, LP, Single Sided, Album, Etched, CD, Album, Blu-ray |
| 2021 | US | NPG Records 19439859801 / Legacy 19439859801First yearAll Media, Album, Limited Edition, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched · Limited, Colored vinyl | All Media, Album, Limited Edition, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | NPG Records 19439859801 / Legacy 19439859801First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched, All Media, Limited Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2021 | US | NPG Records 19439859801 / Legacy 19439859801First yearAll Media, Album, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched | All Media, Album, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched |
| 2021 | Japan | The Prince Estate SICP 31434-8 / NPG Records SICP 31434-8First yearLP, LP, Single Sided, CD, Album, Stereo, Blu-ray, Stereo, All Media | LP, LP, Single Sided, CD, Album, Stereo, Blu-ray, Stereo, All Media |
| 2021 | Japan | The Prince Estate SIJP-107~8 / NPG Records SIJP-107~8First yearAll Media, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched · Limited, Colored vinyl | All Media, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo, LP, LP, Single Sided, Etched · Limited, Colored vinyl |
10 vinyl pressings of Welcome 2 America are listed here, from 4 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 2021, in US, Europe, Japan, Spain. One of them is Legacy 19439866161, released July 30, 2021.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 19439866161, 19439859801, 19439892961, SICP 31434-8) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [MPO logo] ® 21 214501 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-A2 and [MPO logo] ® 21 214500 BG 20-0769 / 19439859801-B. 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.
