Vinyl pressings
by Queensrÿche · 1988
Operation: Mindcrime was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 13 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.
E1-1-48640-Z1 | SP1-1Side A Runout Etchings (Variant 1)
E1-2-48640-Z1 | SP1-3Side B Runout Etchings (Variant 1)
E1-1-48640-Z1 MASTERDISK DMM 2-1Side A (Variant 2)
E1-2-48640-Z1 | SP1-3 MASTERDISK DMMSide B (Variant 2)
W1-1-48640-Z1 SP 1-2 SPAR MASTERDISK DMM B31001Side 1
E1-2-48640-Z1 SP1-2 MASTERDISK DMM (triangle) P31002-Z120341-xSide 2
E11 48640 - 1A G1 AGSide 1 Runout Etchings
E12 48640 - 1B G1 A3Side 2 Runout Etchings
E11 48640 - 1A D G1 A2Side 1 Runout Etchings variant 1
E12 48640 - 1B G1 D AbSide 2 Runout Etchings variant 1
△ 20341-X B-31002-Z1 E1-2-48640-Z1 SP-AR MASTERDISK DMM SP1-2Variant 1: side A runout etchings
△ 20341 B-31001 E1-1-48640-Z1 MASTERDISK DMM SP1-2 SPARVariant 1: side B runout etchings
0- B31001 △ 20341 E1-1-48640-Z1 SP1-2 SPAR MASTERDISK DMMVariant 2: side A runout etchings
0- △ 20341-X E1-2-48640-Z1 SP1-2 SPAR MASTERDISK DMMVariant 2: side B runout etchings
SPRO-04136-ZI-DMM MASTERDISK DMMSide A
SPRO-04137-ZI-DMM MASTERDISK DMMSide B
MTL 1023 A-1-1-1 DSide A variant 1
MTL 1023 B-1-1-2 DSide B variant 1
MTL 1023 A-1-1- DSide A variant 2
MTL 1023 B-1-1-1 DSide B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australasia | EMI-Manhattan Records MAN 748640First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Brazil | EMI-Manhattan Records 064 748640 1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Canada | EMI-Manhattan Records E1-48640First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | EMI-Manhattan Records E1-48640LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | Europe | EMI-Manhattan Records 064 7 48640 1 / EMI-Manhattan Records 7 48640 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | EMI-Manhattan Records 062 7486401First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Italy | EMI-Manhattan Records 64 7486401First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Italy | EMI-Manhattan Records 64 7486401First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Mexico | EMI-Manhattan Records SLEM-1556First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Portugal | EMI-Manhattan Records E1-48640First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Portugal | EMI-Manhattan Records 74 8640 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | Hispavox 590 74 8640 1 / EMI-Manhattan Records 590 74 8640 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | EMI-Manhattan Records E1 48640First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | EMI-Manhattan Records E1-548640LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | US | EMI-Manhattan Records E1 48640 / EMI-Manhattan Records R 154451LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Brazil | EMI-Manhattan Records 748640 1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1992 | South Korea | EMI-Manhattan Records EKPL-0266 / EMI-Manhattan Records EI-48640LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | EMI-Manhattan Records E1-48640LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | Europe | EMI-Manhattan Records E1-48640LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | UK | Back On Black BOBV321LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2012 | UK | Back On Black BOBV321LPLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | USA & Europe | Capitol Records 7714039 / Universal 7714039LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2022 | USA & Canada | Capitol Records 7714039 / Universal 7714039LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | EMI-Manhattan Records 062 7486401 / EMI-Manhattan Records 062-7486401LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
35 vinyl pressings of Operation: Mindcrime are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1988 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK, Italy, Japan and more. One of them is EMI-Manhattan Records E1 48640.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use E1 48640, E1-48640, SPRO 04136/37, MTL 1023) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, E1-1-48640-Z1 | SP1-1 and E1-2-48640-Z1 | SP1-3. 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.
