Vinyl pressings
by Rare Earth · 1976
Midnight Lady was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
24 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 18 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.
R6-550S1-2571-S-06B △20430Variant 1 - etched runout side A
R6-550S1-2572-S-06B △20430-XVariant 1 - etched runout side B
R6-550S1-2571-S-06B MR △20430 DIXIEVariant 2 - etched runout side A
R6-550S1-2572-S-06B MR △20430 DIXIEVariant 2 - etched runout side B
R6 - 550S1 - 2571 - S - 06A [MR] 20430A side runout etched, variant 1
R6 - 550S1 - 2572 - S - 06A [MR] 20430-XB side runout etched, variant 1
R6-550S1-2571-S-06A [MR] △ 20430 SUPERIORA side runout etched, variant 2
R6-550S1-2572-S-06A [MR] △ 20430-X SUPERIORB side runout etched, variant 2
SRE.3013ALabel - side A
SRE.3013BLabel - side B
2571-SCenter label, A-side
2572-SCenter label, B-side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Argentina | Tamla Motown SUP-730First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO.10137First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Australia | Rare Earth STMLO-10137First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Canada | Motown R-550P1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Colombia | Motown MWS-4117First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Rare Earth 2C 066 - 97575First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 062-97 575First yearLP | LP |
| 1976 | Greece | Tamla Motown 2J 062-97 575First yearLP | LP |
| 1976 | Greece | Rare Earth 2J 062-97575First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | India | Tamla Motown SRE 3013First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Israel | Tamla Motown R6-550-S1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Italy | Rare Earth RSL-ST 61020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Italy | Rifi 61020First yearLP, White Label | LP, White Label |
| 1976 | Japan | Rare Earth VIP-6322First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1976 | Japan | Rare Earth VIP-6322First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
24 vinyl pressings of Midnight Lady are listed here, from 18 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Panama, Argentina and more. One of them is Rare Earth R6-550S1, released March 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use R6-550S1, SRE 3013, LP 76-4-1235, SUP-730) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, R6-550S1-2571-S-06B △20430 and R6-550S1-2572-S-06B △20430-X. 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.
