Vinyl pressings
by Smokie · 1976
Midnight Café 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.
17 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 11 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.
SRAK 520 A-2 GA 1Side A, runout, stamped, variant 1
SRAK 520 B-1 O 2Side B, runout, stamped, variant 1
SRAK 520 A-2 RM 2Side A, runout, stamped, variant 2
SRAK 520 B-1 RL 2Side B, runout, stamped, variant 2
RS-1-3005-AS-CS 1A WTNY ASide A runout
RS-1-3005-BS-CS 1B A 5Side B runout
RS-1-3005-ASide A label
RS-1-3005-BSide B label
RS-1-3005 A5-CP WTNYRunout Side A, Etched
RS-1-3005 BS -CP XRunout Side B, Etched
RS-1-3005 A5-CP WTNYRunout A
RS-1-3005 BS -CP XRunout B
RS-1-3005 ALabel A
RS-1-3005 ALabel B
SRAK520A LK (signature)Runout side 1
SRAK520B LK (signature)Runout side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | RAK SRAK-520First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | RSO RS-1-3005First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | RSO RS-1-3005 / RSO 2394 173First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | RAK 1C 062-98 424 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-98 424LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | RAK 1C 062-97 547First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | RAK 1C 064-98 424 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-98 424LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Germany | RAK 1C 062-98 424 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-98 424LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | RAK 1C 074-98 424 / EMI Electrola 1C 074-98 424LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | India | Columbia S/33EIX. 5024 / Columbia S/33EIX 2024First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Japan | RAK ERS-80494LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1976 | Netherlands | RAK 062.98 424 / RAK 5C 062-98424First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | RAK 5 C 062-97547LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1976 | Netherlands | RAK 5C062-97547 / RAK 5C 062-97547First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Philippines | Parlophone SRAK 520First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | South Africa | RAK SRAKJ(L) 6012First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | South Korea | RAK SRAK-520 / Oasis Record Co. OLE-399LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Germany | Ariola 211031LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2394LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP2394LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 1148LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
31 vinyl pressings of Midnight Café are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1976 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in UK, US, Japan, Australia and more. One of them is RAK SRAK 520.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SRAK 520, RS-1-3005, ERS-80494, SRAK-520) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SRAK 520 A-2 GA 1 and SRAK 520 B-1 O 2. 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.
