Vinyl pressings
by The Boomtown Rats · 1980
Mondo Bongo was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. 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 1980, 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.
[Utopia lyre symbol] 6359042 1Y // 1▽ E UT 1 1 1 1Runout side A, stamped, variant 1
[Utopia lyre symbol] 6359042 2Y // 2▽ E UT 1 1 11Runout side B, stamped, variant 1
[Utopia lyre symbol] 6359042 1Y // 1▽ EUT 1 4 9Runout side A, stamped, variant 2
[Utopia lyre symbol] 6359042 2Y// 2▽ E UT 1 4 1 0Runout side B, stamped, variant 2
( side A ): [lyre symbol] 6359042 1Y // 1▽ E UT 1 1 2
( side B ): [lyre symbol] 6359042 2Y // 2▽ E UT 1 1 1
6359042 1 CR GP1 PDRunout side A, stamped, PD is etched
6359042 2 CR GP: PDRunout side B, stamped, PD is etched
6359042 · AA Runout, Engraved
6359042 B ·B Runout, Engraved
D MX197693-C 6359 042-1Side A runout (machine-stamped)
D MX197694 6359 042-2Side B runout (machine-stamped)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australasia | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP | LP |
| 1980 | Australia | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Australia | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Austria | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Greece | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Mercury 6359 042LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | India | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Ireland | WEA K 58262First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Israel | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Mercury 6359 042First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Mercury 6359042LP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 37062LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 37062LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
38 vinyl pressings of Mondo Bongo are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1980 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in UK, Sweden, Australasia, Australia and more. One of them is Mercury 6359 042, released December 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6359 042, K 58262) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [Utopia lyre symbol] 6359042 1Y // 1▽ E UT 1 1 1 1 and [Utopia lyre symbol] 6359042 2Y // 2▽ E UT 1 1 11. 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.
