Vinyl pressings
by The Undisputed Truth · 1976
Method To The Madness 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.
16 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 8 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.
WHI-1-2967-RE1 LW1Runout side A, variant 1
WHI-2-2967-RE1 LW1Runout side B, variant 1
WH-1-2967-RE1 LW3. 2 ✲Runout side A, variant 2
WHI-2-2967-RE1 LW1.. 1 ✲Runout side B, variant 2
WHI-1-2967-RE1 WW1 · ─◁
WHI-2-2967-RE1 WW1 · ─◁
WHI-1-2967-RE1 JW3 #1
WHI-2-2967-RE1 JW1 #2
WH-1-2967-RE1 JW3 #1 ()side A runout variant 1, etched (except () stamped)
WHI-2-2967-RE1 JW1 #2 ()side B runout variant 1, etched (except () stamped), "I" in WHI is crossed out
WHI-1-2967-RE1 LW1Runout Side A
WHI-2-2967-RE1 LW1Runout Side B
K‧56289‧A1 1Side A
K‧56289‧B2 5Side B
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 | Canada | Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56.289 / Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | France | Warner Bros. Records 56.289 / Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 289 / Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 289 / Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| 1976 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 56.289First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 289First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 56289 / Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1328First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Whitfield Records K 56289 / Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Whitfield Records K56289First yearLP, Album, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, White Label, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | US | Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | US | Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | US | Whitfield Records WH 2967First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Not On LabelLP, White Label | LP, White Label |
25 vinyl pressings of Method To The Madness are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1976 and 1977.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is Whitfield Records WH 2967.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WH 2967, K 56289, K56289, 56.289) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WHI-1-2967-RE1 LW1 and WHI-2-2967-RE1 LW1. 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.
