Vinyl pressings
by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers · 1982
Long After Dark was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 22 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.
MCA-3177 PL 3 △ 2869 PRECISION LACQUER D.L. + ✧-P-✧1 SLMRunout A, variant 1
MCA-3178 PL 6 PRECISION D.L. + SLM △ 2869 - XRunout B, variant 1
MCA-3177 PL6 △ 2869 PRECISION D.L. + SLM ✧-P-✧1Runout A, variant 4
MCA-3178 PL 3 △ 2869-X PRECISION D.L. ✧-P-✧IRunout B, variant 4
MCA 3177 PL 5 △ 2869 PRECISION D.L. +. SLM ✧-P-✧ISide A runout, variant 1
MCA-3178- PL 1 △ -2869-X PRECISION SM· + ✧-P-✧1 SLMSide B runout, variant 1
MCA-3177 PL 1 △ 2869 PRECISION SM· + SLM ✧-P-✧ISide A runout, variant 2
MCA-3178 PL 3 △ 2869-X PRECISION D.L. ✧-P-✧ISide B runout, variant 2
MCA-3177 PL6 Δ 2869 Precision D.L. l̶ SLMA Side runout, variant 1
MCA-3178 PL5 Δ 2869-X Precision D.L. l̶ SLMB Side runout, variant 1
MCA-3177 PL2 Δ 2869 Precision D.L. l̶ SLMA Side runout, variant 2
MCA-3178 PL4 Δ 2869-X Precision D.L. l̶ SLMB Side runout, variant 2
MCA-3177 PL 2 △ 2869 PRECISION SM · + ◇-P-◇I SLMRunout Side A, etched
MCA-3178 PL 3 △ 2869-X PRECISION D.L. ◇-P-◇IRunout Side B, etched
MCA-3177 PL 3 △ 2869 PRECISION LACQUER D.L. X △-P-△ 1 SLMRUNOUT SIDE 1
MCA 3178 PL 4 △ 2869-X PRECISION D.L. △ -P-△ 11 X SLMRUNOUT SIDE 2
MCA3177 PL4 Δ2869 PRECISION D.L. + SLM 1Side A runout
MCA3178 PL4 Δ2869-X PRECISION D.L. + SLMSide B runout
MCF 3155 A1 PRECISION SM UKRunout, A-side, hand etched
MCF 3155 - B2Runout, B-side, hand etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Argentina | MCA Records SUP 80212First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Australia | Backstreet Records BSR-5360 / Backstreet Records BSR 5360First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Brazil | Backstreet Records 6399425First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Backstreet Records BSR-5360First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Ecuador | MCA Records LP-33606 / Backstreet Records, Inc. BSR-5360First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | Backstreet Records 205 142-320 / Backstreet Records 205 142First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | Backstreet Records 205 142 / Backstreet Records 205 142-320First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | France | Backstreet Records 205 142First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | MCA Records 14C 062-65013 / Backstreet Records 14C 062-65013First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Ireland | MCA Records MCF 3155 / Backstreet Records BSR 5360First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Israel | Backstreet Records BSR-5360First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Italy | Backstreet Records BSR 5360 / MCA Records MCA 4171First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Italy | Backstreet Records MCA 4171First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Italy | Backstreet Records BSR-5360 / MCA Records MCF 4171LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1982 | Italy | MCA Records MCA 4171First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Europe | MCA Records MCA 01818 / MCA Records MCL 1818LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Geffen Records 00602547658456 / Backstreet Records 00602547658456LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2017 | US | Geffen Records B0024288-01 / UMe B0024288-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress |
| 2017 | US | Geffen Records B0024288-01 / UMe B0024288-01LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Geffen Records B0024288-01 / UMe B0024288-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2024 | Europe | Geffen Records 602465854961 / UMe 602465854961LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Geffen Records 00602475114376 / UMe 00602475114376LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Geffen Records 00602475114376 / UMe 00602475114376LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Geffen Records 602465854954 / UMe 602465854954LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Geffen Records 602465854954 / UMe 602465854954LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | MCA Records 1571-1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | MCA Records, Inc. MCA-5360LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | Europe | MCA Records 250 414-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | MCA Records 250 414-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | MCA Records 250 414-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCL 1818LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCL 1818LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA 1571LP, Album | LP, Album |
57 vinyl pressings of Long After Dark are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1982 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in US, UK, Portugal, Argentina and more. One of them is Backstreet Records BSR-5360, released November 2, 1982.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSR-5360, BSR5360, MCF 3155, SUP 80212) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA-3177 PL 3 △ 2869 PRECISION LACQUER D.L. + ✧-P-✧1 SLM and MCA-3178 PL 6 PRECISION D.L. + SLM △ 2869 - 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.
