Nigeria
1984- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MCY-003
- Format
- LP, Album
Tony AllenN.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always)
Vinyl pressings
N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always)
by Tony Allen · 1984
10 pressings7 countriesAfrobeatDubElectronicJazz
N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always)
2 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 2 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.
UK
1984- Label and catalog number
- Earthworks MWKS 3001
- Format
- LP, Album
- Runout / matrix
MWKS 3001 A1 A PORKY PRIME CUT. MPORunout Side A
MWKS 3001 B1 A PORKY PRIME CUT. MPORunout Side B
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 10 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1980s8 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Nigeria | Mercury MCY-003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Earthworks MWKS 3001First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | Earthworks MWKS 3001LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | France | Blue Moon Productions BM 105LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Spain | Zoco Records M.Z5.07 / Zoco Records MZ5 - 0712", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1986 | Canada | Moving Target MT 002LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Moving Target MT 002LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1986 | US | Moving Target MT 002LP, Album | LP, Album |
2010s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Netherlands | Kindred Spirits KSTA 05LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
2020s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | France | Comet Records COMET102LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
Tracklist
- A1N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always)
- A2N.E.P.A. Dance Dub
- B1When One Road Close (Another One Go Open)
- B2Road Close Dance Dub
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) are there?
10 vinyl pressings of N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1984 and 2021.
When was N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in Nigeria, UK. One of them is Mercury MCY-003.
How do I tell if my copy of N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCY-003, MWKS 3001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is N.E.P.A. (Never Expect Power Always) on vinyl worth?
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.