Vinyl pressings
by Triumph · 1985
Stages was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 9 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-2-8020 A MD4 MCA-4819-MD4 MASTERDISK (CR)Side A Runout, Variant 1
MCA-2-8020-B MD4 MCA-4820-MD4 (CR)Side B Runout, Variant 1
MCA-2 8020 C MD5 #2 MCA-4821-MD5 (CR)Side C Runout, Variant 1
MCA-2 8020 D MD5 MCA-4924-MD5 (CR)Side D Runout, Variant 1
MCMD 7002 A M̶C̶S̶P̶ ̶3̶1̶2̶ A // 2▽420 T 1 1 1Side A '7002' mirrored
MCMD 7002 B M̶C̶S̶P̶ ̶3̶1̶2̶ B // 2▽420 T 1 1 1Side B '7002' mirrored
C MCMD 7002 1̶ ̶M̶C̶P̶S̶ ̶2̶3̶1̶2̶ C // 2▽420T 1 1 2Side C '7002' mirrored
MCMD D 7002 M̶C̶P̶S̶ ̶-̶3̶1̶2̶ D // 2▽420 T 1 1 2 M̶ ̶C̶ ̶S̶Side D '7002' mirrored
MCMD 7002 A MC SP 312 A//2▽420 TRunout side A, etched, "MC SP 312 A//2▽420 T" is stamped, 7002 is mirrored and MC SP 312 is over scratched
MCMD 7002 MC SP 312 B//2▽420 TRunout side B, etched, "MC SP 312 B//2▽420 T" is stamped, 7002 is mirrored and MC SP 312 is over scratched
MCMD 7002 MC SP 2 312 C//2▽420 TRunout side C, etched, "MC SP 2 312 C//2▽420 T" is stamped, 7002 is mirrored and MC SP 2 312 is over scratched
MCMD 7002 D MC SP 312 D//2▽420 T X̶X̶X̶X̶X̶X̶X̶X̶Runout side D, etched, "MC SP 312 D//2▽420 T" is stamped, 7002 is mirrored and MC SP 312 is over scratched
MCA-4819-MD2 MASTERDISK MI SF1 SM3 EDPSide A runout, variant 1
MCA-4820-MD4 MI SF1 SM2 MASTERDISK EDPSide B runout, variant 1
MCA-4821-MD4 EDP MASTERDISK MISide C runout, variant 1
MCA-4924-MD2 EDP MASTERDISK MI SF1 SM2Side D runout, variant 1
MCA-4819-MD1 MASTERDISK RL [EDP logo] I M1 SF1 SM1Side A variant 1
MCA-4820-MD1 MASTERDISK RL M1 [EDP logo]Side B variant 1
MCA-4821-MD1 MASTERDISK RL MI SF1 SM3 2 [EDP logo]Side C variant 1
MCA-4924-MD1 [EDP logo] MASTERDISK M1Side D variant 1
MCA-4819-MD2 MASTERDISK MI [EDP logo]Side A
MCA-4820-MD4 MI MASTERDISK [EDP logo]Side B
MCA-4821-MD4 [EDP logo] MASTERDISK MISide C
MCA-4924-MD2 [EDP logo] MASTERDISK MISide D
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Argentina | MCA Records MCA 4819 / MCA Records 83984/5First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Australia | MCA Records 8020-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | MCA Records MCA2-8020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Canada | MCA Records MCA2-8020LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1985 | Europe | MCA Records 252 519-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Germany | MCA Records 252 519-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1985 | Mexico | MCA Records L2CA-6443 / WEA L2CA-6443First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | UK | MCA Records MCMD 7002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | UK | MCA Records MCMD 7002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | UK | MCA Records MCMD 7002LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1985 | US | MCA Records MCA2-8020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | MCA Records MCA 2-8020LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1985 | US | MCA Records MCA2-8020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | US | MCA Records MCA2-8020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Japan | MCA Records P-6222/3First yearLP | LP |
18 vinyl pressings of Stages are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1985 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in Canada, UK, US, Japan and more. One of them is MCA Records MCA2-8020.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA2-8020, MCMD 7002, P-6222/3, MCA 4819) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA-2-8020 A MD4 MCA-4819-MD4 MASTERDISK (CR) and MCA-2-8020-B MD4 MCA-4820-MD4 (CR). 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.
