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Data as of Jul 19, 2026
Iron Maiden – The Soundhouse Tapes
1979 · UK · Rock Hard Records (3) · Vinyl 7" 45 RPM EP
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Offers
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Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- ROK-1-A *EG* SA LYN 7627-IT
- Runout — side B
- ROK-1-B LYN 7628-IT *EG* SA
- Pressed By
- Lyntone Recordings Ltd.
- Mastered At
- The Town House
Specifications
- Artist
- Iron Maiden
- Genre
- Rock
- Style
- Heavy Metal
- Year
- 1979
- Label
- Rock Hard Records (3)
- Catalog number
- ROK.1
- Country
- UK
Tracklist
- AIron Maiden4:00
- B1Invasion3:04
- B2Prowler4:22
- Producer
- Iron Maiden
- Mastered By
- Steve Angel
- Bass, Design [Label + Sleeve Design], Artwork, Written-By
- Steve Harris
- Photography By [Back Photos]
- Chris Harler
- Photography By [Front Photos]
- Rob Loonhouse
About this record
The Soundhouse Tapes EP arrived in 1979 on Rock Hard Records as catalogue ROK.1, a 7-inch 45 RPM pressing that now commands prices from 906.66 USD (current market low across 11 copies) up to 3780.28 USD in Mint condition. The dead-wax matrix ROK-1-A EG SA LYN 7627-IT and ROK-1-B LYN 7628-IT EG SA identify this as a Lyntone Recordings Ltd. pressing, and a documented handful—around 5 known copies among collectors—shipped with labels reversed, A-side label paired with B-side grooves.
Demand vastly outpaces supply: 2241 collectors want this record against 691 who own one.
What drives its value
The price ladder on this 3-track EP reflects extreme rarity and condition sensitivity. A Mint copy reaches 3780.28 USD, while NM drops to 3382.35 USD—a steep fall that signals how few examples survive in top grades.
VG+ sits at 2586.51 USD, VG at 1790.66 USD, and G+ at 994.81 USD. The current market floor of 906.66 USD across 11 active listings sits between G+ (994.81 USD) and G (596.89 USD), indicating most available stock trades in lower grades.
The want-to-have ratio of 2241 to 691 underscores acute collector demand for this UK original. The 1979 Lyntone pressing plant attribution and the documented label-reversal variants (approximately 5 known) cement its status as a foundational Iron Maiden artifact, not a reissue.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the catalogue number ROK.1 on the label and the Lyntone Recordings Ltd. credit in the dead wax. Side A carries the matrix ROK-1-A EG SA LYN 7627-IT; Side B reads ROK-1-B LYN 7628-IT EG SA.
The 7-inch format spins at 45 RPM and contains 3 tracks. Original 1979 copies arrived in a cardboard sleeve opening at the top; pre-release stock shipped without sleeves due to printing delays.
Some copies included a small insert advertising a T-shirt offer. Grade this record by examining the vinyl surface under light and playing it end-to-end: Mint (3780.28 USD) shows no marks; NM (3382.35 USD) allows only light dust; VG+ (2586.51 USD) permits light surface marks audible only on quiet passages; VG (1790.66 USD) shows visible marks and light crackle throughout.
The rare label-reversal variant—A-side label affixed to B-side grooves—is documented among approximately 5 known examples and requires visual inspection of both label and groove direction.
Further reading: grading a record, what makes a pressing valuable.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
Original copies with cardboard sleeve that opens on top.
Pre-release copies came without a sleeve due to printing delays.
Some copies came with a small insert offering a T-shirt.
A very small number came with the labels on the wrong sides (there are around 5 copies known among Maiden collectors, see last picture for A-side label with B-side grooves).
℗1979 Rock Hard Records Ltd. Sanctuary Music Ltd.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Frequently asked
What is the current market price for a VG+ copy?
A VG+ copy is valued at 2586.51 USD according to the price guide. This estimate reflects the condition grade where light surface marks become audible during quiet passages. The current lowest asking price across 11 active listings is 906.66 USD, which sits below the G+ estimate of 994.81 USD, indicating most available stock is graded lower than VG+.
How do I identify the correct Lyntone pressing plant version?
Check the dead-wax matrix on both sides. Side A reads ROK-1-A EG SA LYN 7627-IT and Side B reads ROK-1-B LYN 7628-IT EG SA. The catalogue number ROK.1 appears on the label. The Lyntone Recordings Ltd. credit is stamped in the runout. These markings confirm the 1979 UK original from Rock Hard Records (3).
What is the Mint price and how rare is that grade?
A Mint copy is priced at 3780.28 USD. The extreme gap between Mint (3780.28 USD) and NM (3382.35 USD) reflects how few examples survive unplayed. The want count of 2241 against a have count of 691 suggests most collectors seeking this record have never owned one, making top-grade copies exceptionally scarce.
Are there known variants of this pressing?
Yes. Original 1979 copies came with a cardboard sleeve opening at the top. Pre-release copies shipped without sleeves due to printing delays. Some copies included a small insert offering a T-shirt. Approximately 5 known copies among collectors feature reversed labels—the A-side label affixed to the B-side grooves—making this a documented pressing error.
Why does demand so far exceed supply on this record?
The want-to-have ratio stands at 2241 collectors wanting it against 691 owning one. This 1979 Lyntone pressing is the original UK release on Rock Hard Records catalogue ROK.1, a foundational Iron Maiden artifact. Only 11 copies are currently for sale, and the documented label-reversal variant (approximately 5 known) adds scarcity and historical significance. The community rating of 4.48 across 150 votes reflects its collectibility.