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Data as of Aug 25, 2026
Journey – Escape
1981 · US · Columbia · Vinyl LP Album Stereo
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Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Oct 18, 2026
- MMint
- $273.13
- NMNear Mint
- $244.38
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $186.88
- VGVery Good
- $129.38
- G+Good Plus
- $71.88
- GGood
- $43.13
- FFair
- $28.75
- PPoor
- $14.38
89 copies listed on Discogs from $1.76.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- AL 374081T o AL-37408-1P MASTERDISK K21T AL - 37408 - IQ MASTERDISK HW P31T AL - 37408 - IP MASTERDISK B9T2 AL-37408-1-0 A 4 MASTERDISK HW1T- AL•37408•1N C4 MASTERDISK1T AL•37408• - 1Q 1E o MASTERDISK HWT2 AL-37408 1-0 F MASTERDISK HWT2 AL•37408• 1-0 0 E MASTERDISK HW1T AL-37408-1P MASTERDISK HP
- Runout — side B
- BL 374081T o 37408-1T D26 MASTERDISK HW1T BL - 37408 - TI MASTERDISK HW o2/T BL - 37408 - IL MASTERDISK BK B18T1 BL-37408-1P C 1 MASTERDISKT1 BL•37408•1O C2 MASTERDISK1T o BL•37408-T1 C81 MASTERDISK HWS2 BL-37408 1M MASTERDISK0 BL•37408• 1AG MASTERDISK HW1T BL-37408-T1 C17 MASTERDISK HW
- Barcode (Scanned)
- 074643740814
- Barcode (Text)
- 0 7464-37408-1
- Pressing Plant ID
- T(Runouts)
- Recorded At
- Fantasy Studios
- Mixed At
- Fantasy Studios
- Manufactured By
- Columbia Records
- Manufactured By
- CBS Inc.
- Lacquer Cut At
- Masterdisk
- Mastered At
- Masterdisk
- Plated At
- Customatrix
- Pressed By
- Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
Specifications
- Artist
- Journey
- Genre
- Rock
- Style
- Pop Rock
- Year
- 1981
- Label
- Columbia
- Catalog number
- TC 37408
- Country
- US
- Barcode
- 074643740814
Tracklist
- A1Don't Stop Believin'4:10
- A2Stone In Love4:25
- A3Who's Crying Now5:01
- A4Keep On Runnin'3:39
- A5Still They Ride3:48
- B1Escape5:15
- B2Lay It Down4:13
- B3Dead Or Alive3:20
- B4Mother, Father5:28
- B5Open Arms3:21
- Producer
- Kevin Elson
- Producer
- Mike Stone
- Mastered By
- Bob Ludwig
- Engineer [Assistant]
- Wally Buck
- Written-By
- Jonathan Cain
- Written-By
- Neal Schon
About this record
The 1981 Columbia pressing of Escape carries a dual matrix signature in the dead wax—both AL 37408 and BL 37408 appear across variants, with the HW cutting lacquer variant marking a specific mastering path through Masterdisk in New York. Condition fractures the market sharply: a Mint copy commands 191.19 USD while a VG pressing drops to 90.56 USD, a spread that reflects how heavily collectors prize unplayed stock of this pop-rock juggernaut.
What drives its value
The price_guide spreads from 191.19 USD (Mint) down to 10.06 USD (Poor), with the critical VG+ threshold at 130.81 USD—the point where a collector transitions from investment-grade to playable-condition territory. Currently 88 copies are listed for sale across the market, yet 3971 collectors want the record against 25084 who own one, signaling steady demand without scarcity panic.
The 1981 US Columbia pressing TC 37408 is the original domestic release; no competing pressings from other years or countries appear in the dataset, making this the sole first-issue variant tracked. A VG copy at 90.56 USD represents the sweet spot where wear is visible but the record remains sonically intact—the gap between VG+ (130.81 USD) and VG (90.56 USD) reflects whether surface marks are light or moderate.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the Columbia catalogue number TC 37408 stamped on the spine and label. The dead-wax runout will show either AL 37408 or BL 37408 on side A and side B respectively; the HW variant noted in release notes indicates a specific lacquer cut at Masterdisk, Inc. in New York, distinguishing it from other 1981 Columbia pressings.
The record was pressed at Columbia Records Pressing Plant in Terre Haute, Indiana—a detail verifiable through the plant code embedded in the runout groove. The sleeve is embossed, a tactile feature absent from later reissues.
To grade accurately: examine the vinyl surface under light for visible marks that affect play (VG+ shows light marks, VG shows moderate marks); listen for surface noise during quiet passages to confirm whether the pressing sits at VG+ (130.81 USD) or VG (90.56 USD). The barcode is present on the back cover.
Further reading: grading a record, what makes a pressing valuable.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
Title also known as E5C4P3 Issued with embossed sleeve.
Mastered at Masterdisk, Inc., New York Recorded and Mixed at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California
All songs by S. Perry, N. Schon and J Cain, except "Who's Crying Now" and "Open Arms" by S. Perry and J. Cain, and "Mother, Father" by N. Schon, S. Perry, J Cain and M. Schon.
For all songs: ©1981 Weed High Nightmare Music (BMI) All administrative rights controlled by Screen Gems - EMI Music Inc. All rights reserved, Used by permission.
Derived from the runouts, this variant is a pressing with and (HW) cutting the lacquer.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Other pressings of this release
Different editions of the same album — pressing decides value.
Frequently asked
What is the catalogue number for this 1981 US pressing?
TC 37408, printed on the spine and label. This is the original domestic Columbia release.
How much is a VG+ copy worth?
According to the price guide, 130.81 USD. This grade indicates light surface marks that do not affect playback.
What does the HW in the dead wax mean?
It identifies the lacquer-cutting engineer or session at Masterdisk, Inc. in New York. The runout 1T o 37408-1T D26 MASTERDISK HW distinguishes this variant from pressings cut by other engineers (such as K2, visible on the AL 37408 side).
How much is a Mint copy worth versus a VG copy?
A Mint copy is priced at 191.19 USD; a VG copy at 90.56 USD. The difference reflects whether the record has been played or stored unplayed.
Where was this record pressed?
Columbia Records Pressing Plant in Terre Haute, Indiana. The plant code appears in the runout groove and confirms domestic US manufacture in 1981.