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Data as of Aug 9, 2026
Paper Lace – The Night Chicago Died
1974 · US · Mercury · Vinyl 7" 45 RPM Single
Offers · 1
- C$13.11ref VA-6ZSY3Media VG+ · Very Good PlusSleeve VG+🇨🇦 Ships from Canada
The Discogs price estimate is a separate reference; offer prices above are sellers’ own.
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Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- 2-512942-51294-PR-1-I-I PR
- Runout — side B
- 2-512952-51295-PR-6-I-I PR
- Matrix / runout
- MASTERDISK
- Rights society
- ASCAP
- Manufactured By
- Phonogram, Inc.
- Pressed By
- PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN
Specifications
- Artist
- Paper Lace
- Genre
- Rock
- Style
- Pop Rock
- Year
- 1974
- Label
- Mercury
- Catalog number
- 73492
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- AThe Night Chicago Died3:30
- BCan You Get It When You Want It3:34
- Producer
- Murray-Callander
- Written-By
- Murray-Callander
About this record
The PRC Richmond pressing of this 1974 Mercury single is identified by the "PR" suffix stamped in the dead wax—a variant that differs from the Columbia-Santa Maria pressing in label typography, credit placement, and copyright positioning. Catalogue 73492 marks the US issue, while the UK Bus Stop release (BUS 1016) commands a separate collector following.
With 500 copies held against only 10 want-list entries, supply vastly outpaces demand.
What drives its value
This 45 trades on condition and pressing variant rather than scarcity. The Mercury US pressing sits in a soft market: 500 collectors own it while only 10 actively seek one, indicating saturation at the collector level.
The PRC Richmond variant (identified by matrix codes 2-51294-PR-1-I-I and 2-51295-PR-6-I-I) holds marginal premium over the Columbia-Santa Maria pressing due to label-design differences and the "PR" runout marking. No price_guide data is available for this title, so current market value cannot be quoted from auction records.
Buyers typically focus on the original hit-single status rather than pressing rarity; the 1974 release year and pop-rock crossover appeal sustain baseline collector interest. The UK Bus Stop variant (1974, BUS 1016) remains a separate market tier.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the Mercury catalogue number 73492 on the label. Examine the dead wax for the "PR" suffix: side A should read 2-51294-PR-1-I-I and side B 2-51295-PR-6-I-I, indicating PRC Recording Company, Richmond, IN as the pressing plant.
Check label typography—this variant omits credits between title and artist, and the copyright notice (© 1974) appears to the right rather than centered. The 7-inch 45 RPM single has no barcode.
The label will show Mercury branding and catalogue 73492. Compare against the Columbia-Santa Maria pressing variant, which lacks the "PR" runout markers and differs in font sizing and credit layout.
Grade by examining vinyl surface directly under light; note any visible wear patterns on the grooves and label condition separately.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
Pressing variant, pressed at PRC Richmond (identified by "PR" in run-outs). Differences include font size, no credits between title and artist, © 1974 is to the right.
Columbia-Richmond pressing: Columbia-Santa Maria
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Other pressings of this release
Different editions of the same album — pressing decides value.
Frequently asked
How do I identify the PRC Richmond pressing versus other variants?
Look at the dead wax on both sides. The PRC Richmond variant carries "PR" in the matrix: side A reads 2-51294-PR-1-I-I and side B reads 2-51295-PR-6-I-I. The label also omits credits between the title and artist name, and the © 1974 copyright notice sits to the right of center. These three markers together confirm the PRC Richmond pressing.
What is the difference between the US Mercury and UK Bus Stop releases?
The US Mercury pressing (catalogue 73492, 1974) was pressed at either Phonogram, Inc. or PRC Recording Company in Richmond, IN. The UK Bus Stop release (catalogue BUS 1016, 1974) is a separate issue for the British market. They are distinct pressings with different label designs, catalogue numbers, and likely different pressing plants.
Is this a rare record?
No. Community data shows 500 collectors own this pressing against only 10 who want one, indicating substantial supply relative to demand. The original hit-single status and pop-rock appeal sustain collector interest, but the pressing is not scarce.
Does this 45 have a barcode?
No. This 1974 Mercury pressing has no barcode. Barcode adoption on singles was inconsistent in the mid-1970s; this issue predates widespread barcode use on 7-inch records.
What pressing plant pressed this record?
Mercury used two plants for this title: Phonogram, Inc. and PRC Recording Company in Richmond, IN. The PRC Richmond variant is identified by the "PR" suffix in the matrix runout (2-51294-PR-1-I-I on side A and 2-51295-PR-6-I-I on side B). The Columbia-Santa Maria pressing is a separate variant without the "PR" marker.