Vinyl pressings
by Al Green 路 1972
Let's Stay Together was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
29 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 12 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.
SLH-638 饾挳饾捊饾憭饾搧饾搧饾憭饾搸 M HC SA 3-10-72 僻Side A etched [僻 stamped]
SLH-639 饾挳饾捊饾憭饾搧饾搧饾憭饾搸 饾様饾槩饾槾饾樀饾槮饾槼饾槫饾槼饾槩饾槯饾樀 饾様饾槮饾槷饾槺饾槱饾槳饾槾 HC 3-10-72 僻Side B etched [僻 stamped]
SLH 638 SHSide A label
SLH 639 SHSide B label
SLH-638-W M HCSide A runout
SLH-639-W M HCSide B runout
SLH 638 WSide A label
SLH 639 WSide B label
SLH 638 AL Mastercraft Memphis HCSide A runout, variant 1
SLH 639 AL MHCSide B runout, variant 1
SLH-638 AL MHCSide A runout, variant 2
SLH-639 AL MHCSide B runout, variant 2
SLH-638-1 1-111 M HC PRVariant 1, Side A runout etched
SLH-639-1 1-11111 M HC PRVariant 1, Side B runout etched
SLH-638-1-11-1 M HC PR DVariant 2, Side A runout etched
SLH-639-1 1-11111 M HC PR DVariant 2, Side B runout etched
SLH 638 ALA-side matrix on label
SLH 639 ALB-side matrix on label
SLH 638 B1 Side/1 Mastercraft MemphisSide A runout, variant 1
SLH 639 CJB1 #1 MHC Side 2Side B runout, variant 1
SLH 638 B1 Side 1 # 3 Mastercraft MemphisSide A runout, variant 2
SLH 639 CJB1 #1 MHC Side 2Side B runout, variant 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Brazil | London Records SHL-638-ALFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Brazil | London Records LLN 7242First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Brazil | London Records LLN-7242-S / London Records LLN 7242First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Brazil | London Records LLN-7242-S / London Records LLN 7242First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Canada | Hi Records SHL 32070 / Hi Records SHL.32070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Hi Records SHL 32070First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Disques London 258.055 BFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | London Records SHA-U 130LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1972 | Germany | London Records SHA-U 130First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | India | London Records SHU 8430First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Jamaica | Hi Records SHL 32070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | London Records SLC-424First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Japan | London Records SLC-424First yearLP, Album, Promo 路 Promo | LP, Album, Promo 路 Promo |
| 1972 | Philippines | London Records SHU 8430 / Hi Records SHU 8430LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | Spain | London Records CPS 9203First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | South Africa | Cream CLP 5543LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Motown 5290MLLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | Motown 5290MLLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | HI Records HI UK LP 405LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | UK | HI Records HI UK LP 405LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | US | Motown 2838MLLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | US | Hi Records T1-27121LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo 路 Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo 路 Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Italy | Get Back GET 8033LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2003 | Italy | Get Back GET8033LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2005 | Italy | Get Back GET 98033LP, Album, Reissue 路 Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue 路 Colored vinyl |
| 2006 | US | Simply Vinyl SVLP 509LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2009 | US | Fat Possum Records FPH1137-1 / Hi Records FPH1137-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | Fat Possum Records FPH137-1 / Hi Records FPH137-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2013 | US | Fat Possum Records FPH137-1 / Hi Records FPH137-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited |
| 2015 | US | Fat Possum Records FPH1137-1 / Hi Records FPH1137-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | Japan | Octave Lab OTS-153 / Hi Records SHL 32070LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited |
| 2019 | US | Hi Records FPH1137-6-VPM / Fat Possum Records FPH1137-1LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Repress 路 Limited, Numbered, Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Repress 路 Limited, Numbered, Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | US | Fat Possum Records FPH1137-8LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo 路 Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo 路 Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | US | Hi Records FPH1137-7LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue 路 Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | US | Fat Possum Records FPH1137 / Hi Records FPH1137LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered 路 Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered 路 Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Fat Possum Records FPH1137-0 / Hi Records FPH1137-0LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo 路 Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo 路 Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Colombia | Hi Records SHL 32070LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Peru | London Records SHL 32070LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Hi Records SHL 32070 / Hi Records ST 94368LP, Album, Club Edition 路 Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition 路 Club edition |
| ? | US | Motown MOT-2838 / Motown 2838MLLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Motown Classic Vinyl MOT-5290LP, Album | LP, Album |
67 vinyl pressings of Let's Stay Together are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1972 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, UK, Brazil, Canada and more. One of them is Hi Records SHL 32070.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SHL 32070, SHU 8430, SHU.8430, SHL-638-AL) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SLH-638 饾挳饾捊饾憭饾搧饾搧饾憭饾搸 M HC SA 3-10-72 僻 and SLH-639 饾挳饾捊饾憭饾搧饾搧饾憭饾搸 饾様饾槩饾槾饾樀饾槮饾槼饾槫饾槼饾槩饾槯饾樀 饾様饾槮饾槷饾槺饾槱饾槳饾槾 HC 3-10-72 僻. 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.
