Vinyl pressings
by Barry Manilow · 1978
Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
35 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 16 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.
T1 A2L-8601-SA-CT 2 STERLINGRunout Side A, variant 1
T1 A2L-8601-SB-3 CTH STERLINGRunout Side B, variant 1
T1 A2L-8601-SC-CT 2 STERLINGRunout Side C, variant 1
T1 A2L-8601-SD-1 CTH STERLINGRunout Side D, variant 1
A2L-8601-SA-1 STERLING 77Runout side A, variant 1
A2L-8601-SB STERLING 77Runout side B, variant 1
A2L-8601-SC 1 STERLING 77Runout side C, variant 1
A2L-8601-SD STERLING 77Runout side D, variant 1
A2L-8601-SA STERLING HUBSide A etched, except STERLING stamped
A2L-8601-SB STERLING HUBSide B etched, except STERLING stamped
A2L-8601-SC STERLING HUBSide C etched, except STERLING stamped
A2L-8601-SD STERLING HUBSide D etched, except STERLING stamped
P A2L-8601-SA STERLINGA Side Etch + Stamp
P A2L-8601-SB STERLINGB Side Etch + Stamp
P A2L-8601-SC STERLINGC Side Etch + Stamp
P A2L-8601-SD STERLINGD Side Etch + Stamp
A2L-8601-SA ②-1 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
A2L-8601-SB ②-1 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
A2L-8601-SC ①-1 STERLINGRunout side C, variant 1
A2L-8601-SD ①-1 STERLINGRunout side D, variant 1
A2L-8601-SASide One, etched
A2L-8601-SBSide Two, etched
A2L-8601-SCSide Three, etched
A2L-8601-SDSide Four, etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Arista A2L 8601 SBFirst yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | Arista AL 8601First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Brazil | Arista 31C 064 62405DFirst yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Arista A2L 8601First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Canada | Arista A2L 8601First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Canada | Arista A2L 8601LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Canada | Arista A2L 8601LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Canada | Arista A2L 8601 / Arista A 2 L 8601LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Canada | Arista A2L 8601LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Guatemala | Arista 33144First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Arista IES-50017/18First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | Arista 20RS-5/6First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Japan | Arista IES-50017/18First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Mexico | Arista SLEMB-821 / Arista 33C 162-61894/5First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Arista A2L 8601First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Arista L80011/12LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Brazil | Arista 202 446LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Italy | Arista 2 ARS 39049LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Mexico | Arista LAD-198LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | UK | Tellydisc TELLY 1LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | Tellydisc TELLY 1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | South Africa | Arista ASTJ (2) 52 / Arista ASTJ(2) 52LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Arista A2L 8601LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1982 | Mexico | Arista LAD-198LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1983 | Japan | Arista 20RS-28~9LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Arista AL13 8039 / Arista A2L 8601LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Arista AL13-8039 / Arista AL 13-8039-01LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Arista A2L 8601LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Arista A 2L 8601LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | UK | Tellydisc TELLY 1 / Tellydisc TELLY 1.LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Arista A2L 8601 / Arista 1398LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Arista A2L 8601 / Arista A 2L 8601LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Arista AL13-8039LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Stereo · Picture disc | LP, Compilation, Picture Disc, Stereo · Picture disc |
| ? | US | Arista AL13-8039LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Arista A 2L 8601 / Arista A2L 8601LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Arista A 2L 8601 / Arista A2L 8601LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Arista A2L 8601 / Arista A 2L 8601LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
68 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1978 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, Japan, Panama, Argentina and more. One of them is Arista A2L 8601, released November 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use A2L 8601, AL1 38039, IES-50017/18, A2L 8601 SB) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 A2L-8601-SA-CT 2 STERLING and T1 A2L-8601-SB-3 CTH STERLING. 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.
