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Greatest Hits by Black Sabbath, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Greatest Hits

by Black Sabbath · 1977

72 pressings20 countriesHeavy MetalRock

Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of Greatest Hits

34 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 15 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.

UK

1977
Label and catalog number
NEMS NEL 6009
Format
LP, Compilation, Stereo
Runout / matrix

NEL 6009 – A1 Ʊ 2̲ B̅A side Runout, etched, variant 1

NEL 6009–B1 B̅B side Runout, etched, variant 1

NEL 6009 – A1 Ʊ B̅A side Runout, etched, variant 2

NEL 6009 – B1 B̅B side Runout, etched, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

1977
Label and catalog number
Nems NEL 6009
Format
LP, Compilation
Runout / matrix

NEL 6009 A 1Side A runout, etched, variant 1

NEL 6009 B GOSide B runout, etched, variant 1

NEL 6009 ASide A runout, etched, variant 2

NEL 6009 BSide B runout, etched, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

1977
Label and catalog number
NEMS NEL 6009
Format
LP, Compilation
Runout / matrix

NEL 6009 A-1♢MB __A APRunout side A, variant 1

NEL 6009 B-1♢MB __A AZRunout side B, variant 1

NEL 6009 A-1♢MB __A GRunout side A, variant 2

NEL 6009 B-1♢MB __A PRunout side B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 72 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1970s38 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1977AustraliaNEMS L-36,349First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1977EuropeNEMS NEL 6009First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1977FranceNEMS NEL 6009First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1977GermanySpiegelei INT 135.605 / Nems NEL 6009First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1977GermanyCastle Communications NEL 6009 / NEMS Records LTD. 32 068 9First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1977GermanySpiegelei 32 068 9 / Nems NEL 6009LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club editionLP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition
1977IrelandNEMS NEL 6009First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1977IrelandNEMS NEL 6009First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1977IrelandNEMS NEL 6009First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1977IrelandNEMS NEL 6009First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1977IrelandNems NEL 6009First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1977ItalyNEMS NEL 6009 / NEMS GKAY 31781First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1977ItalyNEMS NEL 6009First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1977MexicoNot On Label N-007First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1977NetherlandsNEMS SRL 410.002First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
All 38 pressings from the 1970s
1980s21 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980Australia7 Records MLF 418LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1980AustraliaPowderworks MLF 418LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1980GermanySpiegelei INT 145.619 / Nems NEL 6009LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1980JapanNEMS SP18-5016LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1980JapanNEMS SP18-5016LP, Compilation, Promo, Reissue · PromoLP, Compilation, Promo, Reissue · Promo
1980New ZealandPowderworks MLF 418LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1981ItalyAriston Music ARM / 42008LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1981ItalyAriston Music ARM/42008LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
1981South AfricaPlum Records TRC 3028LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1981SpainNEMS 16L0143 / Edigsa 16L0143LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
1981SpainNEMS 16L0143 / Edigsa 16L0143LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
1982IrelandNEMS NEL 6009LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1982IrelandNEMS NEL 6009LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1982IrelandNEMS NEL 6009LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1982IrelandNEMS NEL 6009LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
All 21 pressings from the 1980s
Year unknown13 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?EuropeNEMS NEL 6009LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?GermanyNems CLALP 200LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
?GermanyNems NEL 6009LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
?IrelandNEMS NEL 6009LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
?NetherlandsNEMS NEL 6009LP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
?NetherlandsNEMS NEL 6009LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?South KoreaHigh Stereo Light BR 318LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?South KoreaKA Stereo KA 613LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · UnofficialLP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial
?TaiwanGang PM-A-90LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?UKNEMS NEL 6009LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?UKNEMS NEL 6009LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?UKNEMS NEL 6009LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?UKNEMS NEL 6009LP, Compilation, White Label, StereoLP, Compilation, White Label, Stereo

Tracklist

  1. A1Paranoid2:45
  2. A2N.I.B.5:58
  3. A3Changes4:41
  4. A4Sabbath Bloody Sabbath5:43
  5. A5Iron Man5:47
  6. B1Black Sabbath6:20
  7. B2War Pigs7:58
  8. B3Laguna Sunrise2:49
  9. B4Tomorrow's Dream3:06
  10. B5Sweet Leaf5:02

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are there?

72 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1977 and 1987.

When was Greatest Hits first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK, Netherlands, Australia, Europe and more. One of them is NEMS NEL 6009.

How do I tell if my copy of Greatest Hits is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use NEL 6009, L-36,349, INT 135.605, N-007) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Greatest Hits on vinyl worth?

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.

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