Vinyl pressings
by Brook Benton · 1961
Golden Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1961. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1961, the album's first year, in 6 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.
MGC 20607A MS2Side A, Stamped, Variant 1
MG 20607B M1Side B, Stamped, Variant 1
MG 20607A M1 CIIIIISide A, Stamped, IIIII etched, Variant 2
MG 20607B M1 CIIIIISide B, Stamped, IIIII etched, Variant 2
MGC 20607A MS2 TSide 1
MG 20607B M1 ACB1Side 2
T MG 20607A M1 C IIIRunout Side A stamped {III etched}
T MG 20607B M1 C IIIIIIIRunout Side B stamped {IIIIIII etched}
SR 60607-A-MS1 FSide A stamped exc. F etched
SR 60607-B-MS2 FSide B stamped exc. F etched
MG 20607A MS1 Fside A runout stamped
MG 20607B MS1 Fside B runout stamped
SR 60607-A-MS1 B-H 1C 1-1 TSide A, Stamped, Etched
SR 60607-B-MS2 BH 11-11Side B, Stamped, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Australia | Mercury RS 145 / Mercury 135 132 MCYFirst yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1961 | Canada | Mercury MG 20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Canada | Mercury MG-C 20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Canada | Mercury MG-C 20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Jamaica | Mercury SR 60607First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1961 | New Zealand | Mercury MG20607 / Mercury MG 20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | South Africa | Mercury SR.9038First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | Mercury SR-60607First yearLP, Stereo, Compilation | LP, Stereo, Compilation |
| 1961 | US | Mercury MG-20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Mercury SR-60607First yearLP, Stereo, Compilation | LP, Stereo, Compilation |
| 1961 | US | Mercury MG-20607 / Mercury MG 20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Mercury SR-60607First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | Mercury MG 20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Mercury MG 20607 / Mercury MG-20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Mercury MG 20607First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | US | Mercury SR 60607LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Mercury SR 60607LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | Mercury SR 60607 / Mercury 6338 328LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Philips SLP-9101LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SR-60607LP, Stereo, Compilation | LP, Stereo, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SR-60607LP, Stereo, Compilation | LP, Stereo, Compilation |
| ? | Jamaica | Mercury SR 60607LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 135 132 MCYLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 125 132 MCLLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Mercury MMC 14124 / Mercury MG 23019LP, Compilation, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| ? | US | Mercury SR 60607LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury MG-20607LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Mercury SR-60607LP, Stereo, Compilation | LP, Stereo, Compilation |
32 vinyl pressings of Golden Hits are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1961 and 1978.
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US, Australia, Canada, Jamaica and more. One of them is Mercury MG 20607, released January 1961.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MG 20607, SR-60607, MG-20607, RS 145) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MGC 20607A MS2 and MG 20607B M1. 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.
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