Vinyl pressings
by Buddy Holly · 1977
20 Golden Greats 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.
1 pressing came out in 1977, the album's first year. 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.
EMTV 8 A - 1 GGBRunout side A, variant 1
EMTV 8 B - 1 GRL 3Runout side B, variant 1
EMTV 8 A - 2 HTMRunout side A, variant 2
EMTV 8 B - 2Runout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | UK | MCA Records EMTV 8 / MCA Records EMTV8First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | MCA Records 3040-1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 8816LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3040 / MCA Records MCA 3040LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | MCA Records 14C 062-60237LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | MCA Records 14C 062-60237LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1978 | Ireland | MCA Records EMTV 8 / MCA Records EMTV8LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Italy | MCA Records MCA 4036LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Netherlands | MCA Records 5C 062.60237LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Netherlands | MCA Records 5C 062-60237 / MCA Records 5C 062.60237LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | New Zealand | MCA Records BH20LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Philippines | MCA Records MCA-3040 / MCA Records MCA-5508-9LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-37244LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | New Zealand | MCA Records BH20LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | Spain | MCA Records I-201320 / MCA Records I-201.320LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-1484LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Repress, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Repress, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37244 / MCA Records MCA-1484LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 | Benelux | MCA Records 201.367 / MCA Records 201 367LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 8816LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Brazil | MCA Records 201 320LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Mexico | MCA Records ML-5153LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | New Zealand | MCA Records BH20LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-37244LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-1484LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-37244LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-3040LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
58 vinyl pressings of 20 Golden Greats are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1977 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK. One of them is MCA Records EMTV 8.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EMTV 8) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EMTV 8 A - 1 GGB and EMTV 8 B - 1 GRL 3. 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.
