Vinyl pressings
by Commodores · 1977
Commodores 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.
28 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 20 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.
M7-884R1-2701-S-REI-06B jaRunout side A, var. 1
M7-884R1-2702-S-REI-06A jaRunout side B, var. 1
M7-884R1-2701-S-REI-07A jaRunout side A, var. 2
M7-884R1-2702-S-REI-07B jaRunout side B, var. 2
M7-884R1-2701-S-07B (13) ja GWRunout side A, etched
M7-884R1-2702-S-07B (13) ja GWRunout side B, etched
2701-SLabel side A
2702-SLabel side B
M7-884R1- 2701-S-RE1- 04A-11-1 da /// PRCSide A Runout
M7- 884R1 - 2702-S-RE1-04A 1-11 da PRCSide B Runout
M7-884R1-2701-S-REI-06B MR ja △22148Side A matrix, variant 1
M7-884R1-2702-S-REI-06A ja MR △22148-XSide B matrix, variant 1
M7-884R1-2701-S-REI-06A MR ja △22148Side A matrix, variant 2
M7-884R1-2702-S-REI-06A ja MR △22148-XSide B matrix, variant 2
M7-884RI-2701-S-RE1-06A [MR in circle] Ja #13 △22148 GPSide A runout, variant 1
M7-884RI-2702-S-RE1-06A Ja [MR in circle] △22148-X #13 FESide B runout, variant 1
#13 M7-884RI-2701-S-RE1-06B [MR in circle] Ja △22148 FESide A runout, variant 2
M7-884RI-2702-S-RE1-06A #13 Ja [MR in circle] △22148-X #13 GPSide B runout, variant 2
STML 12057 A-1U m7-884R1-2701-S-06A H MR Ja ◁ 22093 England 1Side A runout
STML 12057 B-1U PG m7-884R1-2702-S-06A MR Ja 1 ◁ 22093-X EnglandSide B runout
STML 12057ASide A label
STML 12057BSide B label
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 | Argentina | Motown SUP 876First yearLP | LP |
| 1977 | Australia | Motown STMLO-10170First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Brazil | Motown M6-884First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Motown M-884S1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Costa Rica | Motown 105First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | Motown 2C 066-98871First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Motown 1C 064-98 871 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-98 871First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Greece | Motown 14C 062-98871First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Italy | Motown 3C 064-98871First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Motown VIP-6421First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Motown VIP-6421First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Malaysia | Not On Label (Commodores) LSLP-90First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Mexico | Motown STAM-749First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Motown 5C 062-98871 / Motown M7-884R1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Motown STML 6159First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Germany | Bellaphon 257·15·005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | UK | Motown STMS 5061LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | Motown M5-222V1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK & Europe | Motown WL72101 / Motown WL 72101LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Motown 00602557431612LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2017 | US | Motown B0026396-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Motown B0026396-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2017 | US | Motown B0026396-01LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Malaysia | Music Girl US 660LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Motown STML 12057 / Motown OC 062-98 871LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
44 vinyl pressings of Commodores are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1977 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Motown M7-884R1, released March 15, 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M7-884R1, STML 12057, SUP 876, STMLO-10170) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M7-884R1-2701-S-REI-06B ja and M7-884R1-2702-S-REI-06A ja. 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.
