Vinyl pressings
by Commodores · 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.
28 pressings came out in 1978, 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.
M7-912R1A - 1̶8̶D̶ 12D JaSide A runout, var. 1
M7-912R1B - 1̶8̶B̶ 12B JaSide B runout, var. 1
M7-912R1A - 1̶8̶B̶ 13B Ja PEGSide A runout, var. 2
M7-912R1B - 1̶8̶G̶ 13G Ja PEQSide B runout, var. 2
MT-912R1A-18C jaA side etched variant 1
MT-912R1B-18B jaB side etched variant 1
MT-912R1A-18D jaA side etched variant 2
MT-912R1A-18F jaB side etched variant 2
1S MT-912R1A-18C ja GA side etched
MT-912R1B-18B ja XG A7B side etched
S MT-912R1A-1A SXT ja AA side etched Variant 1
S MT-912R1B-1A ja SXTB side etched Variant 1
M7-912R1A-̶1̶8̶D̶ 12D [cherries]Side A runout, variant 1 etched
M7-912R1B-1̶8̶C̶ 12C [cherries]Side B runout, variant 1 etched
M7-912R1A-1̶̷8̶̷B̶̷ 12B JaSide A runout, variant 2
M7-912R1B-1̶̷8̶̷B̶̷ 12B JaSide B runout, variant 2
STML 12100 A-1Runout, A-side, stamped
MASTERED AT ABBEY ROAD - NICKRunout, A-side, etched
STML 12100 B-2Runout, B-side, stamped
Nick WRunout, B-side, etched
STML 6180 A..
STML 6180 B....
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 | Australasia | Motown STML 6180First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Australia | Motown M7 912First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Brazil | Motown M7-912First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Canada | Motown M7-912R1LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Canada | Motown M7-912R1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Canada | Motown MOT-912First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Colombia | Motown MW 4144First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Europe | Motown 1 C 064-61 879First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | France | Motown 2C 068 61879 / Motown 2C 068-61.879First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Motown 1 C 064-61 879 / Motown 1C 064-61 879First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Germany | Motown 1 C 064-61 879 / Motown 1C 064-61 879First yearLP, Compilation, Misprint | LP, Compilation, Misprint |
| 1978 | Germany | Motown 1 C 064-61 879 / Motown 1C 064-61 879First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Greece | Motown 14C 062-61879First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Greece | Motown 12100LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1978 | Greece | Motown 12100LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Spain | Motown 2-47.079LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1981 | Spain | Motown 2-47.079LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1981 | Spain | Motown 2-47.079LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | South Korea | Motown M7-912R1 / Motown M7 -912 R1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1982 | Spain | Motown 2-47.079LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Motown M 266LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | Brazil | Motown M7-912 / Motown 504.7056LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France & Benelux | Motown 523002 / Vogue 523002LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Motown ZL 72030LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Motown 257·15·007LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Motown 16012LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | UK | Motown STML 12100LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
52 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1978 and 1982.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australasia, Australia and more. One of them is Motown M7-912R1, released October 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M7-912R1, STML 12100, STML 6180, M7 912) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M7-912R1A - 1̶8̶D̶ 12D Ja and M7-912R1B - 1̶8̶B̶ 12B 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.
