Vinyl pressings
by Commodores · 1980
Heroes was first pressed on vinyl in 1980. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
32 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 21 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.
M8-939-M1 (A) /3A KENDUN-C JGSRunout Side 1 Variant 1 engraved & KENDUN stamped
M8-939-M1 (B) /3C KENDUN-C JGSRunout Side 2 Variant 1 engraved & KENDUN stamped
M8-939-M1 (A) 18C (Deleted) 13C ARR KENDUN-CRunout Side 1 Variant 2 engraved & KENDUN stamped
M8-939-M1 (B) 18D (Deleted) 13D ARR KENDUN-C JGSRunout Side 2 Variant 2 engraved & KENDUN stamped
M8-939-MI (A) 18ARunout side A, variant 1
M8-939-MI (B) 18BRunout side B, variant 1
M8-939-MI (A) 18CRunout side A, variant 2
M8-939-MI (B) 18CRunout side B, variant 2
M8-939-M1(A)1̶̷̲̅8̶̷̲̅A̶̷̲̅ 15A JGSRunout side A etched
M8-939-M1-(B)-1̶̷̲̅8̶̷̲̅B̶̷̲̅ 15B JGSRunout side B etched
M8-939-M1-(B)-1̶̷̲̅8̶̷̲̅A̶̷̲̅ 15A JGSRunout side B etched Variant 1
KENDUN-CRunout side A & B stamped
M8-939-M1 (A)-1̶8̶C̶ 12C KENDUN-CRunout Side A, etched, variant 1
M8-939-M1 (B)1̶8̶A̶ 12A KENDUN-C JGSRunout Side B, etched, variant 1
M8-939-M1 (A)-1̶8̶D 12D KENDUN-CRunout Side A, etched, variant 2
M8-939-M1 (B)-1̶8̶C̶ 12C KENDUN-C JGSRunout Side B, etched, variant 2
R 133833 ARunout Side 1 engraved
R 133833 BRunout Side 2 engraved
R-133833-A -1 A2 ARunout A, etched, stamped
R-133833B -1 A1 DRunout B, etched, stamped
M8-939M1ALabel A
M8-939M1BLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Motown SUP 2483-80.093First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Argentina | Motown SUP2483-80093First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Brazil | Motown 510.7018First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | France | Motown 2C 070 63867First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Motown 1C 064-63 867 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-63 867First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Motown 1C 064-63 867 / EMI Electrola 1C 064-63 867LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Israel | Motown 1A 062-63867 / Motown 1A 062 63867First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Italy | Motown 3C 064-63867First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Motown VIP-6722First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Motown VIP-6722First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Japan | Motown VIP-36LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Netherlands | Motown 1A 062-63867First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | Motown IM 46.030First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Scandinavia | Motown 7C 062-63867First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | Motown M8-939M1 / Motown M8-939-M1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Motown 257·15·009LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Motown 5353MLLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
40 vinyl pressings of Heroes are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1980 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Motown M8-939M1, released May 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M8-939M1, STMA 8034, M 8939, M 939) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M8-939-M1 (A) /3A KENDUN-C JGS and M8-939-M1 (B) /3C KENDUN-C JGS. 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.
