Vinyl pressings
by Commodores · 1976
Hot On The Tracks was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
25 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 18 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.
M6-867S1-2607-S-06A MR △20995-̶X̶ #1 GMRunout A variant 1
M6-867- M̶6̶-̶8̶4̶5̶5̶-̶1̶ 2608-S-RE1-06-A̶C MR △21038 #13 GMRunout B variant 1
M6-867S1-2607-S-06B MR △ 20995-X̶ #13 GMRunout A variant 2
M6-867- M̶6̶-̶8̶4̶5̶5̶-̶1̶ -2608-S-RE1-06 A̶ C MR △ 21038 #13 GMRunout B variant 2
M6-867S1-260[9 scratched out]7-S-06A (MR) Δ20995-[X scratched out] #12 GMSide A Runout
M6-867- [M6-845S1 scratched out]-2608-S-RE1-06 [A scratched out] C (MR) Δ21038 #12 GMSide B Runout
2607-SLabel A
2608-SLabel B
l S M6-867S1-2607-S /A D3Runout A
l S M6-867S1-2608 REI-S /A A5Runout B
2607-SLabel A
2608-SLabel B
2607-SSide A Label
2608-S-RE1Side B Label
M6-867S1-2607-S-06A BELL [MR] TINKER △20995-̶X̶ #1 GMSide A runout, variant 1
M6-867- M̶6̶-̶8̶4̶5̶5̶-̶1̶ 2608-S-RE1-06-A̶C [MR] △21038 (7) GM LINDA BELLSide B runout, variant 1
M6-867S1-2608-S-06A [MR] △20995-̶X̶ (1) GMSide A runout, variant 2
M6-867-S1-2608-S-06B [MR] △20995-X (4) GMSide B runout, variant 2
STML 12031 A-1 HTMRunout A, stamped HTM etched
STML 12031 B-1 HTMRunout B, stamped HTM etched
STML 12031ALabel A
STML 12031BLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO 10143First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Brazil | Motown M6-867 / Top Tape M6-867First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Canada | Motown M-867P1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | France | Tamla Motown 2C 066 - 97.908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 062-97908 / Motown 1C 062-97908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 062-97908 / Motown 1C 062-97908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Greece | Motown 2J 062-97908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Greece | Motown 2J 062-97908LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1976 | Israel | Tamla Motown M6-867S1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Italy | Motown 3C 064 - 97908LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Italy | Tamla Motown TSM - ST 60137First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | Motown VIP-6344First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | Japan | Motown VIP-6344First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1976 | Mexico | Motown STAM-681First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Motown 5C 062-97908First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Germany | Motown 257·15·004LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | Motown 5257MLLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | Motown 5257MLLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | US | Motown 5257ML (5257MLA)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | UK | Tamla Motown STMS 5076LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Spain | Motown SNL1-60110LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Europe | Motown 067 744-1 / Universal 067 744-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Taiwan | First Record FL 2788LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Motown SNL1 - 60110LP, Album | LP, Album |
39 vinyl pressings of Hot On The Tracks are listed here, from 21 countries, released between 1976 and 2003.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Motown M6-867S1, released June 15, 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M6-867S1, STML 12031, STMLO 10143, M6-867) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M6-867S1-2607-S-06A MR △20995-̶X̶ #1 GM and M6-867- M̶6̶-̶8̶4̶5̶5̶-̶1̶ 2608-S-RE1-06-A̶C MR △21038 #13 GM. 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.
