Vinyl pressings
by Country Joe And The Fish · 1969
Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 5 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.
º XSV222323-1B V SD 6545 A 1 T B1A Side Stamped exc "T" etch
º XSV222324-1B V SD 6545 B 1 T A1B Side Stamped exc "T" etch
XSV 222323A Side Label
XSV 222324B Side Label
XSV222323-1B V SD 6545 A TSide 1, run-out, stamped, T etch
XSV222324-1B V SD 6545 B TSide 2, run-out, stamped, T etch
XSV222323-1C V SD 6545 A ƧRunout Side A Stamped, Ƨ Etched Variant 1
XSV222324-1C V SD 6545 B \ SRunout Side B Stamped, S \ Etched Variant 1
XSV222323-1F V SD 6545 A ƧRunout Side A Stamped, Ƨ Etched Variant 2
XSV222324-1C V SD 6545 B ƧRunout Side A Stamped, Ƨ Etched Variant 2
V SD6545A XSV222323-1F PRunout side A, variant 1
V SD6545B XSV222324-1C PRunout side B, variant 1
V SD6545A XSV222323-1FRunout side A, variant 2
VSD6545B XSV222324-1GRunout side B, variant 2
XSV222323-1C V SD 6545 A S A2Runout A
XSV222324-1C V SD 6545 B 1S A1Runout B
XSV 222323Label A
XSV 222324Label B
VSD6545A XSV222323-1HSide A Runout
VSD6545B XSV222324-1GSide B Runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Australia | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | Australia | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | Canada | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | France | Vanguard 519.025First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | South Africa | Vanguard VSD 6545First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | Taiwan | First Record FL-1912LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1969 | US | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | US | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | US | Vanguard VSD-6545LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1969 | US | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | Vanguard VSD-6545First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Germany | Vanguard 1 C 062-91 072 / Vanguard 1C 062-91 072LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | Italy | Vanguard SVAL 33.018LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Scandinavia | Vanguard GP-9977 / Grand Prix GP-9977LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | UK | Vanguard SVRL 19058 / Vanguard SVRL.19058LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Italy | Vanguard ORL 8144LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Vanguard VSD-6545LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Vanguard VSD-6545LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| ? | US | Vanguard VSD-6545LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
22 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1969 and 1977.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, Australia, Canada, France and more. One of them is Vanguard VSD-6545, released December 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VSD-6545, 519.025, VSD 6545) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, º XSV222323-1B V SD 6545 A 1 T B1 and º XSV222324-1B V SD 6545 B 1 T A1. 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.
