Vinyl pressings
by Earl Van Dyke · 1965
That Motown Sound was first pressed on vinyl in 1965. 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 1965, the album's first year, in 4 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.
-S4RM-6855-1-B H-1354-4 RSide A Runout, stamped (exc. H-13354-4)
-S4RM-6856-1-B H-1355-4 RSide B Runout, stamped (exc. H-13355-4)
H-1354Side A label
H-1355Side B label
-S4RM-6855-1- M 2 H-1354-4 IVar. 1-side A runout
-S4RM-6856-1- M 2 H-1355-4 IVar. 1-side B runout
-S4RM-6855-1- II 2 I H-1354-4Var. 2-side A runout
-S4RM-6856-1- B 1 I H-1355-4Var. 2-side B runout
S4RS-6857-2 K A1 S4RS-6858̸7-2K 8̸ RRunout side A
S4RS-6858-2̸-J A RRunout side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Argentina | Tamla Motown tml 10007First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | Canada | Tamla Motown MO 631First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | Canada | Tamla Motown M 631First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Motown M 631First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Motown MS-631First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Motown 631 / Motown S 631First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Motown MT-631First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Motown M 631 / Motown 631First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Motown MS 631First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Motown MS-631First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Motown MS-631First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | UK | Tamla Motown TML 11014First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Italy | MotownLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Tamla Motown 2C 062 - 91595 / Tamla Motown 2C 062 - 91.595LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 054-91595LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
15 vinyl pressings of That Motown Sound are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1965 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1965, in US, UK, Argentina, Canada. One of them is Motown M 631.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M 631, MS-631, 631, MT-631) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, -S4RM-6855-1-B H-1354-4 R and -S4RM-6856-1-B H-1355-4 R. 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.
