Vinyl pressings
by Freddie Mercury · 1987
The Great Pretender was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
50 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 24 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.
A FREDDY MERCURY ORLAKE TOWNHOUSERunout Side A, Variant 1
B FREDDY MERCURY ORLAKERunout Side B, Variant 1
A FREDDY MERCURY TOWNHOUSERunout Side A, Variant 2
B FREDDY MERCURY ORLAKERunout Side B, Variant 2
R 6151 A-3U-1-1-X1 R6151A-3N TOWNHOUSE DMMRunout side A Variant 1
R 6151 B-1U-1-1-R4 TOWNHOUSE DMMRunout side B Variant 1
R 6151 A-2U-1-1- D TOWNHOUSE DMMRunout side A Variant 2
R 6151 B-1U-1-1- D TOWNHOUSE DMMRunout side B Variant 2
R 6151 A-2U-1-Q-5-14 DA-side runout, variant 1
R 6151 B-1U-1-Q-3-X1 D TownHouse DMMB-side runout, variant 1
R 6151 A-2U-1-Q-3-x3 RA-side runout, variant 2
R 6151 B-1U-1-Q-2-x2 R Townhouse DMMB-side runout, variant 2
12 R 6151 A-1 U-1-2-0 TOWNHOUSE KEV DMMRunout, stamped + etched side A, variant 1
12 R 6151 B-1 U-1-1-19 TOWNHOUSE DMMRunout, stamped + etched side B, variant 1
12 R 6151 A- 1U-1-1-12 D TOWNHOUSE KEV DMMRunout, stamped + etched side A, variant 2
12 R 6151 B- 1U-1-1- D TOWNHOUSE DMMRunout, stamped + etched side B, variant 2
DMM TOWNHOUSE KEV A-1U-1-1 1 DSide A runout
TOWNHOUSE DMM R 6151 B-1U-1-1 DSide B runout
12R 6151ASide A label
12R 6151BSide B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Argentina | EMI EMI 6968 / EMI 12R 6151First year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Australia | Parlophone A 1917First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Australia | Parlophone A 1917First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1987 | Australia | Parlophone A.1917 / Parlophone A-1917First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Australia | Parlophone ED.250First year12", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1987 | Australia & New Zealand | Parlophone ED.250 / Parlophone ED 250First year12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Bolivia | EMI International BO - 1487First year7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Brazil | Parlophone 31C 052 201646ZFirst year12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Canada | Capitol Records S 75189First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Canada | Capitol Records B 5696First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | Ecuador | EMI 103-0287 / Parlophone 103-0287First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1987 | Europe | Parlophone K 060 20 1646 6 / Parlophone 1C K 060-20 1646 6First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | Parlophone 2016477First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | Parlophone 201646First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1987 | France | Parlophone K 060 20 1646 6 / Parlophone 20 1646 6First year12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Barbados | Parlophone R 61517", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1992 | Europe | Parlophone 8 80382 7 / Parlophone 7243 8 80382 7 07", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1992 | Germany | Parlophone 7243 8 80382 6 3 / Parlophone 8 80382 612", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
| 1993 | UK | Parlophone 7243 8 80483 7 8 / Parlophone R 63367", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Philippines | Parlophone EP-PAL-84-X-01512", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Maxi-Single, Stereo |
56 vinyl pressings of The Great Pretender are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1987 and 1993.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Japan, Argentina and more. One of them is EMI RP6151, released February 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RP6151, R 6151, R6151, 12R6151) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A FREDDY MERCURY ORLAKE TOWNHOUSE and B FREDDY MERCURY ORLAKE. 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.
