Vinyl pressings
by Grover Washington, Jr. · 1980
Skylarkin' 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.
21 pressings came out in 1980, the album's first year, in 12 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.
M7-933-R1-A-SIDE-1̶8̶B̶ 13B 7 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 1
M7-933-R1-BSIDE-1̶8̶B̶ 13B 7 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 1
M7-933-R1-A-SIDE-1̶8A 13A 7 STERLINGRunout side A, variant 2
M7-933-R1-BSIDE-1̶8B 13B 7 STERLINGRunout side B, variant 2
M7-933-R1-A-SIDE-1̶8̶B̶ 12B 7 STERLINGRunout A
M7-933-R1-BSIDE-1̶8̶B̶ 12B 7 STERLINGRunout B
M7-933R1ALabel A
M7-933R1BLabel B
M7-933 (crossed out area) RIA-1CSide One
M7-933 R 1B-1D 0Side Two
m5-232V1-A-15A ZRP daRunout, side A
m5-232V1-B-15A ZRP daRunout, side B
M5-232V1ALabel, side A
M5-232V1BLabel, side B
m5-232V1-A-15A S-13 ZRP da B1ARunout, side A
m5-232V1-B-15A S-13 ZRP da B1ARunout, side B
M5-232V1ALabel, side A
M5-232V1BLabel, side B
M7-933-R1-A-SIDE-1̶8̶B̶ 13B 7 STERLINGRunout side A
M7-933-R1-BSIDE-1̶8̶B̶ 13B 7 STERLINGRunout side B
M8-933M1ALabel side A
M8-933M1BLabel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Australia | Motown M7-933First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Canada | Motown M 933First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Motown 257·15·040First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Germany | Motown 230·15·108First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | India | Tamla Motown SETML 23First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Japan | Motown VIJ-6340First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | Japan | Motown VIJ-6340First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1980 | Panama | Motown M7-933R1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Philippines | Motown MLP-2704First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Portugal | Motown IM-46.035First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | South Africa | Motown TMC 5403First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | Motown I-202.401 / Motown I-202401First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Motown M7-933R1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | Motown M7-933R1First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1980 | US | Motown M7-933R1LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Motown M-933 / HZRLP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Motown M5-232V1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
28 vinyl pressings of Skylarkin' are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1980 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1980, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Motown M7-933R1, released February 12, 1980.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M7-933R1, M5-232V1, M8-933M1, STML 12131) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M7-933-R1-A-SIDE-1̶8̶B̶ 13B 7 STERLING and M7-933-R1-BSIDE-1̶8̶B̶ 13B 7 STERLING. 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.
