Vinyl pressings
by Hank Williams · 1961
Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1961. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1961, 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.
SE-3918 SIDE 1 63-ST-330-RE-2 12Scribed in runout, side A, var.1
SE-3918 SIDE 2 63-ST-331-RE-2 25 [Box logo]Scribed in runout, side B, var.1
SE-3918 SIDE-1 63-ST-330-RE-2 11 [Block shaped S]Side A runout, var.2
SE-3918 SIDE-2 63-ST-331-RE-2 12 [Block shaped S]Side B runout, var.2
E3918 SIDe1 60mg 680 RE-3 41 SSide A runout, etched; 41 and stylized S stamped, variant 1
E3918 60mg 681 S2 RE-3Side B runout, etched, variant 1
E3918 SIDe1 60mg 680 RE-3 243 SSide A runout, etched; 243 and stylized S stamped, variant 2
E3918 SIDe 2 60mg 681 RE-2 129 SSide B runout, etched; 129 and stylized S stamped, variant 2
SE-3918 SIDE-1 63-ST-330-RE-1Side A runout
SE-3918 SIDE-2 63-ST-331-RE-1Side B runout
60-MG-680-BL 3918 S1Side A runout
60-MG-681 8 E3918 S2Side B runout
T1-90651-P1 0Side 1
T2-90651-P1 0Side 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Australia | MGM Records E3918First yearLP, Mono, Compilation · Mono | LP, Mono, Compilation · Mono |
| 1961 | Canada | MGM Records E-3918First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Canada | MGM Records E-3918First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Canada | MGM Records E3918 / MGM Records E3918 (C)First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | New Zealand | MGM Records MGM-MC 6105First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1961 | US | MGM Records SE3918 / MGM Records E3918First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | MGM Records E3918First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | MGM Records SE3918First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | MGM Records E3918First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | MGM Records E3918First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | MGM Records T-90651First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | Canada | MGM Records SE 3918 / MGM Records SE3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1964 | Japan | MGM Records YS-5133LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1967 | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ-372LP, Compilation, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 1968 | US | MGM Records SE3918LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Canada | MGM Records SE 3918LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1973 | Canada | MGM Records SE-3918LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Canada | MGM Records PTV-1011LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1989 | Czechoslovakia | Supraphon 11 0078-1 311 / Polydor SE 3918LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | MGM Records E3918LP, Mono, Compilation · Mono | LP, Mono, Compilation · Mono |
| ? | Australia | MGM Records E3918 / MGM Records E-3918LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Australia | MGM Records SE 3918 / MGM Records SE-3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | MGM Records SE 3918 (D) / MGM Records E3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | MGM Records SE 3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Polydor SE 3918 / Polydor 422-823 291-1 YLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MGM Records SE 3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Polydor SE 3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MGM Records SE3918 / MGM Records ST-90651LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | Polydor SE 3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MGM Records E3918LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | MGM Records SE3918LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | MGM Records SE 3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MGM Records SE 3918 / MGM Records SE3918LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | MGM Records SE 3918 / MGM Records SE3918LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
44 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1961 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand. One of them is MGM Records SE3918.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SE3918, E3918, T-90651, E-3918) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SE-3918 SIDE 1 63-ST-330-RE-2 12 and SE-3918 SIDE 2 63-ST-331-RE-2 25 [Box logo]. 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.
