Vinyl pressings
by James Taylor · 1976
Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
39 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 19 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.
P BS-1-2979 P-5Side A - Etched (P - Stamped), Variant 1
P BS-2-2979 P2Side B - Etched (P - Stamped), Variant 1
P BS-1-2979 P2Side A - Etched (P - Stamped), Variant 2
P BS-2-2979 P2Side B - Etched (P - Stamped), Variant 2
BS-1-2979 JW1² #1 0Side A Etched
BS-2-2979 JW1² #1 0Side B Etched
BS-1-2979 JW2 #2 0Side A Etched, Variant 2
BS-2-2979 JW3 #2 0Side B Etched, Variant 2
BS-1-2979 LW3• 1 ✲Side A etched, 1 ✲ stamped, variant 1
BS-2-2979 LW5• 1 ✲Side B etched, 1 ✲ stamped, variant 1
BS-1-2979 LW11• 4 ✲Side A etched, 4 ✲ stamped, variant 2
BS-1-2979 LW5• 1 ✲Side B etched, 1 ✲ stamped, variant 2
BS-1-2979 SM3 B3 S 1A Side Etch [Var. 1]
BS-2-2979 SM3 B1 S 1B Side Etch [Var. 1]
BS-1-2979 SM1 A9 S 1A Side Etch [Var. 2]
BS-2-2979 SM1 A8 S 1B Side Etch [Var. 2]
T1 BS-1-2979 TH2 AA side runout - variant 1
T1 BS-2-2979 TH1 BB side runout - variant 1
T1 BS-1-2979 TH3 A D2A side runout - variant 2
T1 BS-2-2979 TH2 D1B side runout - variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 208632First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records LP-80035First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records LP-80035First yearLP, Compilation · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation · Colored vinyl |
| 1976 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 309First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 309First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979 / Lyra WB 0739First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Israel | Warner Bros. Records Inc. 56309First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Israel | Warner Bros. Records K 56309First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W56309 / Warner Bros. Records W 56309First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W56309 / Warner Bros. Records W 56309LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1976 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10264WFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-6367WLP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1983 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 86.010 / Warner Bros. Records BR 86.010LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3113LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3113LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 609.7030 / Warner Bros. Records 86.019LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records LB 56309 / Warner Bros. Records 56309LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1988 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 670.4052 / Warner Bros. Records 00163LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 2979 / Rhino Vinyl R1 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 2013 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 8122796233 / Rhino Vinyl 8122796233LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2015 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 2979 / Rhino Vinyl R1 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 2979 / Rhino Vinyl R1 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 2019 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | UK, Europe & US | Warner Records R1 3113LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2020 | US | Warner Records R1 3113LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2021 | Argentina | Warner Records 0349-78525-4 / Plaza Independencia Música 0349-78525-4LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 80194LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 83194LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 26.013LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2979LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 309 / Warner Bros. Records K 56309LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 309LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
136 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1976 and 2021.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, France, Argentina and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BS 2979, released November 1976.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BS 2979, BSK 2979, BSK 3113, BSk 3113) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P BS-1-2979 P-5 and P BS-2-2979 P2. 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.
