Vinyl pressings
by Journey · 1988
Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. 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 1988, the album's first year, in 9 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.
AL-44493-1B DMM G2 MASTERDISK A3Side A runout [etched], variant 1
PBL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK & G G8Side B runout [etched], variant 1
PAL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK G9 &Side A runout, variant 2
PBL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK & G B12Side B runout, variant 2
PAL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK G1 & B13Side 1, Runout, variant 1 [Etched]
PBL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK & G B3Side 2, Runout, variant 1 [Etched]
PAL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK G1 & B14Side 1, Runout, variant 2 [Etched]
PBL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK & G I1Side 2, Runout, variant 2 [Etched]
PAL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK G1 & B5
PBL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK G & I3
MX251533 463149.1 MF1Side A etched
MX251534 463149.1 MF2Side B etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Australia | CBS 463149 1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Canada | Columbia OC 44493First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Europe | CBS CBS 463149 1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Greece | CBS CBS 463149 1First yearLP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| 1988 | Mexico | CBS ZRI-463149First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | South Africa | CBS ASF 3243First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | UK | CBS CBS 463149 1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | UK | CBS 463149 1First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | US | Columbia OC 44493 / Columbia C 44493First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | US | Columbia OC 44493 / Columbia C 44493First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Venezuela | CBS CS-10618First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1988 | Canada | Columbia OC 44493First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | South Korea | CBS CPL-1035 / CBS CK-44493LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Columbia 88697784421 / Legacy 88697784421LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2011 | US | Columbia 88697784421 / Legacy 88697784421LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2011 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP222 / Columbia MOVLP222LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2011 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP222 / Columbia MOVLP222LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2019 | US | Columbia 88697784421 / Legacy 88697784421LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Legacy 19658823041 / Sony Music 19658823041LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2024 | US | Legacy 19658823041 / Columbia 19658823041LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2024 | Japan | Sony Records Int'l SIJP 197∼8LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | USA & Canada | Columbia 1 96588 23041LP, Compilation, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Remastered, Stereo |
| ? | Zimbabwe | CBS ASF 3243LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
23 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1988 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK, Canada, Australia and more. One of them is Columbia OC 44493.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use OC 44493, CBS 463149 1, 463149 1, ZRI-463149) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL-44493-1B DMM G2 MASTERDISK A3 and PBL-44493-1A DMM MASTERDISK & G G8. 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.
