Vinyl pressings
by Junior Walker & The All Stars · 1969
Road Runner was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1969, 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.
TMG 559A -1 KTA runout - variant 1
TMG 691B -1 KTB runout - variant 1
TMG 559A -1 >> KT 1A runout - variant 2
TMG 691 B - 1 GL KT 1B runout - variant 2
TMG 559 A-2 O KTSide A runout, variant 1
TMG 691 B-1 PSide B runout, variant 1
TMG 559A-1 AL KT 1Side A runout, variant 2
TMG 691 B-1 AA KT 2Side B runout, variant 2
TMG 559 A-2 O KTSide A - stamped
TMG 691 B-1 PSide B - stamped
PU TM 25949 A-1Etched side A
PU TM 25949 B-1Etched side B
PU TM 25949 A-1Runout side A
PU TM 25949 B-1Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Germany | Tamla Motown TM 25 949 / Tamla Motown 25 949First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Germany | Tamla Motown TM 25 949First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | Ireland | Tamla Motown TMG (I) 691First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | India | Tamla Motown ETM. 8First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 691First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 691First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1969 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 691First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown TM 25949 / Tamla Motown TM 25.9497", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 6917", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1971 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 6917", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1974 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 006-95 2697", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Repress |
| 1974 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 006-95 2697", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 6917", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1984 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown ZB 643197", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Europe | Tamla Motown 982 163 17", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Repress · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Tamla Motown ZB 692347", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Norway | Tamla Motown TMG 6917", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 6917", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| ? | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 6917", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
19 vinyl pressings of Road Runner are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1969 and 2004.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in UK, India, Germany, Ireland. One of them is Tamla Motown TMG 691, released March 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TMG 691, ETM. 8, TM 25 949, TMG (I) 691) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TMG 559A -1 KT and TMG 691B -1 KT. 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.
