Vinyl pressings
by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas · 1966
Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1966. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1966, 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.
T4RM-4426-1-B A2 R Ω H-1394A-Side Runout Groove Stamp ('A', 'Ω', 'H-1394' Etched) Variant 1
T4RM-4427-1-B A1 R Ω H-1395B-Side Runout Groove Stamp ('A1', 'Ω', 'H-1395' Etched) Variant 1
T4RM-4426-1-B A1 R Ω H-1394A-Side Runout Groove Stamp ('A', 'Ω', 'H-1394' Etched) Variant 2
T4RM-4427-1-B A1 Ω R H-1395B-Side Runout Groove Stamp ('A1', 'Ω', 'H-1395' Etched) Variant 2
T4RM-4426-1 Ω H-1394 A3Side A etched (T4RM-4426-1 stamped)
T4RM-4427-1 Ω H-1395Side B etched (T4RM-4426-1 stamped)
H-1394Side A Label
T4RM-4426Side A Label
GLPS-917A HS-1394Side A Runout Etched
HS-1395 GLPS-917BSide B Runout Etched
T4RS-6051-1-FRunout Side A Stamped
T4RS-6052-1-GRunout Side B Stamped
T 4RM-4426-1-F o GLP-917 ARunout A
o T4RM-4427-1-F GLP-917 BRunout B
H-1394 T4RM-4426Label A
H-1395 T4RM-4427Label B
T4RS - - 6051-1-K o P 1 S 917-A G̶L̶P̶S-917-ASide A runout
T4RS - - 6052-1-J o P 1 S 917-B G̶L̶P̶S-917-BSide B runout
H-1394 T4RS-6051Side A label
H-1395 T4RS-6052Side B label
T4RM-4426 H 5 H-1394Side A runout
T4RM-4427 H 5 H-1395Side B runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Argentina | Tamla Motown TML-10.004 / Tamla Motown TML-10004First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1966 | Canada | Tamla G0-917 / Motown G0-917First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1966 | Canada | Gordy G 917First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11040First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1966 | UK | Tamla Motown TML 11040First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | Gordy 917 / Gordy GM 917First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | Gordy G 917First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | Gordy S 917First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | Gordy G 917First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | Gordy 917 / Gordy S 917First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | Gordy 917 / Gordy G-917First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | Gordy G 917First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | Gordy 917 / Gordy S 917First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | Tamla Motown GOS-917First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1967 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown MTMS-3011LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Spain | Tamla Motown S-32.529LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | UK | Tamla Motown STMS 5042LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-204V1LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-204V1LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | Tamla Motown WL72089LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1985 | Australia | Gordy M5 204 V1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | US | Motown 2828MLLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Tamla Motown TMLO 11040LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Gordy 917 / Gordy S 917LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Tamla Motown WL72089LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Motown 230·15·072LP, Compilation, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | US | Gordy GLPS917LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Motown MOT-2828LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Gordy S-917 / Gordy 917LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Motown 2828MLLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Motown MOT-5204 / Motown 2828MLLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Motown M5-204V1BLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Gordy GLP-917 / Gordy GM 917LP, Compilation, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Gordy GLPS-917LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | US | Gordy Gordy 917 / Gordy GLP 917LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Gordy 917 / Gordy G 917V1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
44 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1966 and 1987.
The earliest pressings are from 1966, in US, UK, Canada, Argentina. One of them is Gordy 917.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 917, G 917, S 917, STML 11040) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T4RM-4426-1-B A2 R Ω H-1394 and T4RM-4427-1-B A1 R Ω H-1395. 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.
