Vinyl pressings
by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas · 1968
Ridin' High was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. 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 1968, the album's first year, in 6 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.
W4RS-2697-1 GLPS-926 HS-1508-2 S-1 4Side 1(etched)
W4RS-2698-1-A GLPS-926 HS-1509 S-2Side 2(etched)
HS-1508-2Side 1 label
HS-1509Side 2 label
GLPS-926 HS-1508-2 S-1. W4RS-2697-1-B A3 R [Don Holden's signature]Runout side A, Stamped, Etched, Variant 1
HS-1509 GLPS-926 S.2. W4RS-2698-1-B A3 R [Randy Kling's signature]Runout side B, Stamped, Etched, Variant 1
GLPS-926 HS-1508-2 S-1.[Don Holden's signature] W4RS-2697-1-B A3 RRunout side A, Stamped, Etched, Variant 2
GLPS-926 S-2 [Randy Kling's signature] W 4RS-2698-1-B B1 RRunout side B, Stamped, Etched, Variant 2
W4RS-2697-1 F H HS-1508-2 GLPS-926 S1 WKRunout side A, variant 1
W4RS-2698-1 F H HS-1509 GLPS-926 S2 WKRunout side B, variant 1
W4RS-2687–1-E H HS-1508-2 GLPS-926 S-1 MMKRunout side A, variant 2
W4RS-2698-1-E H HS.1509 GLPS-926 S-2 MMKRunout side B, variant 2
W4RS-2697-1 GLPS-926 HS-1508-2 S-1 4Side 1(etched)
W4RS-2698-1-A GLPS-926 HS-1509 S-2Side 2(etched)
HS-1508-2Side 1 label
HS-1509Side 2 label
W4RS-2697-1 GLPS-926 HS-1508-2 S-1. dh. IRunout, Side 1, etched, stamped
W4RS-2698-1 HS-1509 GLPS-926 S-2 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K IRunout, Side 2, etched, stamped
HS-1508-2Label, Side 1
HS-1509Label, Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO-11078First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Gordy GOS 926 / Tamla Motown 926First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown XTM S-5002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STMLM.6016First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Tamla Motown TML 11078First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | US | Gordy 926 / Gordy GLPS 926First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Gordy GLP 926 DJ / Gordy GS 926First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Gordy GORDY 926 / Gordy GS 926First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Gordy S-926First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | US | Gordy GS 926First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Gordy 926 / Gordy GLPS 926First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11078First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11078LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11078LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11078LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
15 vinyl pressings of Ridin' High are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1968 and 1969.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Gordy 926.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 926, GORDY 926, S-926, GS 926) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, W4RS-2697-1 GLPS-926 HS-1508-2 S-1 4 and W4RS-2698-1-A GLPS-926 HS-1509 S-2. 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.
