Vinyl pressings
by Marvin Gaye · 1965
A Tribute To The Great Nat King Cole was first pressed on vinyl in 1965. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1965, 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.
- S4RM-7738-1-D HSide A runout
- S4RM-7739-1-D HSide B runout
H-1356-2A S4RM-7738Side A label
H-1357-2A S4RM-7739Side B label
S-261Side A & B labels
S4RS-7740Side A label
S4RS-7741Side B label
S 4RS-7740-1 I A 3Side A Runout
S 4RS-7741-1 I A5Side B Runout
HS-1356-2A S4RS-7740Side A Label
HS-1357-2A S4RS-7741Side A Label
S 4RM-7738-1-Aside 1
-S 4RM-7739-1-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Canada | Tamla TM-261 / Tamla TM-261First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | Mexico | Tamla Motown TM-LP 1002First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | UK | Tamla Motown TML 11022First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11022First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Tamla TS 261 / Tamla S-261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Tamla TAMLA 261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Tamla S-261 / Tamla 261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Tamla T 261 / Tamla 261First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Tamla S-261First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Tamla TM-261 / Tamla 261First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Tamla T 261 / Tamla 261First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-216V1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-216V1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Spain | Motown SNL1-60240 / Tamla Motown SNL1-60240LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Tamla 0600753536513 / Tamla TM-261LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2015 | US | Tamla 0600753536513 / Tamla Motown TM-261LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Tamla Motown T 261LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Brazil | Tapecar LP-S-261 / Tamla Tamla 261LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Motown 230·15·082LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Tamla Motown WL 72210LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Motown M5-216V1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Tamla TS 261 / Tamla TS-261LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
22 vinyl pressings of A Tribute To The Great Nat King Cole are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1965 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1965, in US, UK, Canada, Mexico. One of them is Tamla TM-261, released November 1, 1965.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TM-261, T 261, TS 261, TAMLA 261) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, - S4RM-7738-1-D H and - S4RM-7739-1-D H. 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.
