Vinyl pressings
by Marvin Gaye · 1969
Easy 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.
9 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 5 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.
HS 1614-2 X4RS-3381-1 G TS 293 5-31-69Runout A variant 1
HS-1615-2 X4RS-3382-1 G TS-294 5-29-69 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout B variant 1
HS 1614-2 X4RS-3381-1 G TS 293Runout A variant 2
HS-1615-2 X4RS-3382-1 G TS-294 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout B variant 2
HS 1614-2 X4RS-3381-1 TS-294 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K ISide A etched, X4RS and "I" stamped
HS 1615-2 X4RS-3382-1 A TS-294 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K I A1Side B etched, X4RS, "I" and "A1" stamped
HS-1614-2, X4RS-3381Side A label
HS-1615-2, X4RS-3382Side B label
TS-294 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K H HS-1614-2 X4RS-3381-1 FSide A runout
TS-294 H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1615-2 X4RS-3382-1 ESide B runout
HS-1614-2 X4RS-3381Side A label
HS-1615-2 X4RS-3382Side B label
HS 1614-2 TS 293 5-31-69Runout side A, etched
X4RS-3381-1 GRunout side A, stamped
HS-1615-2 TS-294 5-29-69 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout side B, etched
X4RS-3382-1 GRunout side B, stamped
HS 1614-2 TS 293 5-31-69Runout side A, etched
X4RS-3381-1Runout side A, stamped
HS-1615-2 TS-294 5-29-69 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout side B, etched
X4RS-3382-1Runout side B, stamped
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 | Canada | Tamla Motown TS294First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Japan | Tamla Motown SJET-8241First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STMLM 6038First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Tamla TS294 / Tamla 294First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Tamla TS 294First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Tamla TS294 / Tamla S-294First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Tamla TS294 / Tamla S-294First yearLP, Album, White Label, Stereo | LP, Album, White Label, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Tamla TS294DJFirst yearLP, Advance, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Advance, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1969 | Venezuela | Tamla LPS 77570First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO 11132LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Tamla Motown TML 11132LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11132 / Tamla Motown 1E 062 ◦ 90686LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | Tamla 5394 MLLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | US | Motown 5394 MLLP, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1986 | Germany | Tamla Motown WL72507 / Tamla Motown WL 72507LP, Repress | LP, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Europe | Tamla TAMLA 294 / Tamla 0600753535110LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2016 | US | Tamla TAMLA 294LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 054-90 686LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
18 vinyl pressings of Easy are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1969 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and more. One of them is Tamla TS294.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TS294, TS 294, TS294DJ, SJET-8241) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, HS 1614-2 X4RS-3381-1 G TS 293 5-31-69 and HS-1615-2 X4RS-3382-1 G TS-294 5-29-69 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K. 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.
