Vinyl pressings
by Marvin Gaye · 1971
Inner City Blues was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 12 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.
[A4KM-3234-1] T-54209F-A Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10 [ARP] ⋉Runout, side A, etched, except [stamped]
[A4KM-3233-1] T-54209F-B Q-J3-M5-892S02 [ARP] ⋉Runout, side B, etched, except [stamped]
Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10Label Side A
Q-J3-MG-892S02Label Side B
Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10 1A TIA-side runout
Q-J3-M5-892502 1A TIB-side runout
Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10A-side label
Q-J3-MG-892S02B-side label
A4KM-3234-1 A T-54209F-A Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10 TVCRunout A (stamped & etched)
A4KM-3233-1 A T-54209F-B Q-J3-M5-892S02 TVCRunout B (stamped & etched)
905M10Label A
892S02Label B
A 4KM-3234-1 T-54209F-A Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10 ARPRunouts (Both Sides)
Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10Labels
A4KM-3234-1 C Q-J3- T2/M5-905MIO S IRunouts (Both Sides)
Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10Labels
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | Tamla Motown TMO-9683First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Canada | Tamla Motown T-54209FFirst year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1 C 006-92 928 MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | India | Tamla Motown ETM.69First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Jamaica | Tamla Motown 54209FFirst year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 006-92928First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Portugal | Tamla Motown TMATS 5010First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Scandinavia | Tamla Motown 4E 006-92928First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 817First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 817First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54209FFirst year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54209FFirst year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54209FFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54209F AFirst year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54209FFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | UK | Motown TMGLTD3512", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | Motown JET-2088 / Motown MOT-11297" | 7" |
22 vinyl pressings of Inner City Blues are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1971 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, France, Italy and more. One of them is Tamla T 54209F, released June 10, 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use T 54209F, T 54209F A, TMG 817, 2 C 006-92.928 M) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, [A4KM-3234-1] T-54209F-A Q-J3-T2/M5-905M10 [ARP] ⋉ and [A4KM-3233-1] T-54209F-B Q-J3-M5-892S02 [ARP] ⋉. 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.
