Vinyl pressings
by Marvin Gaye · 1970
That's The Way Love Is was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 8 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.
X4RS-4904-1 B HSide A runout
X4RS-4905-1 B HS-1663 H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide B runout
HS-1662-2 X4RS-4904Side A label
HS-1663 X4RS-4905Side B label
X 4RS-4904-1 HS-1662-2 I I̶ A4 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide A runout
X 4RS-4905-1 HS-1663 I I̶ A2 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide B runout
HS-1662-2Side A label
HS-1663Side B label
HS-1662-2 X4RS-4904-1 D I ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K AudioMatrixSide A runout
HS-1663 X4RS-4905-1 D I ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K AudioMatrixSide B runout
HS‒1662‒2Side A label
HS‒1663Side B label
HS-1663 X4RS-4904-1 H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A4 T1Side A runout
HS-1663 X4RS-4905-1 H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K B1 T1Side B runout
HS‒1662‒2, X4RS-4904Side A label
HS‒1663, X4RS-4905Side B label
HS-1662-2Motown matrix side A
X4RS-4904RCA matrix side A
HS-1663Motown matrix side B
X4RS-4905RCA matrix side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STMLM 6049First yearLP | LP |
| 1970 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11136 / Tamla Motown 1E 062 ◦ 90835First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO 10036First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Tamla TS 299 / Tamla S-299First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Tamla TS 299First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1 C 054-90 835First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Tamla Motown SJET-8219First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 054-90835First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | US | Tamla TS 299 / Tamla S-299First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Tamla TS-299 / Tamla TS 299First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Tamla TS 299 / Tamla TS-299 DJFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Tamla TS 299 / Tamla S 299First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Tamla TS 299First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | World Record Club S/5256LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | UK, Europe & US | Tamla 0600753535127LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Tamla TS 299 / Ebrau EBLPT-299LP, Album | LP, Album |
16 vinyl pressings of That's The Way Love Is are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1970 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Tamla TS 299, released January 8, 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TS 299, TS-299, STML 11136, STMLO 10036) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, X4RS-4904-1 B H and X4RS-4905-1 B HS-1663 H ⁄|⁄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.
