Vinyl pressings
by Marvin Gaye · 1971
What's Going On 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.
17 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 10 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.
T-54201-A Z4KM-4435-1 D Q-S5-M5-S6-831MO5 S1A Side Runout
T-54201-B Z4KM-4436-1 E Q-K-S6-833MO9 S1B Side Runout
Q-S5-M5-S6-831MO5A Side Label
Q-K-S6-833MO9B Side Label
Z4KM-4435-1 C Q-S5-M5-S6-831M05Runout, side A, etched and Stamped
Z4KM-4436-1 C Q-K-S6-833M09Runout, side B, etched and Stamped
831M05Label side A
833M09Label side B
Z4KM-4435-1 B Q-35-M54-56-831M05 ARPRunout, side A, etched/stamped, variant 1
Z4KM-4436-1 B Q-K-56-833M09 ARPRunout, side B, etched/stamped, variant 1
Z4KM-4435-1 B Q-35-M54-56-831M05 ARP ⋉Runout, side A, etched/stamped, variant 2
Z4KM-4436-1 B Q-K-56-833M09 ARP ⋉Runout, side B, etched/stamped, variant 2
T Z4KM-4435-1 F I Q-S5-M5-S6-831M05Side A runout variant 1
T Z4KM-4436-1 F I Q-K-S6-833M09Side B runout variant 1
Z4KM-4435-1 G Q-S5-M5-S6-831M05 T11Side A runout variant 2
Z4KM-4136-1 G Q-K-S6 833M09 T111Side B runout variant 2
TMG 775 A-1 KT H 2Side A stamped
TMG 775 B-1 KT A 1Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Australia | Tamla Motown TMO-9437First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1971 | Australia | Tamla Motown TMO-9437First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | France | Tamla Motown 2C 006-92.316 M / Tamla Motown 2C 006-92316 MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 006-92 316First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 006-92316First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Norway | Tamla Motown 7E 006-92316 MFirst year7" | 7" |
| 1971 | South Africa | Tamla Motown TMS 322First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54201First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54201First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54201First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54201First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | US | Tamla T 54201First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1971 | Canada | Tamla Motown T 54201First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Italy | Tamla Motown RJB NP 98032First year7", 45 RPM, Jukebox | 7", 45 RPM, Jukebox |
| 1971 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 775First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Germany | Motown 1C 052-63 846 YZ / EMI Electrola 1C 052-63 846 YZ12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM | 12", Maxi-Single, 45 RPM |
| 1983 | Spain | Motown SPBO-600927", Single, Reissue, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Reissue, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 9877", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1983 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 9847", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | Tamla Motown TMGT 98712", 45 RPM, Reissue | 12", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | UK | Not On Label (Marvin Gaye) NUT-112", Single Sided, White Label, Unofficial Release, 45 RPM · Unofficial | 12", Single Sided, White Label, Unofficial Release, 45 RPM · Unofficial |
| 2002 | Unknown | Not On Label (Marvin Gaye) MARVIN 00112", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, Limited Edition · Unofficial, Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Unofficial Release, Limited Edition · Unofficial, Limited |
| 2003 | US | Not On Label GAYE-0112", Promo · Promo | 12", Promo · Promo |
| 2008 | Europe | Not On Label (Marvin Gaye) Day 27", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 7", 45 RPM, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | UK | Not On Label (Marvin Gaye) MARV112", Single Sided, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | 12", Single Sided, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
| 2012 | UK | Not On Label (Marvin Gaye) MARV112", Single Sided, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 12", Single Sided, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2013 | US | Not On Label (Marvin Gaye) WGO77", 45 RPM, White Label | 7", 45 RPM, White Label |
| 2016 | UK & Europe | Motown 0060254773938410", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 10", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 2016 | US | Motown B0024485-0110", 33 ⅓ RPM | 10", 33 ⅓ RPM |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Tamla Motown TMS 05707", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single |
| ? | Jamaica | Tamla Motown T 542017" | 7" |
| ? | Jamaica | Tamla Motown T 542017" | 7" |
| ? | Jamaica | Tamla Motown T 542017", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| ? | Japan | Motown JET-20507", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Tamla Motown JET-20507", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| ? | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 9877", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | US | Motown TMGLTD3412", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited |
39 vinyl pressings of What's Going On are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1971 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Canada, Italy and more. One of them is Tamla T 54201, released January 20, 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use T 54201, TMG 775, RJB NP 98032, TMO-9437) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T-54201-A Z4KM-4435-1 D Q-S5-M5-S6-831MO5 S1 and T-54201-B Z4KM-4436-1 E Q-K-S6-833MO9 S1. 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.
