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The Best Of Merle Haggard by Merle Haggard, album cover

Vinyl pressings

The Best Of Merle Haggard

by Merle Haggard · 1968

41 pressings4 countriesCountryBakersfield SoundFolkWorld

The Best Of Merle Haggard was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of The Best Of Merle Haggard

12 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 3 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.

US

1968
Label and catalog number
Starline SKAO 2951Capitol Records SKAO 2951
Format
LP, Compilation, Stereo · Jacksonville Pressing
Runout / matrix

SKOA1-2951 A3 2 O(circle)Side 1 (etched)

SKOA1-2951 A3 #1 O(circle)Side 2 (etched)

SKAO1-2951 A3 #1 O (circle)Variation 1: Side 1 (etched)

SKAO 2 2951 A3 #1 O (circle)Variation 1: Side 2 (etched)

Full details of this pressing

US

1968
Label and catalog number
Starline SKAO 2951Capitol Records SKAO 2951
Format
LP, Compilation, Stereo
Runout / matrix

SKOA1 - STI-2951-X2Side 1 (etched)

SKOA2-2951 B2Side 2 (etched)

Full details of this pressing

US

1968
Label and catalog number
Capitol Records SKAO 2951
Format
LP, Compilation · Scranton Pressing
Runout / matrix

SKAO-STI-2951-X2Side 1

SKAO2-2951 B2 IAM(inside of triangle)Side 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1968
Label and catalog number
Starline SKAO 2951Capitol Records SKAO 2951
Format
LP, Compilation, Stereo · Scranton Pressing, Unipak
Runout / matrix

SKAO1-2951 A1Side 1 (etched)

SKAO2-2951 A1Side 2 (etched)

Scranton "IAM" triangle logoStamped both sides

Full details of this pressing

US

1968
Label and catalog number
Capitol Records SKAO-2951
Format
LP, Compilation
Runout / matrix

SKAO-1-2951-B-4 . 1 *Side 1 Runout

SKAO-2-2951-B-4 . 1 *Side 2 Runout

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 41 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1960s16 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1968CanadaSparton SKAO 2951First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1968CanadaStarline SKAO-2951 / Capitol Records SKAO 2951First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1968CanadaSparton SKAO 2951First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1968JapanCapitol Records CP-8623First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1968USCapitol Records ST-2951 / Capitol Records SKAO 2951First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1968USStarline SKAO 2951 / Capitol Records SKAO 2951First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1968USStarline SKAO 2951 / Capitol Records SKAO 2951First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1968USCapitol Records SKAO 2951First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1968USStarline SKAO 2951 / Capitol Records SKAO 2951First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1968USCapitol Records SKAO-82951LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club editionLP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition
1968USCapitol Records SKAO-2951First yearLP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1968USCapitol Records SKAO 2951First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1968USCapitol Records SKAO-2951 / Starline SKAO-2951First yearLP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1969USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1969USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
All 16 pressings from the 1960s
1970s13 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1971USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1971USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, StereoLP, Compilation, Stereo
1972USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
1972USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
1972USCapitol Records SKAO 2951 / Capitol Records SKAO-2951LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
1979CanadaCapitol Records SN-16054LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1979CanadaCapitol Records ST 502951LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club editionLP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition
1979USCapitol Records SN-16054LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1979USCapitol Records SKAO-2951 / Starline SKAO-2951LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
1979USCapitol Records SKAO 2951 / Capitol Records R-123566LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club editionLP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition
1979USCapitol Records SN-16054LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1979USCapitol Records SN-16054LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1979USCapitol Records SN-16054LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
Year unknown12 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?CanadaCapitol Records SKAO 2951 / Starline SKAO 2951LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?CanadaCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
?CanadaCapitol Records SKAO 2951 / Capitol Records SKAO-2951LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?NetherlandsCapitol Records 5C 054. 80065LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?NetherlandsCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?NetherlandsCapitol Records 5C 054.80065LP, CompilationLP, Compilation
?USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
?USCapitol Records SKAO-8-2951 / Capitol Records SKAO 8-2951LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club editionLP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition
?USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club editionLP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition
?USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
?USCapitol Records SKAO 2951LP, Compilation, Reissue, StereoLP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo
?USCapitol Records SKAO 502951LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club editionLP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition

Tracklist

  1. A1I'm A Lonesome Fugitive2:32
  2. A2I Threw Away The Rose3:18
  3. A3Swinging Doors2:51
  4. A4House Of Memories2:47
  5. A5(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers2:27
  6. A6Shade Tree (Fix-It Man)2:20
  7. B1Sing Me Back Home2:57
  8. B2Branded Man3:05
  9. B3High On A Hilltop2:58
  10. B4The Bottle Let Me Down2:45
  11. B5Sam Hill2:34

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of The Best Of Merle Haggard are there?

41 vinyl pressings of The Best Of Merle Haggard are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1968 and 1979.

When was The Best Of Merle Haggard first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, Canada, Japan. One of them is Capitol Records ST-2951.

How do I tell if my copy of The Best Of Merle Haggard is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ST-2951, SKAO 2951, SKAO-2951, CP-8623) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is The Best Of Merle Haggard on vinyl worth?

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.

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