Vinyl pressings
by Neil Diamond · 1978
20 Golden Greats was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1978, 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.
EMTV 14 A-1 NICKRunout side A, variant 1
EMTV 14 B-1Runout side B, variant 1
4 EMTV 14 A-1 NICK TRRunout side A, variant 4 (NICK etched)
5 EMTV 14 B-1 GDPRunout side B, variant 4
EMTV 14 A-5 NICK W 1 PRRunout side A, variant 1
EMTV 14 B-4 1 GATRunout side B, variant 1
EMTV 14 A-5 NICK W GRARunout side A, variant 2
EMTV 14 B-5 NICK W GPNRunout side B, variant 2
JB-039-A2 FH 12/10Side A etched
JB-039-B2 FH 12/10Side B etched
MCA 1672 US 24 KARAT GOLD COLLECTOR'S EDITION DIAMONDS ARE FOREVERSide A runout
MCA 3068 MCA 2G-1-B TLC R-238 ISide B runout
MCA2G1-A MCA 3068Etched Side A
MCA 3068 MCA2G-1-B TLC Recut 1Etched Side B
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER MCA 1672 US MCA-3068-A³ TLCEtched Side C
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER MCA 1673-US MCA-3068-B³ TLCEtched Side D
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Australia | J & B Records JB 039First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Australia | J & B Records JB 166First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3068First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2G1 / MCA Records MCA-3068First yearLP, Compilation, LP, Compilation, Box Set · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, LP, Compilation, Box Set · Colored vinyl |
| 1978 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-3068LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1978 | Ireland | MCA Records EMTV 14First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | MCA Records MCA 4045First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Jamaica | MCA Records EMTV 14First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Japan | MCA Records VIM-28002First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | MCA Records 5C 062-61809First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Netherlands | MCA Records 5C 062-61809First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1978 | Norway | MCA Records K-Tel TL 165First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | Scandinavia | MCA Records MAPS 9025First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1978 | UK | MCA Records EMTV 14 / MCA Records OC 062-61809First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | MCA Records EMTV 14 / MCA Records OC 062-61809First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-5232LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-5232LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Colombia | MCA Records 5C 062-61809LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | Netherlands | MCA Records 203.200LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | Portugal | MCA Records 9198463LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | Spain | MCA Records I-201575 / MCA Records I-201.575LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 | Italy | K-Tel TI 165 / MCA Records TI 165LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1981 | South Korea | MCA Records DM-0018LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Brazil | MCA Records 814 551-1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1984 | Spain | MCA Records L 250504-1, 25 0504-1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK | MCA Records DD 01ALP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 1985 | South Korea | MCA Records OLM-3016LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Spain | MCA Records MCA 18181 / MCA Records 5Z MCA-18181LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | MCA Records 250 638-1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Ireland | MCA Records MCTV 2LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Netherlands | MCA Records 201.321 / MCA Records 201 321LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | New Zealand | MCA Records ND20 / MCA Records ND 20LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | New Aspect Records CR-1031LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCTV 2LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCTV 2LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | UK | MCA Records MCTV 2LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-5232LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
43 vinyl pressings of 20 Golden Greats are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1978 and 1991.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland and more. One of them is MCA Records EMTV 14.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EMTV 14, JB 039, JB 166, MCA-3068) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EMTV 14 A-1 NICK and EMTV 14 B-1. 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.
