Vinyl pressings
by Neil Diamond · 1974
His 12 Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
44 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 28 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.
MCA 450-W-1 ▣-G-▣ 2Runout, side A, variant 1
MCA 451-W1 ▣-G-▣ TML 2Runout, side B, variant 1
MCA 450 W2 ▣-G-▣ TMLRunout, side A, variant 2
MCA 451-W2 ▣-G-▣Runout, side B, variant 2
MCA 450 W7 5 ⧈-G-⧈Side A etched, ⧈-G-⧈ stamped and scratched out
MCA 451 W9 14 ⧈-G-⧈Side B etched, ⧈-G-⧈ stamped and scratched out
MCA450Label, side A
MCA451Label, side B
MCA 450 W8 LB ◈-P-◈Side A Etched / ◈-P-◈ Stamped
MCA 451 W9 LB ◈-P-◈ ̶⧈̶-̶G̶-̶⧈̶Side B Etched / ̶⧈̶-̶G̶-̶⧈̶ Stamped
◈-P-◈ logo is etched / ⧈-G-⧈ logo is stamped but crossed outSide B
(MCA450)Label Side A
MCA 450 W8 LB ◈-P-◈Variant 1: Side A Etched / ◈-P-◈ Stamped
MCA 451 W9 LB ◈-P-◈Variant 1: Side B Etched / ◈-P-◈ Stamped
MCA 450 W8 LB ◈-P-◈Variant 2: Side A Etched / ◈-P-◈ Stamped
MCA 451 W13 LB ◈-P-◈Variant 2: Side B Etched / ◈-P-◈ Stamped
MCA 450 W2 TML ◈-P-◈ IISide 1 runout etched, TML ◈-P-◈ stamped
MCA 451-W2 TML ◈-P-◈ 卌Side 2 runout etched, TML ◈-P-◈ stamped
(MCA450)Center label side 1
(MCA451)Center label side 2
MCA 450 W9 CA-2106-A PARA ▣-G-▣ 2Runout, Etched, Side 1 Variant 1
MCA 451-W1 TML MCA-2106-B ▣-G-▣Runout, Etched, Side 2 Variant 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Argentina | MCA Records 6603First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Argentina | MCA Records 6603First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 7400First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Australia | MCA Records MAPS 7400 / MCA Records MAPS-7400First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Belgium | MCA Records 4C062-95373First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Belgium | MCA Records 4C062-95373First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Brazil | MCA Records MCALP-600.080First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1974 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2106First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2106First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Canada | MCA Records MCF 2550First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2106First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2106First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Colombia | MCA Records 245089First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1974 | Denmark | Not On Label PD 22189190First yearLP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Picture Disc · Limited, Picture disc |
| 1974 | El Salvador | Dicesa MCAL-03First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-2106LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | Mexico | MCA Records LA-220LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-1489LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-37252LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-5219LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-2106LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-5219LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-5219LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-2106LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-1489 MCA-37252LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-5219LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Direct-Disk Labs SD 16612 DBX / MCA Records SD 16612LP, Compilation, Remastered | LP, Compilation, Remastered |
| 1984 | Europe | MCA Records 250 407-1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1984 | Venezuela | MCA Records MCA-3044LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1986 | Guatemala | MCA Records MCA 1489-1LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australasia | MCA Records MAPS 7400 / MCA Records MAPS-7400LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | MCA Records 202 468LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Brazil | MCA Records 670.9174LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | MCA Records MCA-37252LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | France | MCA Records 20 1527LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Sonocord 27 059-5LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records MCA 02550LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 201 379 / MCA Records 201 379-320LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Sonocord 27 059-5 / MCA Records 27 059-5LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 28 340-8LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| ? | Germany | MCA Records 250 407-1 / MCA Records MCA 5219LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | MCA Records MCA 55215LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | MCA Records 55215 / MCA Records MCA 55215LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | MCA Records MCA 4012LP, Compilation, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| ? | Mexico | MCA Records LCA-6248LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
109 vinyl pressings of His 12 Greatest Hits are listed here, from 36 countries, released between 1974 and 1986.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is MCA Records MCA-2106.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA-2106, MCF 2550, 6603, MAPS 7400) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA 450-W-1 ▣-G-▣ 2 and MCA 451-W1 ▣-G-▣ TML 2. 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.
