Vinyl pressings
by Shirley Bassey · 1976
Shirley Bassey's Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
9 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 2 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.
UA-LA 715-1- 33Variant 1, Side A, etched
U⃫A⃫-⃫L⃫A⃫ ⃫7⃫5⃫5⃫-⃫1⃫-⃫ UA-LA 715-2- (2) 33Variant 1, Side B, etched
UA-LA 715-3- 33Variant 1, Side C, etched
UA-LA 715-4- 33Variant 1, Side D, etched
T\ UA-LA715-1-2 ARunout side A, variant 1
T\ UA-LA715-2-2 BRunout side B, variant 1
T\ UA-LA715-3-1 BRunout side C, variant 1
T\ UA-LA715-4-1 CRunout side D, variant 1
S UA-LA715-1-1B SXSide 1, Runout, Etched
S UA-LA715-2-1A SXSide 2, Runout, Etched
S UA-LA715-3-1B SXSide 3, Runout, Etched
S UA-LA715-4-1B o SXSide 4, Runout, Etched
UA-LA-1-715-P-1 (a hand-etched bird shape?) 1 (a circle with an X in it)Side A runout
UA-LA-2-715-P-1 (a hand-etched bird shape?) 1 (a circle with an X in it)Side B runout
UA-LA-3-715-P-1 (a circle with an X in it) (a hand-etched bird shape or an underlined star shape?) 1Side C runout
UA-LA-4-715-P-1 (a circle with an X in it) # 1Side D runout
UA-LA 715-1- N 47Side A, etched
UA-LA 715-2- N 47Side B, etched
UA-LA 715-3- N 47Side C, etched
UA-LA 715-4- N 47Side D, etched
UA-LA715-1-1B A 2 S ISide A Runout
UA-LA 715-2-1A A 1 S ISide B Runout
UA-LA 715-3- 1B B2 I SSide C Runout
UA-LA715-4- 1B A1 I SSide D Runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Canada | Liberty LWB-500715LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1976 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | Canada | Liberty LWB 500715LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1976 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2First yearLP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1976 | France | United Artists Records UALA 715LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1976 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | Liberty LWB 500715 / Liberty LW 500715LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1976 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | United Artists Music And Records Group, Inc. UA-LA715-H2 / Capitol/Liberty Records, Inc. LWB-715First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Mozambique | United Artists Records USD 303/4LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Canada | United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | France | EMI 2C 168-61965/6 / Liberty 2C 168-61965/6LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 | France | Liberty 16 1965 3LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | United Artists Records LA715LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Liberty UA-LA715-H2 / United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Japan | United Artists Records GXF-9013 / United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
20 vinyl pressings of Shirley Bassey's Greatest Hits are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1976 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, Canada. One of them is United Artists Records UA-LA715-H2.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UA-LA715-H2) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UA-LA 715-1- 33 and U⃫A⃫-⃫L⃫A⃫ ⃫7⃫5⃫5⃫-⃫1⃫-⃫ UA-LA 715-2- (2) 33. 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.
