Vinyl pressings
by Shorty Long · 1968
Here Comes The Judge 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.
13 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 7 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.
W4RS-4936-1-C A1 SS-709 R HS-1528-3Runout Side A
W4RS-4937-1-B A1 [Randy Kling's signature] R SS-709 HS-1529-4Runout Side B
W4RS-4936-1 B A1 [Randy Kling's signature] R SS-709 HS-1528-3Variant 2 Runout Side A
W4RS-4936-1-C A1 SS-709 R HS-1529-4Variant 2 Runout Side B
A1 W4RS-4936-1 HS-1528-3 __ ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K SS-709Runout A version 1
W4RS-4937-1 SS-709 HS-1529-4 I __ ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout B version 1
W4RS-4936-1 HS-1528-3 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K I I SS-709 A1Runout A version 2
W4RS-4937-1 SS-709 HS-1529-4 A1 I I ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout B version 2
W4RS-4936-1-F HS-1528-3 H SS-709A Side Etched Runout
W4RS-49367-1-F HS-1529-4 H SS-709B Side Etched Runout
HS-1528-3 W4RS-4936A Side Label
HS-1529-4 W4RS-4937B Side Label
W4RS-4936-1-C A1 SS-709 R HS-1528-3Runout Side A
W4RS-4937-1-B A1 [Randy Kling's signature] R SS-709 HS-1529-4Runout Side B
W4RS-4936-1 B A1 [Randy Kling's signature] R SS-709 HS-1528-3Variant 2 Runout Side A
W4RS-4936-1-C A1 SS-709 R HS-1529-4Variant 2 Runout Side B
W4RM-5214-1 SM-709 H-1528 S-1
W4RM-5215-1 SM-709 H-1529 S-2
STML 11086 A - 1 G 1side A runout
STML 11086 B - 1 R 1side B runout
STML.11086Aside A label in parentheses
STML.11086Bside B label in parentheses
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO-10017 / Tamla Motown STMLO 10017First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Canada | Tamla Motown SS 709 / Soul SS709First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Canada | Soul SLS 709First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Tamla Motown STM 709First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown MTM S-3243First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STMLM 6021First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Soul SS 709 / Soul SS709First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Soul SS-709 / Soul SS709First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Soul SM-709DJFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Soul SS709 / Soul 709First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Soul SS 709 / Soul SS709First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11086First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Tamla Motown TML 11086First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Tamla Motown SFTM 340796LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Soul SS-709 / Soul SS709LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
15 vinyl pressings of Here Comes The Judge are listed here, from 8 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Soul SS 709.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SS 709, SS-709, SS709, SM-709DJ) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, W4RS-4936-1-C A1 SS-709 R HS-1528-3 and W4RS-4937-1-B A1 [Randy Kling's signature] R SS-709 HS-1529-4. 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.
