Vinyl pressings
by Sister Sledge · 1978
He's The Greatest Dancer 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.
18 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 11 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.
ST-CO-36376-1 SP 1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Runout side A variant 1
ST-CO-36224-1 SP 1-1Runout side B variant 1
ST-CO-36376-1 SP 1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K.Runout side A variant 2
ST-CO-36224-2 1-1 11 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. SRCRunout side B variant 2
ST-CO-36376-5 (MR) ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. △105559A-side runout
ST-CO-36224-5 MR △105560B-side runout
ST-CO-36376 MOA-side label
ST-CO-36224 MOB-side label
ST-CO-36376-3-1-1 PRCA-Side run-out, hand-etched
ST-CO-36224-4-1-1 PRCB-Side run-out, hand-etched
ST-CO-36376 RILabel Side A
ST-CO-36224 RILabel Side B
CO-36376 SPMono label
ST-CO-36376 SPStereo label
ST-CO-36376-5 (MR) ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. ∆105559A-Side run-out, hand-etched
ST-CO-36224-3 (MR) ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. ∆105558B-Side run-out, hand-etched
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 | Belgium | Atlantic 11257First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1978 | Canada | Cotillion COT 44245First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | El Salvador | Atlantic CA-10639First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1978 | France | Atlantic 11.257First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1978 | Italy | Cotillion W 11257First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1978 | Italy | Cotillion W 11257First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Cotillion COT 11.257 / Cotillion COT-11.257First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1978 | New Zealand | Atlantic 45 44245First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1978 | Panama | Atlantic 44245First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Philippines | Atlantic ATR-0095First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | US | Cotillion 44245First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Cotillion 44245First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1978 | US | Cotillion 44245First year7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Cotillion 44245First year7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Stereo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1978 | Jamaica | Atlantic 44245First year7", Single | 7", Single |
39 vinyl pressings of He's The Greatest Dancer are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1978 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, Jamaica, Belgium, El Salvador and more. One of them is Cotillion 44245, released December 27, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 44245, 11257, CA-10639, 11.257) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-CO-36376-1 SP 1-1 ATLANTIC STUDIOS D.K. and ST-CO-36224-1 SP 1-1. 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.
