Vinyl pressings
by Sly & The Family Stone · 1970
Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
24 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 12 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.
PAL-30325-3HSide A runout variant 1
P BL 30325-1B A22Side B stamped variant 1
PAL-30325-3ASide A runout variant 2
P BL 30325-1HSide B runout variant 2
◦ P AL 30325-3B SXSide A Runout
P BL 30325-1BSide B Runout
AL 30325Side A label
BL 30325Side B label
o P AL 30325-3L P A3Runout A, variant 1
o P BL 30325-1A P 5 A22Runout B, variant 1
o P AL 30325-3A P A 6Runout A, variant 2
o P BL 30325-1D P A 6Runout B, variant 2
PAL-30325-3E STEREO I TSide A Runout, Stamped [STEREO I T, Etched]
P BL 30325-1GSide B Runout, Stamped
PAL-30325-3C 1 T 0 V OSide A Runout Variant 1
P AL 30325-3ESide A Stamped, Variant 2
PAL-30325-3H 1S B3 o KESide A runout, variant 1
PBL-30325-1E 1 o KESide B runout, variant 1
o PAL-30325-3B 2 B2Side A runout, variant 2
o KE PBL-30325-1B S - A IISide B runout, variant 2
o P AL 30325-3ASide A runout, stamped
P BL 30325-1JSide B runout, stamped ["P" is etched]
o P AL 30325-3LVariant 2, Side A runout, stamped
P BL 30325-1A PVariant 2, Side B runout, stamped [last "P" is 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Epic ELPS 3599 / Epic ELPS-3599First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Canada | Epic KE 30325First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Canada | Epic KE 30325First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Costa Rica | Epic KE 30325First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Europe | Epic BN 26284First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Epic BN 30325 / Epic BN.30325First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | Peru | CBS Columbia S.E. 8275First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | South Africa | Date DAS 2087First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | Spain | Epic BNS 26284First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | Taiwan | First Record FL-1973LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1970 | UK | Epic 69002 / Epic S 69002First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Epic S EPC 69002First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Epic S EPC 69002First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Epic KE 30325First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | US | Epic KE 30325First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Epic 462524 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1990 | UK | Epic 462524 1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Europe | Epic 88985432351 / Legacy 88985432351LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | Epic 88985432351 / Legacy 88985432351LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Rex Record KE 30325 / Rex Record 174 WLPLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Australia | Epic KE 30325 / Epic ELPS 3599LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Epic KE 30325LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | Epic WPE 30325LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Epic KE 30325LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | Epic KE 30325LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Epic PE 30325LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Epic KE 30325LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Colombia | Epic ES 1039 / Epic 11039LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 32279LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Epic EPC 32279LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | India | Epic KE 30325LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Japan | Epic EPIA 53002 / Epic EPIA-53002LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Japan | Epic FCPA 519LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | UK | Epic S EPC 69002 / Epic 69002LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
85 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1970 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, South Korea, Australia and more. One of them is Epic KE 30325.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KE 30325, 69002, S EPC 69002, EU 212) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, PAL-30325-3H and P BL 30325-1B A22. 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.
