Vinyl pressings
by Stevie Wonder · 1972
Talking Book was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
34 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 15 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.
T-319L HS-1993-1 B5RS-8106-RE-1-2 M.B.G. HSide A runout, var. 1
HS-1994-2 B5RS-8107-RE-1 M.B.G. HSide B runout, var. 1
HS-1993-1 B5RS-8106-RE-1 M.B.G. HSide A runout, var. 2
HS-1994-2 B5RS-8107-RE-1 M.B.G. HSide B runout, var. 2
HS-1193-1Label, side A
HS-1994-2Label, side B
HS-1993-1 B5RS-8106-RE-1 M.B.G.Side A, runout, variant 1
HS-1994-2 B5RS-8107-RE3 M.B.G.Side B, runout, variant 1
HS-1993-1 B5RS-8106-RE#3 M.B.G. Λ I -ISide A, runout, variant 2
HS-1994-2 B5RS-8107-RE#3 M.B.G. Λ I -ISide B, , runout, variant 2
HS-1993-1A Side Label
HS-1994-2B Side Label
HS-1993-1 B5RS-8106-RE-1 M.B.G. HA Side Etch, except "H" Stamp
HS-1994-2 B5RS-8107-RE-1 M.B.G. HB Side Etch, except "H" Stamp
HS-1993-1 B5RS-8106-RE-1 M.B.G. TVC D5Side A runout, variant 1
HS-1994-2 B5RS-8107-RE-1 M.B.G. TVC D5Side B runout, variant 1
HS-1993-1 B5RS-8106-RE-1 M.B.G. TVC C1Side A runout, variant 2
HS-1994-2 B5RS-8107-RE-1 M.B.G. TVC D5Side B runout, variant 2
T-319VI-B5RS-8106-1-S-03ASide 1
T-319VI-B5RS-8107-2-S-03BSide 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Unknown | Tamla Motown T-319 LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Brazil | Tapecar T319 L / Tamla T319 LFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Brazil | Tapecar T319 L / Tamla T319 LFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Canada | Tamla Motown T-319LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Tamla Motown T 319LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Canada | Tamla Motown T-319LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | El Salvador | Tamla T-319 LFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 062-93 880 / EMI Electrola 1C 062-93 880First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 062-93 880LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1972 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 062-93 880First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Italy | Tamla TMLP 6003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Jamaica | Tamla Motown T 319LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 056-93880First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STML 6102First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STML 6102First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Tamla T319 / Tamla T 319LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Germany | Motown 257·15·052LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Portugal | Motown IM-46023LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Portugal | Motown IM 46023 / Motown IM-46.023LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Spain | Motown 2-47.085LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Spain | Motown 2-47.085LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Spain | Motown 2-47.085-ALP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Motown 2-47.085LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Motown 2-47.085LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Motown 2-47.085LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Motown 2-47.085LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Motown 2-47.085LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Italy | Motown TMLP 6003LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Spain | Motown SPL1-60018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Tamla T7-319S1 / Tamla T 319LLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | South Korea | Seoul Records SMPR-030 / Motown MOT-319R1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | US | Tamla T6-319S1 / Tamla T6 319 S1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2008 | Europe | Vinyl Lovers 900396LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2008 | US | Tamla T6-319S1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2008 | US | Tamla T6 319S1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MOFI 1-009 / Universal Music Special Markets B0012689-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2011 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MOFI 1-009 / Universal Music Special Markets B0012689-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2016 | US | Tamla B0025529-01 / Motown B0025529-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | Europe | Tamla 06025 570 975-6 / Motown 06025 570 975-6LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Tamla Motown T-319 LLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Unknown | Tamla T319L / Tamla Motown T319LLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Unknown | Tamla B0025529-01 / Motown B0025529-01LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Motown STMA 7002LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Belgium | Not On Label 5C182-94986LP, Album, Picture Disc, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Picture disc |
| ? | Canada | Motown T 319LLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Motown T 319LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Motown T 319LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Tamla T 319L / Motown T319 LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Motown T 319LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Motown T 319LLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Motown 523019LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Tamla Motown 93880LP, Single Sided, Album, White Label | LP, Single Sided, Album, White Label |
| ? | France | Pathé PIC 9LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| ? | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 072-93 880 / EMI Electrola 1C 072-93 880LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
177 vinyl pressings of Talking Book are listed here, from 34 countries, released between 1972 and 2016.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, Australia, Colombia, Denmark and more. One of them is Tamla T 319L, released October 27, 1972.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use T 319L, T319L, T-319L, T7-319R1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T-319L HS-1993-1 B5RS-8106-RE-1-2 M.B.G. H and HS-1994-2 B5RS-8107-RE-1 M.B.G. H. 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.
