Vinyl pressings
by Tex Ritter · 1961
Hillbilly Heaven was first pressed on vinyl in 1961. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1961, 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.
T1-1623-D2#2 [Anvil symbol]Side A runout
T2-1623-D1 [Anvil symbol]Side B runout
T1-1623Label A
T2-1623Label B
T1-1623-N1 #2 [Anvil symbol]Side A stamped [# etched] variant 1
T2-1623-D2 [Anvil symbol]Side B stamped variant 1
T1-1623-N1 [Anvil symbol]Side A variant 2
T-2-1623-P1 #2 /IAM\Side B variant 2
ST-1-1623-A-6 2 ✲Runout Side A
ST-2-1623-A-4Runout Side B
T1-1623-D4 1 Star symbolRunout Side A
T2-1623-D3 2 Star symbolRunout side B
T1-1623Label Side A
T1-1623-P3PMatrix / Runout (Side 1)
T2-1623-P3PMatrix / Runout (Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | New Zealand | Regal SREG 1001 / Regal SREG.1001First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | Capitol Records T 1623First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Capitol Records ST 1623 / Capitol Records ST-1623First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | Capitol Records T 1623First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Capitol Records T 1623First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Capitol Records T 1623 / Capitol Records T-1623First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Capitol Records T 1623 / Capitol Records T-1623First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | UK | Regal SREG 1001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1969 | Australia | Music For Pleasure MFP-A 8061LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | US | Capitol Records SM-1623LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Axis AXIS.6249LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Axis AX.1050 / Axis AX-1050LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records SM 1623LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records T 1623 / Capitol Records T-1623LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records ST 1623 / Capitol Records ST-1623LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records ST-1623LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records T 1623 / Capitol Records T-1623LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Music For Pleasure MFP 1076 / Music For Pleasure MFP Mono 1076LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Music For Pleasure MFP 50237LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| ? | UK | Music For Pleasure MFP 1076LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Music For Pleasure MFP 1076LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Music For Pleasure MFP 1076LP, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| ? | UK | Music For Pleasure MFP 1076LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Music For Pleasure MFP 1076LP, Reissue, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Capitol Records ST 1623 / Capitol Records ST-1623LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
33 vinyl pressings of Hillbilly Heaven are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1961 and 1975.
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US, New Zealand. One of them is Capitol Records T 1623, released October 1961.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use T 1623, ST 1623, SREG 1001) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1-1623-D2#2 [Anvil symbol] and T2-1623-D1 [Anvil symbol]. 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.
