Vinyl pressings
by The Brothers Four · 1961
Greatest Hits 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.
1 pressing came out in 1961, the album's first year. 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.
XSM-56217-1KSide A runout, variant 1
XSM-56218-1J SMUSide B runout, variant 1
o XSM-56217-1H PI-SMSide A runout, variant 2
o XSM-56218-1J SM\Side B runout, variant 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 | US | Columbia CS 8603First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1962 | Canada | Columbia CL 1803LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Canada | Columbia CL 1803LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Canada | Columbia CS 8603LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1962 | Canada | Columbia CS 8603LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1962 | Canada | Columbia CS 8603LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1962 | Canada | Columbia CL 1803LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Israel | CBS 62313LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Israel | CBS 62313LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1962 | Israel | CBS 62313LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Netherlands | CBS BPL 62313LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Netherlands | CBS 62313 (cl 1803)LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Philippines | CBS CL 1803LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Columbia CS 8603LP, Stereo, Compilation | LP, Stereo, Compilation |
| 1962 | US | Columbia CL 1803LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | US | Columbia CS 8603LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
| 1976 | Greece | Embassy EMB 31358LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 8603LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia CS 8603LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Colombia | CBS CL4037LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32207 / CBS 32207LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS BPL 62313LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | France | CBS S 62313 / CBS SBP 153014LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS 62313LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | New Zealand | CBS SBP 473425 / CBS CS 8603LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | CBS BP 473425 / CBS BP-473425LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 8603LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
47 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1961 and 1976.
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US. One of them is Columbia CS 8603.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CS 8603) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XSM-56217-1K and XSM-56218-1J SMU. 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.
