Vinyl pressings
by The Jackson 5 · 1970
ABC 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.
28 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 17 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.
Z4RS-2927-1 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K I + A3 HS-1718-3Runout A, variant 1
Z4RS-2928-1 A HS-1719-3 I + ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A2Runout B, variant 1
Z4RS-2927-1 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K I + A2 HS-1718-3Runout A, variant 2
Z4RS-2928-1 A HS-1719-3 I + ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A1Runout B, variant 2
HS-2927-1 A2A Side Etched & Stamped
HS-2928-1 A3B Side Etched & Stamped
Z4RS-2927-1 C HA Side stamped, variant 1
HS-1718-3 ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KA Side etched, variant 1
Z4RS-2928-1 C HB Side stamped, variant 1
HS-1719-3 ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KB Side etched, variant 1
Z4RS-2927A-side matrix on label
Z4RS-2928B-side matrix on label
Z4RS-2927-1 D AudioMatrix [stamped] ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K 5-4-70 HS-1718-3 [etched]Side A runout
Z4RS-2928-1 D AudioMatrix [stamped] ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K 5-4-70 HS-1719-3 [etched]Side B runout
HS-1718-3Side A label
HS-1719-3Side B label
Z4RS-2927-1 DA Side stamped
5-4-70 HS-1718-3 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K ••••A Side etched
Z4RS-2928-1 DB Side stamped
5-4-70 HS-1719-3 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K ••••B Side 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 | Tamla Motown STMLO-11156 / Tamla Motown STMLO 11156First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Brazil | Motown EBMS 709 / Ebrau EBMS 709First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Canada | Tamla Motown MS 709First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Tamla Motown MS 709First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | France | Tamla Motown 2 C062 - 91532 / Tamla Motown 2C 062 - 91.532First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 054-91532 / Tamla Motown 1C 054 91 532First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Italy | Tamla Motown TSP 34070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Tamla Motown SJET-8257 / Tamla Motown SMOT-7076First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Tamla Motown SJET-8257 / Tamla Motown SMOT-7076First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | Mexico | Motown STAM 233First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 054-91532First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STMLM 6059First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Philippines | Motown MS-709 / Motown HS 1718-3First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | South Africa | Tamla Motown TMC 5156First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | South Korea | Taedo EU 225First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Motown M5152LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | France | Motown 535018LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Motown VIP-4126LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Japan | Motown VIP-4126LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-152V1LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1982 | UK | Tamla Motown STMS 5068LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Spain | Motown SNL1-60102LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK & Europe | Tamla Motown WL72104LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Japan | Motown LEX-9366LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Europe | Tamla Motown 0600753164211LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2009 | Germany | Motown MS 709 / Speakers Corner Records MS-709LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Tamla Motown MOVLP3002 / Music On Vinyl MOVLP3002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2022 | USA & Canada | Motown 620873 / Elemental Music 620873LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Italy | MotownLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2024 | Worldwide | Tamla Motown 0600753164211LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Japan | Motown UIJY-75374LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Colombia | Codiscos ECI-62LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Motown 230·15·042LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 062-91532 / Tamla Motown 1 062-91532LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Motown ORL 8604LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Motown SJET-8257 / Tamla Motown SJET-8257LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Tamla Motown 1E 062-91532LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Motown M5-152V1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Motown MS 709LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Motown MS-709 / Motown MS709LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
56 vinyl pressings of ABC are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1970 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Motown MS-709, released May 8, 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MS-709, S 709, MS709, MS 709) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Z4RS-2927-1 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K I + A3 HS-1718-3 and Z4RS-2928-1 A HS-1719-3 I + ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A2. 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.
