Vinyl pressings
by The Jackson 5 · 1970
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town 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.
7 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 4 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.
Q-Q-Q-847MO1 I Z4KM-4443-1 AA side runout
Q-Q-Q-847MO2 I Z4KM-4444-1 EB side runout
Q-Q-Q-847MO1 Z4KM-4443A side label
Q-Q-Q-847MO2 Z4KM-4444B side label
I Z4KM-4443-1 C Q-Q-Q-847M01A-Side Runout Etching
I Z4KM-4443-1 E Q-Q-Q-847M01B-Side Runout Etching
Q-Q-Q-847M01 Z4KM-4443Labels
TMG 837 A-1Side A Stamped
TMG 837 B-1Side B Stamped
Z4KM-4443Side A label
Z4KM-4444Side B label
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 | Canada | Tamla Motown M-1174First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Jamaica | Tamla Motown M-117First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Motown MOTOWN 1174First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Motown M-1174DJFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | Ireland | Tamla Motown TMG(I) 837First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Motown M-1174First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Motown M-1174First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1972 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 8377", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1972 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 837Promo, 7" · Promo | Promo, 7" · Promo |
| 1973 | Venezuela | Tamla Motown 13.4307", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Worldwide | UMe 602478301629 / Motown M-11747", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
11 vinyl pressings of Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1970 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, Ireland, Canada, Jamaica. One of them is Motown M-1174, released November 25, 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M-1174, MOTOWN 1174, M-1174DJ, TMG(I) 837) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Q-Q-Q-847MO1 I Z4KM-4443-1 A and Q-Q-Q-847MO2 I Z4KM-4444-1 E. 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.
