Vinyl pressings
by The Miracles · 1968
Special Occasion was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1968, the album's first year, in 6 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.
W4RS-5200-1-GStamped Deadwax A
W4RS-5201-1-GStamped Deadwax B
HS-1536-3 TS-290-A 1 TWritten Deadwax A
HS-1537-3 TS-290-B 1 TWritten Deadwax B
W4RS-5200-1-GStamped Deadwax A
W4RS-5201-1-GStamped Deadwax B
HS-1536-3 TS-290-A 1 TWritten Deadwax A
HS-1537-3 TS-290-B 1 TWritten Deadwax B
o HS-1536-3 W4RS-5200-1-G TS-290-A \ T ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A1A5Side A runout
HS-1537-3 W4RS-5201-1-G TS-290-B \ T ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A6Side B runout
W4RS-5201Label A
W4RS-5200Label B
W4RM-5212-1A MK TM-290A-1 T P H-1536 C2Runout side A
W4RM-5213-1A MK TM-290 - 1 T P H-1537 C2Runout side B
W4RS-5201-1 C TS-290 R HS1537-3Side A
W4RS-5200-1 C A TS-290 R HS1536-3Side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Australia | Tamla Motown STML 11089First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Tamla Motown TS 290 / Tamla Motown TMS 290First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1968 | Germany | Tamla Motown STM 290 / Tamla Motown S TM 290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11089First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11089First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Tamla TML 11089LP, Single Sided, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Mono · Test pressing, Mono | LP, Single Sided, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Mono · Test pressing, Mono |
| 1968 | US | Tamla TS-290 / Tamla TS290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Tamla TM290 / Tamla T 290First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | US | Tamla TS 290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Tamla S-290 / Tamla TS290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Tamla TS 290 / Tamla TS290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Tamla TS290 / Tamla TAMLA 290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Tamla S-290 / Tamla TS290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Tamla TS 290 / Tamla TS290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | Tamla TS-290 / Tamla TS290First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
23 vinyl pressings of Special Occasion are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1968 and 1969.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Tamla TS 290, released August 26, 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TS 290, TS-290, TM290, S-290) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, W4RS-5200-1-G and W4RS-5201-1-G. 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.
