Vinyl pressings
by The Miracles · 1970
The Tears Of A Clown 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.
22 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 7 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.
W-C-K-L-T2-325M04 Z4KM-4063-1 B XRunout, side A
WO • G2 • 56 • 818 M07 X X -Z4KM-3692-1-BRunout, side B,
W-C-K-L-T2-825M04Label side A
W-O-G2-S6-818M07Label side B
W-C-K-L-T2-325M04 Z4KM-4063-1 B XRunout, side A
WO • G2 • 56 • 818 M07 X X Z4KM-3692-1-BRunout, side B
W-C-K-L-T2-825M04Label side A
W-O-G2-S6-818M07Label side B
H W-C-K-L-T2-825M04 Z4KM-4063-1 SSide A Runout
H |° S W-O-G2-S6-818M07 Z4KM-3692-1Side B Runout
W-C-K-L-T2-825M04 Z4KM-4063Side A Label
W-O-G2-S6-818M07 Z4KM-3692Side B Label
W-C-K-L-T2-825M04Runout, side A, etched
Z4KM-4063-1 ERunout, side A, stamped
W-0-G2-S6 818M07 lpRunout, side B, etched
-Z4KM-3692-1-ERunout, side B, stamped
W-C-K-L-T2-825M04 T54119 S2 Z4KM-4063-1 J - AA side runout
W-O-G2-S6-818MO7 T54119-B Z4KM-3692-1 HB side runout
W-C-K-L-T2-825M04Label A
W-O-G2-S6-818MO7Label B
W-C-K-L-T2-825M04 p T54199 1AA side deadwax
p W-O-G2-S6-818M07 T54199 1AB side deadwax
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 T 54199First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Canada | Tamla Motown T 54199First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Canada | Tamla Motown T 54199First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Chile | Tamla Motown T - 54199First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 006-91 801 MFirst year7", Single, 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 006-91 801 MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Japan | Tamla Motown JET-2017 / Tamla Motown MOT-1105First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Singapore | Tamla Motown T 54199First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | Spain | Tamla Motown M - 5097First year7" | 7" |
| 1970 | US | Tamla T 54199First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Tamla T-54199First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1970 | US | Tamla T 54199First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1970 | US | Tamla T-54199First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1970 | US | Tamla T 54199First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1970 | US | Tamla T-54199First year7", Single, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Belgium | Motown 4C006-980467", 45 RPM, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Stereo |
| ? | El Salvador | Tamla T 541997", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Jamaica | Tamla Motown T 514997", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
25 vinyl pressings of The Tears Of A Clown are listed here, from 10 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, Canada, Chile, Germany and more. One of them is Tamla T 54199, released September 24, 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use T 54199, T-54199, T - 54199, 1C 006-91 801 M) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, W-C-K-L-T2-325M04 Z4KM-4063-1 B X and WO • G2 • 56 • 818 M07 X X -Z4KM-3692-1-B. 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.
