Vinyl pressings
by The Motels · 1979
Motels was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 14 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.
ST-1-11996 G15• 1 ✲ WLY MASTERED BY CAPITOLRunout A
ST-2-11996 F14• 3 MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲ KPRunout B
ST 1-11996Label A
ST 2-11996Label B
ST-1-11996 F13 #4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL · ─◁ KPSide A runout, variant 1
ST-2-11996 F16 #3 MASTERED BY CAPITOL ─◁ KPSide B runout, variant 1
ST-1-11996 F13 #4 MASTERED BY CAPITOL · ─◁ KPSide A runout, variant 2
ST-2-11996 F16 #2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL ─◁ KPSide B runout, variant 2
ST-1-11996 F17 #1 ( )Runout Side A, Etched, Variant 1
ST-2-11996 F15 #3 ( )Runout Side B, Etched, Variant 1
ST-1-11996 F-23Runout Side A, Etched, Variant 2
ST-2-11996 F16 #3Runout Side B, Etched, Variant 2
ST-1-11996 G15 - WLYRunout Side A, Etched
ST-2-11996 FLY CJ RJRunout Side B, Etched
MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲Runout, Both Sides, Stamped
ST 1-11996A Side Label
MASTERED BY CAPITOL 0Sides A & B, stamped
ST-1-11996 F7 #1 KPSide A, etched
ST-2-11996 F15 KP #4Side B, etched
KP ST-1-11996 F7 #3Side A, etched
ST-1-11996 F10 .. 1 (Etched) MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲ (Stamped)Runout Side A
ST-2-11996 F14 . CJ RJ (Etched) MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲ (Stamped)Runout Side B
ST 1-11996A Side Label
ST 2-11996B Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Argentina | Capitol Records 108071First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Australia | Capitol Records ST-11996 / Capitol Records ST.11996First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Capitol Records ST-11996First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Capitol Records 2C 068 85999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | France | Capitol Records 2S 068 85999 / Capitol Records 2S 068-85.999First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Capitol Records 2S 068 85999 / Capitol Records 2S 068-85.999First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Capitol Records 2S 068 85999First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Capitol Records 2C 068 85999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-85 999First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-85 999First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Capitol Records 1C 064-85 999First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Italy | Capitol Records 3C 064-85999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-81291First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Capitol Records ECS-81291First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Capitol Records 1A 062-85999 / Capitol Records 062-85999First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Capitol Records 14C 062-85 999LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | New Zealand | Capitol Records ST-11996LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Spain | Capitol Records 10C 064-085.999 / Capitol Records ST-11996LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | Capitol Records SN-16343LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Spain | Capitol Records 056-1859991LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | Australia & New Zealand | Capitol Records MID-166021 / Capitol Records MID.166021LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1974LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Capitol Records 1A 038 15789 1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
44 vinyl pressings of Motels are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1979 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Capitol Records ST-11996.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ST-11996, EST 11996, E-ST 11996, 108071) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-1-11996 G15• 1 ✲ WLY MASTERED BY CAPITOL and ST-2-11996 F14• 3 MASTERED BY CAPITOL ✲ KP. 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.
