Vinyl pressings
by The Originals · 1977
Down To Love Town was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
15 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 9 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.
S6-749S1-2677-S-06A MR D1 #12 △ 21930Runout A side, variant 1
S6-749S1-2678-S-06C MR △ 21930-X D1 #12Runout B side, variant 1
S6-749S1-2677-S-06B MR D1 #12 △ 21930Runout A side, variant 2
S6-749S1-2678-S-06C MR △ 21930-X D1 #12Runout B side, variant 2
S6-749S1-2677-S-06A MR D1 #12 △ 21930Runout A side
S6-749S1-2678-S-06A MR △ 21930-X (3)Runout B side
2677-SLabel A side
2678-SLabel B side
S6-749S1-2677-S-06B 2/930A Side [variant 1]
S6-749S1-2678-S-06A 2/930-XB Side [variant 1]
S6-749S1-2677-S-06B 2/930A Side [variant 2]
S6-749S1-2678-S-06C 2/930-XB Side [variant 2]
S6-749S1-2677-S-06B MR # 13 ◁ 21930Side A runout, etched, exc. (MR) stamped, variant 1
S6-749S1-2678-S-06A MR ◁ 21930-XSide B runout, etched, exc. (MR) stamped, variant 1
S6-749S1-2677-S-06B MR #13 ◁ 21930 BGSide A runout, etched, exc. (MR) stamped, variant 2
S6-749S1-2678-S-06A MR #13 ◁ 21930-X BGSide B runout, etched, exc. (MR) stamped, variant 2
S6-749S1-2677-S-06A 2/930 (1)A Side
S6-749S1-2677-S-06A 2/930-X (2)B Side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Argentina | Tamla Motown SUP-808First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Brazil | Motown S6-749First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Motown S-749P1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | Motown S-749P1First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | France | Motown 2C 066-98.690First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | Motown VIP-6407First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | Mexico | Motown STAM-711First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Panama | Motown 28/1/77-1283First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Motown STML 12054 / Motown 0C 062 - 98 690First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | UK | Motown STML 12054First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1977 | US | Soul S6-749S1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Soul S6-749S1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Soul S6-749S1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Soul S6-749S1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1977 | US | Soul S6-749S1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
16 vinyl pressings of Down To Love Town are listed here, from 9 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Argentina, Brazil and more. One of them is Soul S6-749S1, released February 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use S6-749S1, STML 12054, SUP-808, S6-749) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, S6-749S1-2677-S-06A MR D1 #12 △ 21930 and S6-749S1-2678-S-06C MR △ 21930-X D1 #12. 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.
