UK
1955- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MT.117
- Format
- 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
78 1017 A-4A side runout (variant 1)
78 1017 B-4B side runout (variant 1)
78 1017 A-4 2 MA side runout (variant 2)
78 1017 B-4 5 AHB side runout (variant 2)
Vinyl pressings
The Great Pretender / Only You (And You Alone)
by The Platters · 1955
88 pressings22 countriesPop RockDoo WopRock & RollRock
The Great Pretender was first pressed on vinyl in 1955. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of The Great Pretender
6 pressings came out in 1955, the album's first year, in 3 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.
UK
1955- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MT.117
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
78 1017 A-1A side runout
78 1017 B-1B side runout
1017-AA side label
1017-BB side label
UK
1955- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MT.117
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
78 1017 A-4 1 MA side runout
78 1017 B-1 6 APB side runout
1017-AA side label
1017-BB side label
UK
1955- Label and catalog number
- Mercury MT.117
- Format
- 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
78 1017 A-4 A1 G 3A side runout
78 1017 B-4 A A A 5B side runout
78-1017-AA side label
78-1017-BB side label
Sweden
November 3, 1955- Label and catalog number
- Mercury B 45-689
- Format
- 7", 45 RPM
- Runout / matrix
YW-45-12070-BRunout side A, variant 1
YW 45 11548 DRunout side B, variant 1
YW-45-12070-BRunout side A, variant 2
YW-45-11548-C 2Runout side B, variant 2
Argentina
1955- Label and catalog number
- T.K. SM-50157
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
11548 SMA side runout groove, stamped
415-53B side runout groove, stamped
SM-50157 AA side label (Side indicator)
11548A side label
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 88 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1950s20 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Argentina | T.K. SM-50157First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1955 | UK | Mercury MT.117First year10", 78 RPM | 10", 78 RPM |
| 1955 | UK | Mercury MT.117First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1955 | UK | Mercury MT.117First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1955 | UK | Mercury MT.117First year10", 78 RPM | 10", 78 RPM |
| 1955 | Sweden | Mercury B 45-689First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1956 | Australia | Esquire Mercury 45037 x 78Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1956 | Austria | Mercury B 45-6897", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1956 | Austria | Mercury B 45-6897", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1956 | Canada | Mercury C-30065X7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1956 | Canada | Mercury C-30065X7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1956 | Denmark | Mercury B 45-6897", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | Sweden | Mercury B 45-6897", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1956 | Sweden | Mercury B 689Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1957 | Netherlands | Mercury 957001Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
1960s7 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Netherlands | Mercury MJF 129 2147", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1965 | Canada | Mercury C-300657", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1967 | France | CBS 30127", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1968 | Denmark | Mercury B 45-6897", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1968 | Italy | Mercury 129214 MCF7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Italy | Mercury 129214 MCF7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Netherlands | CBS 30127", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
1970s12 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Austria | Musicor Records 12 248 AT7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | Germany | Mercury 127 041 MCF7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1972 | Germany | Musicor Records 12 248 AT7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | Italy | Mercury 129 2147", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | Italy | Mercury 6167 4157", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Mercury CS-60047", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1973 | Canada | Mercury CS-60047", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1974 | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB S 537397", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1975 | UK | Contempo-Raries CS.90367", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1976 | Germany | Mercury 6167 4157", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1977 | Belgium | Surprise JTU 7697", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1978 | Germany | Polydor 2040 2147", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
1980s6 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Poland | Tonpress R-0853-IIFlexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Shape, Single Sided, Card Backed, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Limited, Picture disc | Flexi-disc, 7", 45 RPM, Shape, Single Sided, Card Backed, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Limited, Picture disc |
| 1981 | Spain | K-Tel 18S0210 / Edigsa 18S0210-117", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK | Old Gold OG 94857", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1985 | UK | Old Gold OG 94857", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1985 | UK | Old Gold OG 94857", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1986 | US | Eric Records 41107", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Styrene |
Year unknown43 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Mercury 70633X45 / Mercury 70753X457", 45 RPM, Misprint · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Misprint · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Argentina | T.K. SM-50157Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Austria | Mercury 6167 4157" | 7" |
| ? | Belgium | Polydor 2051 2187", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Belgium | Mercury 70819x457", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Belgium | Surprise JTU 7697", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Mercury TOP 0147", Reissue | 7", Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Mercury TOP 0147", Reissue, Stereo | 7", Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Costa Rica | Mercury 02907", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Ecuador | Mercury 45-80187", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Finland | Mercury B 689Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Mono · Mono | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| ? | France | CBS 30127", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | France | Barclay 61.7017", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Mercury 127041 MCF7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 6167 4157", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
Tracklist
- AThe Great Pretender
- BOnly You (And You Alone)
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Great Pretender are there?
88 vinyl pressings of The Great Pretender are listed here, from 22 countries, released between 1955 and 1986.
When was The Great Pretender first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1955, in UK, Sweden, Argentina. One of them is Mercury MT.117.
How do I tell if my copy of The Great Pretender is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MT.117, B 45-689, SM-50157) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 78 1017 A-4 and 78 1017 B-4. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Great Pretender on vinyl worth?
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.
