Vinyl pressings
by The Supremes · 1969
Greatest Hits Volume 3 was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 2 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.
X4RS-4943- 1 I x ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K C2 HS-1672-2-Side A, variant 1
X4RS-4944- 1 + I A3 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1673-2Side B, variant 1
X4RS-4943- 1 HS-1672-2 I + AG X̶X̶X̶ ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KSide A, variant 2
X4RS-4944- 1 HS-1673-2 I + ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A1Side B, variant 2
X4RS-4943- 1B ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K H HS-1672-2-Runout A
X4RS-4944- 1B ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K H HS-1673-2Runout B
HS-1672-2 X4RS-4943Matrix A, on label
HS-1673-2 X4RS-4944Matrix B, on label
X4RS-4943-1D [ ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1672-2]Side A, runout, stamped / [etched]
X4RS-4944-1D [ ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1673]Side B, runout, stamped / [etched]
HS-1672-2Side A, label
HS-1673-2Side B, label
X4RS-4943- 1D ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1672-2Runout A
X4RS-4944- 1D ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1673Runout B
HS-1672-2 X4RS-4943Matrix A, on label
HS-1673-2 X4RS-4944Matrix B, on label
X4RS-4943-1D ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1672-2Side A stamped, exc. HS-1673-2 and ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K etched, variant 1
X4RS-4944-1D [⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1673Side B stamped, exc. HS-1673-2 and ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K etched, variant 1
X4RS-4543- 1 HS-1672-2 I + ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K A2Side A stamped, exc. HS-1672-2, + and ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K etched, variant 2
X4RS-4544 -A1 HS-1673-2 I + ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K B1Side B stamped, exc. HS-1673-2, + and ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K etched, variant 2
MS-702-A TGA side etched runout
MS-702-B TGB side etched runout
MS 702-AA side label
MS 702-BB 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Canada | Tamla Motown MS 702 / Tamla Motown MOTOWN 702First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | US | Motown MS-702 / Motown MS 702First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Motown MS-702 / Motown MS 702First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Motown MS 702First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1969 | US | Motown MS 702 / Motown MS 702 DJFirst yearLP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | Motown MS-702 / Motown MS 702First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Mexico | Tamla Motown STAM-215LP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1970 | South Africa | Motown TMC 5140LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Taiwan | 先鋒 PRC-5050LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1970 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO 10035LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Canada | Motown M 702LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-203V1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-203V1LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | Spain | Motown SNL1-60057 / Motown MS 702LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Motown MS 702LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Motown MS-702 / Motown MS 702LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Motown 230·15·071LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STMLM.6048 / Motown STMLM.6048LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Peru | Motown SE.80.005LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Motown MS 702 / Motown M7-702R1LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Motown M5-203V1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
21 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits Volume 3 are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1969 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, Canada. One of them is Motown MS-702, released December 18, 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MS-702, MS 702) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, X4RS-4943- 1 I x ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K C2 HS-1672-2- and X4RS-4944- 1 + I A3 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K HS-1673-2. 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.
