Skip to content
VinylLens
Merry Christmas by The Supremes, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Merry Christmas

by The Supremes · 1965

41 pressings8 countriesSoulHolidayFunk / Soul

Merry Christmas was first pressed on vinyl in 1965. 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 Merry Christmas

20 pressings came out in 1965, the album's first year, in 4 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.

US

1965
Label and catalog number
Motown S-638Motown 638
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Hollywood Pressing
Runout / matrix

SR4S--2678-1 C H HS-1380Side A Runout - stamped, exc. HS-1380 etched

SR4S--2679-1 C H HS-1381Side B Runout - stamped, exc. HS-1381 etched

Full details of this pressing

US

1965
Label and catalog number
Motown MT 638
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

SR4M--2657-1-B H-1380Runout A

SR4M--2658-1-B H-1381Runout B

H-1380Label A

H-1381Label B

Full details of this pressing

US

1965
Label and catalog number
Motown MT 638
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

SR4M--2657-1-G H-1380Runout A

SR4M--2658-1 H-1381Runout B

H-1380Label A

H-1381Label B

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 41 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1960s22 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1965AustraliaTamla Motown STELO-9553 / Tamla Motown STELO 9553First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965CanadaMotown MOS 638First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965CanadaTamla Motown S-638First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965CanadaTamla Motown MO-638 / Tamla Motown MO 638First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965CanadaMotown S 638 / Motown 638First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965NetherlandsTamla Motown MGGO 9461First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965NetherlandsTamla Motown MGGO S-9461First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965USMotown MS 638First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965USMotown S-638 / Motown 638First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965USMotown MT 638First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1965USMotown M 638First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965USMotown MT 638First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1965USMotown MS 638First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965USMotown S 638First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1965USMotown S-638First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
All 22 pressings from the 1960s
1970s4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1976NetherlandsMotown 5C 038-98 226 / Motown MS-638LP, AlbumLP, Album
1978USNatural Resources NR-4010T1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1978USNatural Resources NR-4010T1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1978USNatural Resources NR-4010T1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980s10 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1981USMotown 5252 MLLP, Album, Stereo, ReissueLP, Album, Stereo, Reissue
1981USMotown 5252 ML / Motown 5252MLLP, Album, Stereo, ReissueLP, Album, Stereo, Reissue
1981USMotown 5252MLLP, Album, Stereo, ReissueLP, Album, Stereo, Reissue
1981USMotown 5252 MLLP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1981USMotown 5252 ML / Motown 5252MLLP, Album, Stereo, ReissueLP, Album, Stereo, Reissue
1982CanadaMotown M 252LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1982UKTamla Motown STMS 5084LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1984UK & EuropeTamla Motown WL72113LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1984UK & EuropeTamla Motown WL72113LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1989AustraliaMotown SPLP 1124LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Year unknown5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?AustraliaMotown NR 4010LPLP
?USMotown MS 638LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?USMotown 5252MLLP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?USMotown S-638LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
?USMotown 5252 MLLP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition

Tracklist

  1. A1White Christmas3:51
  2. A2Silver Bells2:57
  3. A3Born Of Mary2:47
  4. A4Children's Christmas Song2:50
  5. A5The Little Drummer Boy3:07
  6. A6My Christmas Tree3:09
  7. B1Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer2:40
  8. B2Santa Claus Is Coming To Town2:40
  9. B3My Favorite Things2:49
  10. B4Twinkle Twinkle Little Me3:01
  11. B5Little Bright Star2:24
  12. B6Joy To The World2:08

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Merry Christmas are there?

41 vinyl pressings of Merry Christmas are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1965 and 1989.

When was Merry Christmas first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1965, in US, Australia, Canada, Netherlands. One of them is Motown MT 638, released November 1, 1965.

How do I tell if my copy of Merry Christmas is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MT 638, MS 638, S-638, M 638) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Merry Christmas 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.

More The Supremes on vinyl

VinylLens app

What is your copy of Merry Christmas worth?

Point your phone at the label. VinylLens finds the exact pressing in seconds and shows its value for every condition, from Mint to Poor, so you know what your record is really worth.

Scan your records free