Vinyl pressings
by The Temptations · 1970
Greatest Hits II was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. 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 1970, 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.
HS-1743-3 GLPS-954 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K [ɪ A2 Z4RS-3200-1 A]Side A - etched, [stamped]
HS-1744-3 GLPS-954 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K [ɪ A3 Z4RS-3201-1]Side B - etched, [stamped]
HS-1743-3 Z4RS-3200Label Side A
HS-1744-3 Z4RS-3201Label Side B
HS-1744-3 GLPS-954A side runout, etched
Z4RS-3200-1 B HA side runout, stamped
HS-1744-3 GLPS-954B side runout, etched
Z4RS-3201-1 B HB side runout, stamped
Z4RS-3200-1 D HS-1743-3 7-13-70 MMMKSide A runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
Z4RS-3201-1 D HS-1744-3 7-13-70 MKSide B runout, etched/stamped, variant 1
Z4RS-3200-1 D HS-1743-3 7-13-70 MMMK GLPS-954(scratched out)Side A runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
Z4RS-3201-1 D HS-1744-3 7-13-70 MK GLPS-954Side B runout, etched/stamped, variant 2
Z4RS-3200-1 C HRunout A stamped
HS-1743-3 GLPS-954 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout A etched
Z4RS-3201-1 C HRunout B stamped
HS-1744-3 GLPS-954 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout B etched
Z4RS-3200-1 B HS-1743-3 H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K GLPS-954Runout A
Z4RS-3201-1 B HS-1744-3 H ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K GLPS-954Runout B
HS-1743-3 Z4RS-3200Label A
HS-1744-3 Z4RS-3201Label B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO 10052First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Brazil | Motown GS - 954First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Gordy GS-954First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | Canada | Tamla Motown GS-954First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1 C 062-91 873First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | Lebanon | Tamla Motown GS 954First yearLP, Compilation, White Label | LP, Compilation, White Label |
| 1970 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 054-91873 / Tamla Motown GS 954First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown STMLM 6068First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11170 / Tamla Motown 1E 062 ◦ 91873First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11170LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Gordy GS954 / Gordy G 954First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Gordy GS954 / Gordy GLPS-954First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1970 | US | Gordy GS954 / Gordy GS 954First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Gordy GS954 / Gordy GLPS-954First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Gordy GLPS 954First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Tamla Motown 2C 062-91873LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Tamla Motown STML 11170LP, Compilation, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| ? | Lebanon | Tamla Motown 5C 054-91873LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Mexico | Tamla Motown STAM 249LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 054-91873 / Tamla Motown GS 954LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| ? | UK & Europe | Tamla Motown WL 72647LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Gordy G 954 V1 / Gordy GS954LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Gordy G6-954SI / Gordy G 954LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Venezuela | Motown LPS-77673LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
28 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits II are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1970 and 1975.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is Gordy GS954, released September 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use GS954, GLPS 954, GLPS-954, STML 11170) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, HS-1743-3 GLPS-954 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K [ɪ A2 Z4RS-3200-1 A] and HS-1744-3 GLPS-954 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K [ɪ A3 Z4RS-3201-1]. 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.
