Vinyl pressings
by The Temptations · 1973
Masterpiece was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
44 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 27 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.
G965L-HS-2029-1 / C5RS-7533 / I / 1303105-01A / A6Runout side A, variant 1
G965L-HS-2030-2 / C5RS-7534 / I / 1303105-01B / B2Runout side B, variant 1
HS-2029-1 S-2030-2Runout side A, variant 2
S-2029-B HS-2030-2Runout side B, variant 2
G965L-HS-2029-1 / C5RS-7533 / I / 1303105-01A / A1A side deadwax
G965L-HS-2030-2 / C5RS-7534 / I / 1303105-01B / B4B side deadwax
S 35748Side A Runout
S 35749Side B Runout
HS-2029-1Side A Label
HS-2030-1Side B Label
G965L-HS-2029-1 C5RS-7533 RE-1 C5RS-7533-RE-1-A 1304308-03A HEtched Side A ("H" stamped)
G965L-HS-2030-2 C5RS-7534 RE-1 C5RS-7533-RE-1-A 1304308-03A HEtched Side B ("H" stamped)
HS-2029-1 AS-2080R GBRunout side A, Variant 1
HS-2030-2 AS-2029-9Runout side B, Variant 1
HS-2029-1 S-2030-2Runout side A, Variant 2
S-2029-B HS-2030-2Runout side B, Variant 2
G965V1-HS 2029-1A B SXT 2 5Side 1 Variation 1
G965V1-HS 2030-S 1A SXT A 2 5Side 2 Variation 1
G965V1Label Side 1
G965V1Label Side 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Angola | World Record Co. tmc5245First yearLP | LP |
| 1973 | Belgium | Tamla Motown 4C064-94237First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Brazil | Tapecar G965L / Tapecar G 965First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | Tamla Motown G 965LFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Colombia | Tamla Motown CI-119 / Codiscos ECI-119First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Colombia | Gordy MWS 5105First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | El Salvador | Gordy G965L / Gordy G-965 LFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Tamla Motown 2C 064 - 94.237 / Tamla Motown 2C 064-94 237First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | Tamla Motown 2 C 064-94237First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | France | Tamla Motown 2C 066-94.237LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | Tamla Motown 2C 064-94.237 / Tamla Motown 2C 064-94237First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1 C 062-94 237 / Tamla Motown 1C 062-94 237First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1 C 062-94 237 / Tamla Motown 2 C 062-94 237First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1 C 062-94 237 / EMI Electrola 1 C 062-94 237First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 062-94 237First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | France | Motown 523006LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | UK | Tamla Motown STMS 5021 / Tamla Motown 0C 054-90 237LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-144V1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Greece | Motown 16.006 / Motown 16 006LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Greece | Motown 16.006LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1982 | Spain | Motown 2-47.181LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK & Europe | Tamla Motown WL72076LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK & Europe | Tamla Motown WL72076LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK & Europe | Tamla Motown WL72076LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Spain | Motown SNLI-60179 / Motown SNL1-60179LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Spain | Motown SNLI-60179 / Tamla Motown SNL1-60179LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | US | Gordy G965LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | Gordy G965L / Elemental Music 620860LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | Elemental Music 700172LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2024 | Italy | Motown DT 0203305161LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Motown Records, Canada Ltd. G965L / Motown Records, Canada Ltd. G 965LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Motown 257·15·044LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Motown 230·15·099LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Tamla Motown 1 C 062-94 237 / EMI Electrola 1 C 062-94 237LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 064-94 237LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Iran | Royal LRT 92LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 056-94237 / Tamla Motown 5C056-94237LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | World Record Club 1635R / Tamla Motown B-STML 6106LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | Tamla Motown B-STML 6106 / Tamla Motown STML.6106LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Gordy G965LLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
82 vinyl pressings of Masterpiece are listed here, from 32 countries, released between 1973 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Japan, Mexico and more. One of them is Gordy G965L, released February 21, 1973.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use G965L, G-965L, G 965L, STML 11229) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, G965L-HS-2029-1 / C5RS-7533 / I / 1303105-01A / A6 and G965L-HS-2030-2 / C5RS-7534 / I / 1303105-01B / B2. 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.
