Vinyl pressings
by The Temptations · 1969
Puzzle People 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.
16 pressings came out in 1969, the album's first year, in 10 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-3691-1-D HS-1644-4Side A Stamp Runout (HS-1644-4 etched) (Variant 1)
X4RS-3692-1-D HS-1645-3Side B Stamp Runout (HS-1645-3 etched) (Variant 1)
X4RS-3691-1-D HS-1644-4 GLPS 949 S 1 ʆ. AudioMatrixSide A runout stamped; etched - Variant 2
X4RS-3692-1-D HS-1645-4 GLPS 949 S 2 ʆ. AudioMatrixSide B runout stamped; etched - Variant 2
HS-1644-3 X4RS-3691Side A Label
HS-1645-3 X4RS-3692Side B Label
X4RS-3691-1-B H HS-1644-4 GLPS-949 S-1. dh.Runout A
X4RS-3692-1-C HS-1645-4 GLPS-949 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄KRunout B
HS-1644-3 X4RS-3691Label A
HS-1645-3 X4RS-3692Label B
X 4RS-3691-1-D HS-1644-4 GLPS-949 S-1A side runout
X4RS-3692-1-D AS-1645-4 GLPS-949 S-2B side runout
X4RS-3691-1-A HS-1644-4 GLPS-949 S-1. dh. c1 IRunout A, variant 1
X4RS-3692-1-A HS-1645-4 c1 GLPS-949 IRunout B, variant 1
X4RS-3691-1 HS-1644-4 GLPS-949 S-1. dh. I B1Runout A, variant 2
X4RS-3692-1-A HS-1645-4 GLPS-949 GLPS-949 dh. Ⅰ A1Runout B, variant 2
HS-1644-4 GLPS-949 S-1.Side A (etched)
X4RS-3691-1Side A (stamped)
HS-1645-4 GLPS-949 GLPS-949Side B (etched)
X4RS-3692-1-ASide B (stamped)
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 | Australia | Tamla Motown STMLO 10030First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Canada | Tamla Motown GS949 / Tamla Motown GORDY 949First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | France | Tamla Motown 2 C 062-90687 / Tamla Motown 2C 062-90.687First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 054-90 687First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Jamaica | Tamla Motown S-949First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 054-90687 / Tamla Motown GLPS 949First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Gordy GLPS-949 / Gordy GS949First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | India | Tamla Motown SETML - 8First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Jamaica | Gordy S-949 / Gordy GS949First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Philippines | Gordy S-949 / Motown GS949First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Gordy S-949 / Gordy GS949First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Gordy GS949 / Gordy 949First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Gordy GS949 / Gordy 949First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | US | Gordy GLPS-949 DJFirst yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1969 | US | Gordy GS949First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Italy | Tamla Motown TSP 34030LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | UK | Tamla Motown STML 11133 / Tamla Motown 1E 062 ◦ 90687LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Tamla Motown TML 11133 / Tamla Motown 1E 062 ◦ 90687(M)LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1974 | Canada | Pickwick SPC-3396LP | LP |
| 1974 | US | Pickwick SPC-3396LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1974 | US | Pickwick/33 Records SPC-3396LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-172V1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Motown M5-172V1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | UK | Tamla Motown STMS 5050LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US | Gordy S 949LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Europe | Gordy 700238 / Elemental Music 700238LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | USA & Europe | Elemental Music 620936 / Gordy GS-949LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Ebrau S - 949 / Ebrau GS949LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Motown 230·15·055LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Tamla Motown SJET-8198 / Tamla Motown SMOT-7064LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Mexico | Tamla Motown STAM-189LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Taiwan | First Record FL-1828LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Taiwan | First Record FL-1828LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Motown M5-172V1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
35 vinyl pressings of Puzzle People are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1969 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, India, Jamaica, Philippines and more. One of them is Gordy S-949, released September 23, 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use S-949, GS949, GLPS-949, GLPS-949 DJ) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, X4RS-3691-1-D HS-1644-4 and X4RS-3692-1-D HS-1645-3. 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.
