Vinyl pressings
by The Undisputed Truth · 1971
Smiling Faces Sometimes was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1971, the album's first year, in 18 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.
p(stamped, inverted) N-T2-N-876M09 1B(etched)A side deadwax
N-Q-T2-885M07(etched) p(stamped, all at 12 o'clock) A1 A4KM-2952-1-B(stamped, at 6 o'clock)B side deadwax
TVC N-T2-N-876S09 ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄ǀ⁄|⁄K G-7108Side A - Etched
A4KM-2692-1 ASide A - Stamped
TVC N-Q-T2-885M07Side B - Etched
A4KM-2952-1-ASide B - Stamped
G-7108 A4KM-2692-1 ARP ⋉ N-T2-N-876M09Runout, side A, variant 1
A4KM-2952-1 ⋉ N-Q-T2-885MO7Runout, side B, variant 1
G-7108 A4KM-2692-1 ARP ⋉ N-T2-N-876M09Runout, side A, variant 2
A4KM-2952-1 ARP ⋉ N-Q-T2-885MO7Runout, side B, variant 2
SIII A4KM-2692-1 E mk H-T2-N-876M08 G- 7108-AA side runout
SIII A4KM-2692-1-E G7108-B N-QLT2-855M07B side runout
N-T2-N-876MO9A side label
N-L-T2_885MO7B side label
N-T2-N-876M09 [A4KM-2692-1-F] TIIRunout, side A, etched, except [stamped]
N-L-T2-885M07 [A4KM-2952-1-D] TIRunout, side B, etched [stamped]
N-T2-N-876M09Label side A
N-L-T2-885M07Label side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Argentina | Tamla Motown TMS-0581First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Australia | Tamla Motown TMO-9572First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Australia | Tamla Motown TMO-9572First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Canada | Tamla Motown G-7108First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1971 | France | Tamla Motown 2C 006-92.723First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Germany | Tamla Motown 1C 006-92 723MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Ireland | Tamla Motown TMG.789First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Italy | Tamla Motown TSM-NP 64114 / Tamla Motown TSM NP 64114First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Jamaica | Gordy G 7108First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Jamaica | Gordy G 7108First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Mexico | Tamla Motown 6985First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1971 | Netherlands | Tamla Motown 5C 006-92723First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1971 | New Zealand | Tamla Motown TMM.812First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1971 | Norway | Tamla Motown 7E 006-92723 MFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1971 | Portugal | Tamla Motown TMG 789First year7", Single | 7", Single |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Greece | Tamla Motown GTM 1717", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
32 vinyl pressings of Smiling Faces Sometimes are listed here, from 19 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is Gordy G 7108, released May 13, 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use G 7108, TMG 789, TMS-0581, TMO-9572) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, p(stamped, inverted) N-T2-N-876M09 1B(etched) and N-Q-T2-885M07(etched) p(stamped, all at 12 o'clock) A1 A4KM-2952-1-B(stamped, at 6 o'clock). 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.
