Vinyl pressings
by The Who · 1968
Direct Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1968. 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 1968, 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.
612006 A▽1Side A runout variant 1
612006 B▽1Side B runout variant 1
612006 A▽1 420 9 1 1Side A runout variant 2
612006 B▽1 420 8 1 1Side B runout variant 2
6 (P) 1966 G8 Z 613 006 A-2 00 184152 A 5Runout side A
6 (P) 1966 G8 Z 613 006 B-2 00 184152 B 5Runout side B
6 (P) 1966 G8 Z 613 006 A-2 00 184152 A 5Runout Side A Variant 1
6 (P) 1966 G8 Z 613 006 B-2 00 184152 B 5Runout Side B Variant 1
5 ̶9̶ Ⓟ 1966 G8 ◇Z 00 184152 A 5 ̶2̶ 613006 A-1 6Runout Side A Variant 2
6 Ⓟ 1966 G8 ◇Z 613006 B-2 00 184152 B 5 8Runout Side B Variant 2
5 [illegible] ℗ 1966 G8 ◊Z 00 184152 A 3 [illegible] 613006 A-1 5Side A runout, stamped (613006 A-1 etched)
5 ℗ 1966 G8 ◊Z 00 184152 B 5 613006 B-1 7Side B runout, stamped (613006 B-1 etched)
2 ℗ 1966 G8 ◇Z B 00 184152 A Made in Austria 24Runout stamp side A
2 ℗ 1966 G8 ◇Z A1 00 184152 B Made in Austria 24Runout stamp 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Australia | Polydor 184152 / International Polydor Production 184152First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | Austria | Polydor 184 152First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1968 | Germany | Polydor 184 152First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | Germany | Polydor 184 152First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | Israel | Polydor 184 152First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1968 | Italy | Polydor SLPHM/D 185 152First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Polydor 236 722First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Polydor 236 722First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | New Zealand | Polydor 613006First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | Polydor 184 152First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | South Africa | Polydor SLPHM 184152First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Track Record 613 006First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Track Record 613 006First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Track Record 613 006 / Track Record 613006First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Track Record 612 006First yearLP, Mono, Compilation · Mono | LP, Mono, Compilation · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Taiwan | First Record FL-2048LP, Compilation, Stereo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Compilation, Stereo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Polydor 2384 050LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | Polydor 184 152LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Polydor MPF 1163LP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1979 | Belgium | Polydor 2482 100LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1979 | Belgium | Polydor 2482 100LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1979 | Netherlands | Polydor 2482 100LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Polydor MPX 4020LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1984 | Netherlands | Polydor 2485 206LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1985 | Czechoslovakia | Supraphon 1113 3707 / Polydor 1113 3707LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | US | Classic Records 612006-MLP, Compilation, Test Pressing, Mono · Test pressing, Mono | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing, Mono · Test pressing, Mono |
| 2006 | US | Classic Records 612 006 / Track Record 612 006LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 2006 | US | Classic Records 612 006 / Track Record 612 006LP, Compilation, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Austria | Polydor 2485 206LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Belgium | Polydor 2482 100LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Belgium | Polydor 2482 100LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 2485 206LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Germany | Polydor 184 152LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| ? | India | Polydor 184 152LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Polydor 2482 100LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Polydor 236722LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Polydor 236722LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Philippines | Polydor 2485 206LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
39 vinyl pressings of Direct Hits are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1968 and 2006.
The earliest pressings are from 1968, in UK, Australia, Austria, Germany and more. One of them is Track Record 612 006, released October 18, 1968.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 612 006, 613 006, 184152, 184 152) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 612006 A▽1 and 612006 B▽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.
