Vinyl pressings
by The Who · 1983
Who's Greatest Hits was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 2 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.
MCA 3337-W2 KPG/MCA ◈-P-◈Variant 1: runout side A
MCA 3338-W1 KPG/MCA ◈-P-◈Variant 1: runout side B
MCA 3337-W4̶ KPG/MCA ◈-P-◈Variant 2: runout side A
MCA 3337-W3 KPG/MCA ◈-P-◈Variant 2: runout side B
MCA 3337-W4 KPG/MCARun-out Side A
MCA 3338-W3 KPG/MCARun-out Side B
MCA-3337-W2 KPG/MCA 2Variant Run-out Side A
MCA-3338-W2 KPG/MCA 2Variant Run-out Side B
MCA 3337-W1 KPG/MCARun-out Side 1
MCA 3338-W2 KPG/MCARun-out Side 2
MCA-3337-W3 KPG/MCA ⧈-G-⧈ IIISide A Runout, Etched Except ⧈-G-⧈, Stamped, variant 1
MCA-3338-W3 KPG/MCA ⧈-G-⧈ IISide B Runout, Etched Except ⧈-G-⧈, Stamped, variant 1
MCA-3337-W1 KPG/MCA ⧈-G-⧈ ISide A Runout, variant 2
MCA-3338-W2 KPG/MCA ⧈-G-⧈ ISide B Runout, variant 2
MCA-3337-W KPG/MCA ⧈-G-⧈ 2Side A Runout, Etched Except ⧈-G-⧈, Stamped, variant 1
MCA-3338-W1 KPG/MCA ⧈-G-⧈ ISide B Runout, Etched Except ⧈-G-⧈, Stamped, variant 1
MCA-3337-W2 KPG/MCA ⧈-G-⧈ 1Side A Runout, Etched Except ⧈-G-⧈, Stamped, variant 2
MCA-3338-W1 KPG/MCA ⧈-G-⧈ 3Side B Runout, Etched Except ⧈-G-⧈, Stamped, variant 2
MCA 3337-W2 KPG/MCA 回-G-回 2Side A Runout
MCA 3338-W2 KPG/MCA 回-G-回 2Side B Runout
MCA 3337Side A Label
MCA 3338Side B Label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-5408First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-37261LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-37261 / MCA Records MCA-5408First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-5408First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-1496LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-5408 / MCA Records MCA-1496First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-5408First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-5408 / MCA Records MCA-1496First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-5408First yearLP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-5408First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | MCA Records MCA-1496 / MCA Records MCA-5408LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1987 | US | MCA Records MCA-1496LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Geffen Records B0032235-01 / UMe B0032235-01LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | US | Geffen Records B0032235-01 / UMe B0032235-01LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2020 | Europe | Polydor 0875303LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono, Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Mono · Mono, Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | MCA Records MCA-1496LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition · Club edition |
16 vinyl pressings of Who's Greatest Hits are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1983 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, Canada. One of them is MCA Records MCA-5408, released April 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MCA-5408, MCA-37261) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MCA 3337-W2 KPG/MCA ◈-P-◈ and MCA 3338-W1 KPG/MCA ◈-P-◈. 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.
