Vinyl pressings
by Willie Hutch · 1973
Brother's Gonna Work It Out 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.
10 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 4 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.
M̶1̶2̶2̶F̶-61930-1A 2-8-73 1̶3̶0̶3̶8̶2̶2̶-̶0̶2̶A̶A-Side Runout Etching
M̶1̶2̶2̶2̶F̶-61931-1A 2-8-73 1̶3̶0̶3̶8̶2̶2̶-̶0̶2̶A̶B-Side Runout Etching
61930-1AA-Side Label
61931-1AB-Side Label
1303822-18A M1222f-61930-1A PPRunout, side A, etched
1303822-18A M1222f-61931-1A PPRunout, side B, etched
61930-1ALabel Side A
61931-1ALabel Side B
M̶1̶2̶2̶F̶-61930-1A 2-8-73 1̶3̶0̶3̶8̶2̶2̶-̶0̶2̶A̶A-Side Runout Etching
M̶1̶2̶2̶2̶F̶-61931-1A 2-8-73 1̶3̶0̶3̶8̶2̶2̶-̶0̶2̶A̶B-Side Runout Etching
61930-1AA-Side Label
61931-1AB-Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Antigua & Barbuda | Tamla Motown M 1222F / Jobete Music Co., Inc. 61931 1AFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1973 | Greece | Tamla Motown GTM 194First year7" | 7" |
| 1973 | Greece | Tamla Motown GTM 1947", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1973 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 862First year7", Single, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", Single, 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | US | Motown M 1222FFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | US | Motown M 1222FFirst year7", Promo, Styrene · Promo | 7", Promo, Styrene · Promo |
| 1973 | US | Motown M 1222FFirst year7", Single | 7", Single |
| 1973 | US | Motown M 1222 FFirst year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1973 | US | Motown M 1222FFirst year7", Styrene | 7", Styrene |
| 1973 | US | Motown M 1222FFirst year7", 45 RPM, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Styrene |
| 1973 | UK | Tamla Motown TMG 862First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1974 | Italy | Tamla Motown TSM-NP 641937", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
12 vinyl pressings of Brother's Gonna Work It Out are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1973 and 1974.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Antigua & Barbuda, Greece. One of them is Motown M 1222F.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M 1222F, M 1222 F, TMG 862, GTM 194) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, M̶1̶2̶2̶F̶-61930-1A 2-8-73 1̶3̶0̶3̶8̶2̶2̶-̶0̶2̶A̶ and M̶1̶2̶2̶2̶F̶-61931-1A 2-8-73 1̶3̶0̶3̶8̶2̶2̶-̶0̶2̶A̶. 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.
