Vinyl pressings
by Willie Nelson · 1981
Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be) was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1981, the album's first year, in 8 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 o PAL 37543-1REtched except o P runout side A variant 1
o PBL 37543-1AAEtched except o runout side B variant 1
o PAL 37544-1FEtched except o runout side C variant 1
o PBL 37544-1MEtched except o runout side D variant 1
PAL 37543-1S P oSide A runout, etched (exc. P and o), variant 1
PBL37543-1S PSide B runout, etched (exc. P and o), variant 1
PAL- 37544-1B o C P 1TSide C runout, etched (exc. P and o), variant 1
PBL37544-1P P oSide D runout, etched (exc. P and o), variant 1
PAL-37543-1AESide A - etched
PBL 37543-1ESide B - etched
G 15 PAL-37544-1ADSide C - etched
15 PBL-37544-1S A12Side D - etched
1T o PAL-37543-1T ARunout A etched / o, A stamped
PBL 37543-1D o C2 S2Runout B etched / o stamped
PAL-37544-1AD A3 S1Runout C etched
PBL 37544-1H o A5 S2Runout D etched / o stamped
P o AL 37543 G1B Chet BennetRunout, Side A, Etched
P o BL 37543 G1C ChetRunout, Side B, Etched
P o AL-37544-1CBRunout, Side C, Etched
P o BL-37544-2FRunout, Side D, Etched
PAL-37543-12X D20 T P̶A̶L̶-̶3̶7̶5̶4̶3̶-̶1̶QScribed in runout A - Variant 1
PBL- 37543-1V II4 1TScribed in runout B - Variant 1
T1 PAL37544-1AI 13Scribed in runout C - Variant 1
1T PBL37544-IL C31Scribed in runout D - Variant 1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Argentina | Columbia 120-125First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | Australia | CBS S2BP 220246First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | Europe | CBS 22097First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | Japan | CBS/Sony 40AP 2146~7First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | Japan | CBS/Sony 40AP 2146-7First yearLP, Compilation, Promo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Japan | CBS/Sony 40AP 2816-7First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1981 | New Zealand | CBS S2BP 220246First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | UK | CBS CBS 88567 / CBS 88567First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | UK | CBS CBS 88567 / CBS 88567First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | US | Columbia KC2 37542First yearLP, Album, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Columbia KC2 37542First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1981 | US | Columbia KC2 37542First yearLP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1981 | US | Columbia KC2 37542First yearLP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1981 | US | Columbia KC2 37542First yearLP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1981 | US | Columbia KC2 37542First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Brazil | Columbia 184.003/1-022097 / Columbia 184.003LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | Friday Music FRM-37542 / Columbia FRM-37542LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 88567 / CBS 88567LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 88567 / CBS 88567LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia KC2 37542LP, Album, Compilation, Misprint | LP, Album, Compilation, Misprint |
28 vinyl pressings of Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be) are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1981 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Canada, Argentina and more. One of them is Columbia KC2 37542, released September 1981.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC2 37542, CBS 88567, 120-125, S2BP 220246) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P o PAL 37543-1R and o PBL 37543-1AA. 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.
