Most UK record companies (back in the day) had test pressings made of a lot of their releases (singles, EP's & LP's). Think this originally stemmed from the classical music days of the 50's / early 60's when sound quality was of high importance & pressing vinyl copies of records was still quite a new thing. 7" vinyl 45rpm records were introduced by RCA (US) at the end of the 40's and the first 33 rpm vinyl LP's by Columbia (US) around the same time -- actually a few months earlier. It took some time for both formats to really catch on with the American buying public (you needed to also buy a new deck) but once they had (by the mid 50's), there was no going back. Perhaps the slow-ish take up in the US was the reason why UK record companies were much more reluctant to change to the new formats here. EMI's first vinyl records were made in 1952 but the company was still putting out new singles in 78 format as late as 1959. EMI mainly manufactured UK 7" 45's from early 1953. British sales of 45's only overtook those of 78's in 1958, mainly due to R&R / R&B fans much preferring to buy their favourite tracks on 45rpm discs. Around 1959, the likes of EMI phased out 78's, though they had been putting out new releases in both formats for over 5 years. In the period 1953 to 58, some releases are rarer in 78 format, some in 45 format. Till the mid 50's, the management at the likes of EMI were much more into classical recordings and looked down on pop material (this was soon to change as pop 45's began to sell in quantities that really boosted the company's profits).

Anyway, with classical releases originally being the main focus of EMI's management, decent quality pressings that showcased the music to the best possible standard was a top requirement. Hence, test pressing were made from 'stampers' to check for low background noise levels & that there was no skipping. Test press records were made by most UK labels including the likes of Polydor after they set up in the UK (around 1960). Many UK record companies produced regular test presses of their releases, though a lot of these were made with just plain white labels -- the details of the release number (& sometimes artist / song title) being stamped or hand written on. However EMI put actual labels on lots of their test press records. These being for many of the different labels that they put out. Some of their test presses were done as single sided records (I guess they thought the quality of press on a B side wasn't as important). EMI also made (on special occasions) single sided 45's that were given away at the artist's live shows or were handed out as a promotional tool. These 45's would have appropriate text printed on the B side (see pic below).

BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN MYSELF a UK Tamla Motown 45 test press with a label on .... or a proper UK Stateside one. In a past thread on here, there was a post stating ... I have this Temptations British Test Press of TMG 633. It is vinyl and has the raised KT mark on the centre and correct machine stamps on both sides. Would love to see a pic of that 45's label (unless it was just a blank white label). Anyone out there seen or got a Tamla Motown (or Stateside) test press record with a label ?

BTW, I'm not talking about acetate copies of such releases, these do exist in a number of different forms; made by EMI themselves (Emidisc copies) or by other UK based acetate makers.

Edited August 24Aug 24 by Roburt

I have about 40 UK jazz lps single sided with test press white labels some either handwritten sleeve notes with a projected picture.A few dbl sided HMV 45' s inc a Jimmy Smith but as you say never seen any sixties Motown ones...got a few Atlantic seventies test presses.

On 29/08/2025 at 12:37, Wiggyflat said:

I have about 40 UK jazz lps single sided with test press white labels some either handwritten sleeve notes with a projected picture.A few dbl sided HMV 45' s inc a Jimmy Smith but as you say never seen any sixties Motown ones...got a few Atlantic seventies test presses.

Thats an intersting point, as I can find no trace of sixties (TMO Series) Australian 'EMI / Motown' Test Presses either. I have EMI Tests for other labels, Columbia etc... but never seen or heard of an EMI TM Australian test, somebody must have em!!

15 minutes ago, Mal C said:

Thats an intersting point, as I can find no trace of sixties (TMO Series) Australian 'EMI / Motown' Test Presses either. I have EMI Tests for other labels, Columbia etc... but never seen or heard of an EMI TM Australian test, somebody must have em!!

As TPs are usually done to check the stampers maybe they were done over here before the metalwork was sent down under.

I can't imagine the metalwork being done over there as it would entail sending the bulky mastertapes (or copies of them) to Aus in order for the whole process to be done there from acetate onwards.

Hi,

The Temptations record you mentioned is mine. It isn't very exciting I'm afraid - just White Labels with someone's handwriting. See below...

Also, Joe Dunlop has a couple of Test Press records on his site. Darrell Banks - Open The Door - Stateside is one that comes to mind. Also, I've seen a Bobby Sheen - Dr Love Test Press and Chubby Checker - Just Don't Know, test press. Just White Labels

On 19/09/2025 at 18:37, Woodbutcher said:

As TPs are usually done to check the stampers maybe they were done over here before the metalwork was sent down under.

I can't imagine the metalwork being done over there as it would entail sending the bulky mastertapes (or copies of them) to Aus in order for the whole process to be done there from acetate onwards.

Thats a very good point, that didnt occur to me.. Ive asked tons of Aussie dealers and collectors for years about this, not one has ever! seen a TM EMI test press, so I'd have to assume what your suggested is correct. nice one

I'm not too sure that a copy of the master tape wasn't sent down under, at least some of the time. If you go on Popsike & enter the search STATESIDE TEST PRESS you get a number of records coming up. One is a copy of 'An Album Full Of Soul' a UK Stateside test copy from 1965. Also there is a 1966 Stateside test press of a Jack McDuff LP. Yet another is a 45 test press of the Velvelettes "Needle in A Haystack", but all three have just plain white labels with handwritten details on them.

BUT there is a printed label on an Aussie Stateside test press of Bob Kuban's "The Cheater". It's also stated that the record itself has vinyl that is very thick and heavy. Unless this has a fake label on it, it seems that the Aussies made some of their own test presses. It does state the correct matrix numbers too.

Edited September 29Sep 29 by Roburt

On 28/09/2025 at 08:04, Roburt said:

I'm not too sure that a copy of the master tape wasn't sent down under, at least some of the time. If you go on Popsike & enter the search STATESIDE TEST PRESS you get a number of records coming up. One is a copy of 'An Album Full Of Soul' a UK Stateside test copy from 1965. Also there is a 1966 Stateside test press of a Jack McDuff LP. Yet another is a 45 test press of the Velvelettes "Needle in A Haystack", but all three have just plain white labels with handwritten details on them.

BUT there is a printed label on an Aussie Stateside test press of Bob Kuban's "The Cheater". It's also stated that the record itself has vinyl that is very thick and heavy. Unless this has a fake label on it, it seems that the Aussies made some of their own test presses. It does state the correct matrix numbers too.

That pic of the Stateside issue is fake. There is however as you say a White Label of Bob Kuban's "The Cheater", and it's a bootleg.

Ive never seen a 45 test press of the Velvelettes "Needle in A Haystack", do you have a scan?

Here is what a proper EMI Australia Test Press should look like, both of these are the Columbia Label.

'The Groove' were an Aussie group, I think from Melbourne, I also have identical label test presses for The Virgil Brothers - Temptation 'Bout To Get Me, who were again a Melbourne act. 

13 hours ago, Mal C said:

Ive never seen a 45 test press of the Velvelettes "Needle in A Haystack", do you have a scan?

As I posted above ... another is a 45 test press of the Velvelettes "Needle in A Haystack", but all three have just plain white labels with handwritten details on them. . .. BUT I was wrong as by the looks of things, it's a UK test press.

I'll post a Bettye Swann Aussie test press though, it is finished off in a more professional manner (typed info) ...

Edited October 3Oct 3 by Roburt

There are a few of those Astor test presses on bette swan about. Festival group tests are the most common in my experience, Atlantic, Ampar, Coral, Festival, Parlophone, Columbia, 20 Century, etc

But no EMI Tamla Motown! Not one…

That said TM was put out on Ledon, London, HMV, W&G, before EMI got them on Stateside and then TM.

Where did that Velvelettes test press come from anyone know? I had it, or one identical, in about 1970. Pretty sure that came out of the Cavern club. Possibly Bob Woolmer, got a few things from him. Got rid of it the same year, but I don't know where!

16 hours ago, Davebanks said:

Where did that Velvelettes test press come from anyone know? I had it, or one identical, in about 1970. Pretty sure that came out of the Cavern club. Possibly Bob Woolmer, got a few things from him. Got rid of it the same year, but I don't know where!

I feel there are quite a few of the Velvelettes TPs around, I also had one myself from Pat Brady in the nineties. I don't know why that particular title is so abundant (compared to other EMI TPs of the time).