Vinyl pressings
by Alfred Drake · 1949
Kiss Me, Kate was first pressed on vinyl in 1949. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1949, 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.
XCO 40354 A 1AA side stamped variant 1
XCO 40360 A 1A BB side stamped variant 1
XCO 40359 A 1A AC side stamped variant 1
XCO 40361 A 1A AD side stamped variant 1
XLP 788Label Side 1
XLP 789Label Side 2
XLP 788 1D CSide 1 stamped
XLP 789 1ESide 2 stamped
XLP 788Side 1 label
XLP 789Side 2 label
XLP 788 2 1CSide 1 stamped
XLP 789 37 1ESide 2 stamped
XLP 788Side 1 label
XLP 789Side 2 label
XLP 788-3H
XLP 789 2R
GFXLP 788-G 3ASide A
GXLP 789 2BSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1949 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks ML 4140First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1949 | US | Columbia Masterworks ML 4140First yearLP | LP |
| 1949 | US | Columbia Masterworks ML 4140First yearLP | LP |
| 1949 | US | Columbia Masterworks ML 4140First yearLP | LP |
| 1949 | US | Columbia C-200First yearShellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album | Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks ML 4140LP | LP |
| 1954 | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1954 | US | Columbia Masterworks ML 54140LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1957 | UK | Philips BBL 7224 / Philips BBL.7224LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | US | Columbia Masterworks OS 2300LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | Columbia Masterworks OS 2300LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1963 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks OS 2300LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | US | CBS Masterworks S 32609 / CBS Masterworks XLP 789LP, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| 1973 | US | CBS Masterworks PS 32609 / CBS Masterworks 32609LP, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Coronet KLL 542LP | LP |
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP | LP |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP | LP |
| ? | US | Columbia A-200 / Columbia A 2007", 45 RPM, Album, Box Set | 7", 45 RPM, Album, Box Set |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks ML 54140 / Columbia Masterworks ML 4140LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OS 2300LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Columbia A-2007", 45 RPM, Album, EP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OS 2300LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140 / Columbia Masterworks OL-4140LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 4140LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
31 vinyl pressings of Kiss Me, Kate are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1949 and 1973.
The earliest pressings are from 1949, in US, Canada. One of them is Columbia C-200, released February 1949.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use C-200, ML 4140, OL 4140) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XCO 40354 A 1A and XCO 40360 A 1A B. 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.
