Vinyl pressings
by Arthur Lyman · 1961
Percussion Spectacular! was first pressed on vinyl in 1961. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
12 pressings came out in 1961, 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.
{stamped} L 1003A D[scratched out numeral 2] {hand engraved}1 L-1004-A-D1Side A runout
{stamped} L 1003B D[scratched out numeral 2] {hand engraved}1 L-1004-B-D1Side B runout
SL 1003A D1 SL-1004-A-D1Side A Runout
SL 1003B D1 SL-1004-B-D1Side B Runout
S̶L̶ ̶1̶0̶0̶3̶A̶ ̶D̶1̶ SL-1004-A-D1Side A runout
S̶L̶ ̶1̶0̶0̶3̶B̶ ̶D̶1̶ SL-1004-B-D1Side B runout
[Crossed out: SL 1003A D1] SL-1004-A-D1Runout Side A
[Crossed out: SL 1003B D1] SL-1004-B-D1Runout Side B
S̶L̶ ̶1̶0̶0̶3̶A̶ ̶D̶1̶ SL-1004-A-D1Side A Runout Etched
S̶L̶ ̶1̶0̶0̶3̶B̶ ̶D̶1̶ SL-1004-B-D1Side B Runout Etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Australia | HiFi Records L-1004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | Australia | HiFi Records L-1004First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Canada | Sparton L-1004 / Sparton SL-1004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | Canada | HiFi Records L-1004 / Sparton L-1004First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Canada | Sparton L-1004 / Sparton SL-1004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | Italy | Vedette Records VRMS 320First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | HiFi Records L-1004First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | HiFi Records SL-1004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | HiFi Records L-1004 / HiFi Records L1004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | HiFi Records L-1004First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | HiFi Records SL-1004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | HiFi Records L1004 / HiFi Records SL-1004First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1962 | Japan | Polydor SLPM-1033LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1962 | UK | Vogue Records VA 160178LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | HiFi Records SL-1004LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | HiFi Records HRLP 7624 / Copacabana HRLP 7624LP, Mono, Album · Mono | LP, Mono, Album · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Sparton L-1004 / Sparton SL-1004LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | HiFi Records L-1004 / Sparton L-1004LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Sparton L-1004 / Sparton SL-1004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Sparton L-1004LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Sparton L-1004LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Sparton L-1004LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Sparton L-1004 / Sparton SL-1004LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Sparton L-1004 / Sparton SL-1004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Mexico | Life Series ML/S-1004LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Africa | London Records LMS.3LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Vocalion VA.160178LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | HiFi Records L-1004 / HiFi Records SL-1004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
32 vinyl pressings of Percussion Spectacular! are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1961 and 1967.
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US, Australia, Canada, Italy. One of them is HiFi Records L-1004.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use L-1004, SL-1004, L1004, VRMS 320) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, {stamped} L 1003A D[scratched out numeral 2] {hand engraved}1 L-1004-A-D1 and {stamped} L 1003B D[scratched out numeral 2] {hand engraved}1 L-1004-B-D1. 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.
