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Bluebeard's Castle by Béla Bartók, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Bluebeard's Castle

by Béla Bartók · 1966

18 pressings5 countriesOperaModernOrchestraClassical

Bluebeard's Castle was first pressed on vinyl in 1966. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of Bluebeard's Castle

6 pressings came out in 1966, the album's first year, in 3 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.

UK

1966
Label and catalog number
Decca MET 311
Format
LP, Mono · Booklet
Runout / matrix

ARL 7121-2AA-side runout, stamped

ARL 7122-2AB-side runout, stamped

Full details of this pressing

UK

1966
Label and catalog number
Decca SET 311Decca SET.311
Format
LP, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ZAL-7121-1GRunout stamp side A

ZAL-7122-2GRunout stamp side B

Full details of this pressing

UK

1966
Label and catalog number
Decca SET 311Decca SET.311
Format
LP, Stereo · Booklet
Runout / matrix

ZAL-7121-2G D1 JTRunout stamp side A

ZAL-7122-3G A JTRunout stamp side B

Full details of this pressing

US

1966
Label and catalog number
London Records OSA 1158London Records OS.25986
Format
LP, Stereo, Box Set, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ZAL-7121-2GSide A runout

ZAL-7122-3GSide B runout

ZAL 7121Side A matrix inverted

ZAL 7122Side B matrix inverted

Full details of this pressing

Germany

1966
Label and catalog number
Decca SET 311
Format
LP, Stereo
Runout / matrix

K ZAL-7121-I XRunout stamp side A

K-ZAL-7122-III-XRunout stamp side B

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 18 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1960s6 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1966GermanyDecca SET 311First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1966UKDecca MET 311First yearLP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1966UKDecca SET 311 / Decca SET.311First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1966UKDecca SET 311 / Decca SET.311First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1966UKDecca SET 311 / Decca SET.311First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1966USLondon Records OSA 1158 / London Records OS.25986First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set, Album, StereoLP, Stereo, Box Set, Album, Stereo
1980s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1985NetherlandsLondon Records 414 167-1LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
1985UKLondon Enterprise 414 167-1LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Year unknown10 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?FranceDecca 7391LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?GermanyDecca SET 311LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?GermanyDecca 6.41656 ANLP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
?UKDecca SET 311LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
?UKDecca SET 311LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?UKDecca SET 311LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
?UKDecca SET 311LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?UKDecca SET 311LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
?UKDecca SET 311LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?USLondon Records OSA 1158 / London Records OSA -1158LP, Stereo, Box Set, Album, StereoLP, Stereo, Box Set, Album, Stereo

Tracklist

  1. ABluebeard's Castle (Part I)
  2. BBluebeard's Castle (Concluded)

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Bluebeard's Castle are there?

18 vinyl pressings of Bluebeard's Castle are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1966 and 1985.

When was Bluebeard's Castle first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1966, in UK, US, Germany. One of them is Decca MET 311.

How do I tell if my copy of Bluebeard's Castle is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MET 311, SET 311, OSA 1158) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARL 7121-2A and ARL 7122-2A. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Bluebeard's Castle on vinyl worth?

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.

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