Vinyl pressings
by Benjamin Britten · 1963
War Requiem was first pressed on vinyl in 1963. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
17 pressings came out in 1963, the album's first year, in 5 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.
ZAL-5927-1D C M/T 1Runout side A, variant 1
ZAL-5928-2E BK M/T 1Runout side B, variant 1
ZAL-5929-5E H M/T 51 SMRunout side C, variant 1
ZAL-5930-1D A M/T 1Runout side D, variant 1
ARL.5927Side A
ARL.5928Side B
ARL.5929Side C
ARL.5930Side D
ZAL-5927-1DSide A runout, variant 1
ZAL-5928-2ESide B runout, variant 1
ZAL-5929-7ESide C runout, variant 1
ZAL-5930-2ESide D runout, variant 1
ZAL-5927-4ESide A (stamped)
ZAL-5928-5ESide B (stamped)
ZAL-5929-7ESide C (stamped)
ZAL-5930-4ESide D (stamped)
ZAL-5927-4ESide A (stamped)
ZAL-5928-5ESide B (stamped)
ZAL-5929-7ESide C (stamped)
ZAL-5930-4ESide D (stamped)
ARL-5927-2F CG KT 71 SMSide A runout
ARL-5928-5K U KT 1Side B runout
ARL-5929-5K K KT 1Side C runout
ARL-5930-5K C KT 1Side D runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Israel | PAX IST 596.7First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | Japan | London Records SLA 6196/7First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1963 | Netherlands | London Records OSA 1255First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1963 | UK | Decca MET 252-3 / Decca MET 252/3First yearLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1963 | UK | Decca SET 252-3 / Decca SET 252/3First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1963 | UK | Decca SET 252-3 / Decca SET 252/3First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1963 | UK | Decca SET 252-3 / Decca SET 252/3First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1963 | UK | Decca SET 252-3LP, Test Pressing, Stereo, Box Set · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing, Stereo, Box Set · Test pressing |
| 1963 | UK | Decca MET 252-3 / Decca MET 252/3First yearLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1963 | UK | Decca SET 252-3 / Decca SET 252/3LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1963 | US | London Records A 4255First yearLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1963 | US | London Records A 4255First yearLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1963 | US | London Records OSA 1255 / London Records OS 25784First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1963 | US | London Records OSA 1255First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1963 | US | London Records OSA 1255First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Japan | London Records SLC-2169~70LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | New Zealand | World Record Club MZ 2037 / World Record Club MZ 2037-1LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1974 | UK | Decca SET 252 / 3 / Decca SET 252LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1974 | Australia | World Record Club S-5550 / World Record Club S-5551LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition |
| 1976 | Australia | World Record Club R-00348 / World Record Club R-00349LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition |
| 1977 | US | London Records OSA 1255LP, Stereo, Box Set, Repress | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Repress |
| 1979 | Scandinavia | Decca SET 252-3 / Decca SET 252/3LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Germany | Decca 6.35157LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1980 | US | The Franklin Mint Record Society 51-52LP, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1980 | US | The Franklin Mint Record Society FM 1051 / The Franklin Mint Record Society FM1052LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| 1981 | Japan | London Records K18C-9228/9LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1982 | Japan | London Records K18C-8238~9LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UK & Europe | Decca 4853769LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | London Records OSA 1255 / London Records OSA-1255LP, Stereo, Box Set, Album | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Album |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.35157 EKLP, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 20074 / 75 / Decca SXL 20074LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 20074 / 75LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | Decca LXT 2074 / 75 / Decca LXT 2074LP, Album, Mono, Box Set, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Japan | London Records SET 252-3 / DAM PC DOR-0169-70LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Japan | London Records SLC 1253~4LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Decca SET 252/3LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Switzerland | Ex Libris EL 16 641LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | UK | Decca SET 252/3LP, Stereo, Repress, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Repress, Box Set |
| ? | UK | Decca SET 252-3 / Decca SET 252/3LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | UK | Decca SET 252-3 / Decca SET 252/3LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | UK | Decca SET 252/3 / Decca SET 252-3LP, Stereo, Repress, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Repress, Box Set |
| ? | UK | Decca SET 252/3 / Decca SET.252LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | UK | Decca SET 252-3 / Decca SET 252/3LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
51 vinyl pressings of War Requiem are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1963 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1963, in UK, US, Israel, Japan and more. One of them is Decca SET 252-3, released May 1963.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SET 252-3, MET 252-3, OSA 1255, A 4255) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZAL-5927-1D C M/T 1 and ZAL-5928-2E BK M/T 1. 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.
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