US
May 20, 1928- Label and catalog number
- Columbia 14312-D
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
Ⓦ145785-3Side A (runout)
Ⓦ145786-1Side B (runout)
145785Side A (label)
145786Side B (label)
Bessie SmithEmpty Bed Blues
Vinyl pressings
Empty Bed Blues
by Bessie Smith · 1928
11 pressings7 countriesVocalBluesPop
Empty Bed Blues was first pressed on vinyl in 1928. 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 Empty Bed Blues
2 pressings came out in 1928, the album's first year. 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.
US
May 20, 1928- Label and catalog number
- Columbia 14312-D
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
Ⓦ145785 3-G 1Side A (runout)
Ⓦ145786 1-G 2Side B (runout)
145785Side A (label)
145786Side B (label)
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 11 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1920s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | US | Columbia 14312-DFirst yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1928 | US | Columbia 14312-DFirst yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
1930s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | US | Columbia 14312-DShellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
1940s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | US | Columbia 35675Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1948 | UK | Columbia D.B. 2796Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
1950s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | France | Columbia BF 397Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
Year unknown5 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Denmark | Columbia DB 2796Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Germany | Columbia DW 5104Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Netherlands | Columbia D.B. 2796Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Switzerland | Columbia DZ 349Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | US | Columbia AE7 10067", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo · Promo |
Tracklist
- AEmpty Bed Blues - Part 1
- BEmpty Bed Blues - Part 2
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Empty Bed Blues are there?
11 vinyl pressings of Empty Bed Blues are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1928 and 1951.
When was Empty Bed Blues first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1928, in US. One of them is Columbia 14312-D, released May 20, 1928.
How do I tell if my copy of Empty Bed Blues is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 14312-D) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Ⓦ145785-3 and Ⓦ145786-1. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Empty Bed Blues 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.
