Vinyl pressings
by Bill Haley And His Comets · 1955
Rock With Bill Haley And The Comets was first pressed on vinyl in 1955. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
4 pressings came out in 1955, 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.
ELP-202A P BRunout - Side A - Etched, except "P B"
ELP-202B-2 P BRunout - Side B - Etched, except "P B"
LP-202-ALabel - Side A
LP-202-BLabel - Side B
ELP-202A PRunout - Side A - Etched, except "P"
ELP-202B-2 PRunout - Side A - Etched, except "P"
LP-202ALabel - Side A
LP-202BLabel - Side B
ELP-202A PRunout - Side A
ELP-202B-2 PRunout - Side B
TWLP-202-ALabel - Side A
TWLP-202-BLabel - Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Canada | Essex Records ESLP 202 / Essex Records ESLP-202First yearLP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1955 | US | Essex Records ESLP 202First yearLP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1955 | US | Essex Records ESLP 202First yearLP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1955 | US | Trans-World TWLP 202First yearLP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1956 | Canada | Trans-World TWLP-202 / Quality V-1502LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | US | Trans-World TWLP 202LP, Album, Compilation | LP, Album, Compilation |
| 1956 | US | Trans-World TWLP 202 / Trans-World LP-202LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | US | Trans-World TWLP 202 / Trans-World TW-202LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | US | Somerset P-4600LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Canada | Paragon PGS 585LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1962 | UK | Pye Golden Guinea Records GGL 0282LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | Marble Arch MALS 817 / Marble Arch MAL 817LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Marble Arch MAL 817LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | Marble Arch MALS 817 / Marble Arch MAL 817LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Germany | Somerset 667 / Constanze 667LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1979 | France | Essex Records ESLP 202LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1979 | Germany | Metronome 0060.251LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1979 | UK | Rollercoaster Records ROLL 2002LP, 10", Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Mexico | Trebol TI 70347LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Somerset S-46LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Stereo-Fidelity SF-46LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Reo R-146LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Somerset S-46LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Essex Records ESLP 202 / Essex Records ESLP-202LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Chile | Alshire Records ALS-527LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | France | Mode Serie CMD 9573LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | Marble Arch MALS 817LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | US | Somerset P-4600LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Compilation, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
28 vinyl pressings of Rock With Bill Haley And The Comets are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1955 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1955, in US, Canada. One of them is Essex Records ESLP 202.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ESLP 202, TWLP 202) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ELP-202A P B and ELP-202B-2 P 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.
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