US
April 24, 1947- Label and catalog number
- Decca 40038
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
WL4386A4Side A runout
WL4387A2Side B runout
L 4386Side A label
L 4387Side B label
Bing CrosbyAlexander's Ragtime Band / The Spaniard That Blighted My Life
Vinyl pressings
Alexander's Ragtime Band / The Spaniard That Blighted My Life
by Bing Crosby · 1947
11 pressings6 countriesVocalPop
Alexander's Ragtime Band was first pressed on vinyl in 1947. 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 Alexander's Ragtime Band
5 pressings came out in 1947, 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.
US
1947- Label and catalog number
- Decca 40038
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
WL4386A5Side A runout, variant 1
WL4387A4Side B runout, variant 1
WL4386A8Side A runout, variant 2
WL4387A6Side B runout, variant 2
UK
1947- Label and catalog number
- Brunswick 03783
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
WL4386 BG NPLTA - Side runout
WL4387 UC NPLT 5B - Side runout
L.4386A - Side label
L.4387B - Side label
Australia
1947- Label and catalog number
- Decca Y6044
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
Canada
1947- Label and catalog number
- Decca 40038
- Format
- Shellac, 10", 78 RPM
- Runout / matrix
40038A WL4386A8 1Side A runout
40038B WL4387A7 1Side B runout
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.
1940s6 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Australia | Decca Y6044First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1947 | Canada | Decca 40038First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1947 | UK | Brunswick 03783First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1947 | US | Decca 40038First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1947 | US | Decca 40038First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1948 | UK | Brunswick 03783Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
1950s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | US | Decca 9-400387", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
Year unknown4 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Odeon 287015Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Canada | Decca 4003810", 78 RPM, Reissue | 10", 78 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | France | Decca MU3783Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | UK | Brunswick 03783Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
Tracklist
- AAlexander's Ragtime Band
- BThe Spaniard That Blighted My Life
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Alexander's Ragtime Band are there?
11 vinyl pressings of Alexander's Ragtime Band are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1947 and 1951.
When was Alexander's Ragtime Band first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1947, in US, UK, Australia, Canada. One of them is Decca 40038, released April 24, 1947.
How do I tell if my copy of Alexander's Ragtime Band is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 40038, 03783, Y6044) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, WL4386A4 and WL4387A2. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Alexander's Ragtime Band 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.
