Vinyl pressings
by Bing Crosby · 1955
Merry Christmas 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.
6 pressings came out in 1955, 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.
MG4087T15 1P 1 AA side run-out stamped
MG4088T10 1PB side run-out stamped
MG4087T20 1P 1 AA side run-out stamped variant
MG4088T13 1PB side run-out stamped variant
MG4087T12 1 PSide 1 runout, variant 1
MG4088T6 P 1Side 2 runout, variant 1
MG4087T7 1 PSide 1 runout, variant 2
MG4088T6 P 1Side 2 runout, Variant 2
MG4087T2 3 PSA-Side stamped runout variant 1
MG4088T1 1 PSB-Side stamped runout variant 1
MG4087T22A-Side stamped runout variant 2
MG4088T13 1PB-Side stamped runout variant 2
MG4087T48A-Side label
MG4088T35B-Side label
MG4087T22 PSRunout Side A
MG4088T13 1PSRunout Side B
MG 4087Label Side A
MG 4088*Label 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 | Decca DL 8128First yearLP, Mono, Album · Mono | LP, Mono, Album · Mono |
| 1955 | Canada | Decca DL 8128First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1955 | Canada | Decca DL 8128First yearLP, Mono, Album · Mono | LP, Mono, Album · Mono |
| 1955 | Lebanon | Coral cops 1011First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1955 | US | Decca DL 8128First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1955 | US | Decca DL 8128First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | Australia | Festival Records FR12-1105LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | Japan | Decca JDL-2001LP, 10", Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Decca DL 8128LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Germany | Brunswick 008 597 / Brunswick LP 8597LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1960 | US | Decca DL 8128LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | Decca DL 8128LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | Decca DL 8128LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | Decca DL 8128LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | Decca DL 78128LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1960 | US | Decca DL 8128LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | Decca DL 8128LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | Decca DL 78128LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1961 | Germany | Brunswick LPBM 87 060LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | Canada | Decca DL 78128LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1963 | Canada | Decca DL 78128LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1963 | UK | Brunswick LAT 8556LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Decca DL 8128LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1964 | US | Decca DL 781287", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Single, Jukebox, Stereo | 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album, Single, Jukebox, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Taiwan | 中聲 CSJ 393LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1970 | Taiwan | First Record FL - 1960LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1971 | US | Decca DL 78128LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | MCA Records COP/S 1011 / MCA Records COPS-1011LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Austria | Coral COPS 1011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA 167LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1973 | Canada | MCA Records MCA 167LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Israel | MCA Records MCA 167LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | Italy | Coral COPS 1011LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1973 | Italy | Coral COPS 1011LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1973 | New Zealand | MCA Records COPS 1011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | Panama | MCA Records MCA-15024 / Prom-Disko, S.A. PDLP-30013LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1973 | US | MCA Records MCA 167LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Canada | MCA Records MCA-15024 / MCA Records MCA 15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Germany | MCA Coral 201 348-241 / MCA Coral 201 348LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Mexico | MCA Records LA-245LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Netherlands | MCA Coral 201 348 / MCA Coral 201.348LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-15024 / MCA Records MCA 15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | MCA Records MCA-15024LP, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Hungary | MMC Records PL MMC 9009 / MCA Records PL MMC 9009LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Europe | DOL DOS759MBLP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | US | Geffen Records B0021403-01LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2014 | US | Geffen Records B0021403-01 / Decca B0021403-01LP, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl | LP, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl |
| 2014 | US | Geffen Records B0033680-01 / Decca B0033680-01LP, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | US | Decca B0021403-01 / Geffen Records B0021403-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | Europe | DOL DOS759HPLP, Album, Picture Disc, Mono · Mono, Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Mono · Mono, Picture disc |
| 2017 | Europe | DOL DOS759HLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | US | Geffen Records B0032638-01 / Decca B0032638-01LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Europe | DOL DOS759MBLP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition · Colored vinyl |
| 2023 | US | Geffen Records B0037906-1 / Decca B0037906-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Summit SRAXM.398 / Summit SRA-XM398LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Columbia 33-OSX-7539LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Australia | Summit SRA250 532LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Festival Records SFL 930.382LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records COP/S 1011LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records COP/S 1011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records COP/S 1011LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Music For Pleasure XM 399.001LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Summit SRAXM.398 / Summit SRA-XM398LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records COP/S 1011 / MCA Records COPS-1011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Summit SRA XM 398LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records COP/S 1011 / MCA Records COPS-1011LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records COP/S 1011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Festival Records SDL-930,382LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | MCA Records COP/S 1011 / MCA Records COPS-1011LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
201 vinyl pressings of Merry Christmas are listed here, from 35 countries, released between 1955 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1955, in US, Canada, Lebanon. One of them is Decca DL 8128.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DL 8128, cops 1011) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MG4087T15 1P 1 A and MG4088T10 1P. 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.
