Vinyl pressings
by Charles Mingus · 1956
Jazz Composers Workshop was first pressed on vinyl in 1956. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
2 pressings came out in 1956, 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.
C MG 12059A X20 1Variant 1: Runout side A, stamped
B MG 12059B X20 1Variant 1: Runout side B, stamped
RVGRunout both sides, etched
A MG 12059A X20 1Variant 2: Runout side A, stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Canada | London Savoy Records MG 12059First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | US | Savoy Records MG 12059First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | UK | London Records LTZ-C 15058LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | US | Savoy Records MG 12059LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| 1964 | UK | Realm RM 211 / Realm Jazz RM-211LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | France | BYG Records BYG 529 105 / BYG Records 529 105LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1969 | France | BYG Records BYG 529 105LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPU-13SY / CBS/Sony SOPU-13-SYLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1977 | US | Savoy Records SJL 1113LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | US | Savoy Records SJL 1113LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1978 | France | Savoy Records 2 C 068 - 60493LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1978 | Spain | Savoy Jazz 10 C 062-060493LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1979 | Italy | Savoy Records ZNLY 33309LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Europe | Savoy Jazz WL70519LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | Savoy Jazz WL70519 / Savoy Jazz WL 70 519LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1985 | Japan | Savoy Records MGJ-12059 / Savoy Records MG 12059LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | UK & Europe | Savoy Jazz WL70519LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Japan | Savoy Records COJY-9150 / Savoy Records MG 12059LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Italy | Doxy DOX883LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2014 | Europe | WaxTime 771994LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Europe | Playtime Records PRLP0004LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | BYG Records BYG 529 105 / BYG Records 529 105LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Savoy Jazz SJL 1113LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPU-13SY / CBS/Sony SOPU-13-SYLP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| ? | US | Savoy Records MG 12059LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Savoy Records MG 12059LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
26 vinyl pressings of Jazz Composers Workshop are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1956 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1956, in US, Canada. One of them is Savoy Records MG 12059.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MG 12059) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, C MG 12059A X20 1 and B MG 12059B X20 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.
