Vinyl pressings
by Charles Mingus · 1972
Let My Children Hear Music was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
10 pressings came out in 1972, the album's first year, in 6 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.
P AL-31039-2B 1TRunout Side A stamped and etched 1T, variant 1
P BL-31039-2B 1TRunout Side B stamped and etched 1T, variant 1
o P AL 31039-2A P 2ARunout Side A stamped, variant 2
o P BL-31039-2B P 1T ABRunout Side B stamped and etched 1T, variant 2
o P AL-31039-2D S A3Side A runout, stamped/etched
o P BL-31039-2C ASide B runout, stamped/etched
AL 31039Side A label
BL 31039Side B label
P AL 31039-2BVariant 1 Runout side A
P BL 31039-2BVariant 1 Runout side B
o P AL 31039-2B 2T AVariant 2 Runout side A
o P BL 31039-2B I T DVariant 2 Runout side B
AL-31039-1A-2HDKSide 1
BL-31039-1A-2HDKSide 2
A MX166181 SBP234108-1Runout side A (stamped capitals)
A MX166182-C SBP234108-2Runout side B (stamped capitals)
MX 166181Label A
MX 166182Label B
o P AL 31039-2ARunout Side A
o P BL 31039-2FRunout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Australia | CBS SBP 234108 / CBS KC 31039First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Australia | CBS SBP 234108First yearLP, Promo, White Label, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, White Label, Stereo · Promo |
| 1972 | Canada | Columbia KC 31039First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1972 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPL 32First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | Netherlands | CBS S 64715 / CBS KC 31039First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | Spain | CBS S 64715First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31039First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Columbia KC 31039First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1972 | US | Columbia C 31039 / Columbia 31039First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1972 | US | Columbia PC 31039First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | CBS/Sony 20AP 1845LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1989 | Spain | CBS LSP 982170-1LP, Album, Club Edition, Promo, Reissue · Promo, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Promo, Reissue · Promo, Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | UK | Columbia PPAN KC31039 / Columbia KC 31039LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| 2012 | US | ORG Music ORGM-1077 / Columbia 88725403231LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2012 | US | ORG Music ORGM-1077 / Columbia C 31039LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Columbia C 31039LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia C 31039 / Columbia KC 31039LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia 31039 / Columbia PC 31039LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia 31039 / Columbia C 31039LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 31039LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia C 31039LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia C 31039 / Columbia 31039LP, Advance, Album, Reissue | LP, Advance, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia KC 31039LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
23 vinyl pressings of Let My Children Hear Music are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1972 and 2012.
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, Australia, Canada, Japan and more. One of them is Columbia KC 31039.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 31039, C 31039, PC 31039, SBP 234108) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, P AL-31039-2B 1T and P BL-31039-2B 1T. 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.
