Vinyl pressings
by Charlie Byrd · 1961
Blues Sonata was first pressed on vinyl in 1961. 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 1961, 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.
4 OLP 3009 1L 1 11 C (second last '1' out of alignment)Side A, stamped
4 OLP 3009 2L 1 6701 13 C (last '1' out of alignment)Side B, stamped
4 OLP 3009 1L 1 670 1Runout side A
4 OLP 3009 2L 1 670 1Runout side B
OLP 3009.1 L
OLP 3009.2 L
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Netherlands | Riverside Records OLP 3009First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Australia | Riverside Records OLP-3009First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Australia | Riverside Records OLP 933009LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | France | Riverside Records OLP 3009LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Offbeat Records OLP 3009LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Offbeat Records OLP 3009LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1962 | US | Offbeat Records OLP 93009LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Riverside Records RM 453LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Riverside Records RS 9453LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Riverside Records RM 453LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Riverside Records RM 453LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1964 | UK | Riverside Records OLP 3009 / Riverside Records RLP 453LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | Spain | Riverside Records OLP 3009LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Riverside Records RS 9453LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Riverside Records RM 453LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Japan | Milestone SMJ-6054 / Riverside Records SMJ-6054LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Milestone SMJ-6054 / Milestone SRS-6017LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | Germany | Riverside Records 0061.126LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Japan | Riverside Records VIJ-147LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Germany | Alto Analogue AA 025LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Riverside Records 68.910LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Japan | Riverside Records SR-7021 / Riverside Records 93009LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Riverside Records OLP 93009LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Riverside Records OLP 93009 / Alto Analogue AA 025LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
26 vinyl pressings of Blues Sonata are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1961 and 2002.
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in Australia, Netherlands. One of them is Riverside Records OLP-3009, released October 23, 1961.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use OLP-3009, OLP 3009) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 4 OLP 3009 1L 1 11 C (second last '1' out of alignment) and 4 OLP 3009 2L 1 6701 13 C (last '1' out of alignment). 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.
