Vinyl pressings
by Chet Atkins · 1961
Chet Atkins And His Guitar 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.
8 pressings came out in 1961, 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.
L3 PP4799 - 1S I B1Stamped in runout, Side A, Variant 1
L3 PP4800 - 1S I B1Stamped in runout, Side B, Variant 1
L3 PP4799 - 1S I A2Stamped in runout, Side A, Variant 2
L3 PP4800 - 1S I A4Stamped in runout, Side B, Variant 2
L3 PP4799 - 3S HStamped Side A
L3 PP4800 - 3S HStamped Side B
L3PP-4799Label Matrix Number Side A
L3PP-4800Label Matrix Number Side B
L3 PP4799-5S AI R RSide 1, Stamped
L3 PP4800-7S AI R RSide 2, Stamped
L3PP-4799Side 1 Label
L3PP-4800Side 2 Label
L3 PP4799 - 8S A2Stamped Side A
L3 PP4800 - 8S B2Stamped Side B
L3 PP4799-1S I A2Side A Stamped
L3 PP4800-1S I A2Side B Stamped
L3PP-4799Side A Label
L3PP-4800Side B Label
L3PP-4799-1B 1 CSide A runout, stamped
L3PP-4800-1B 1 BSide B runout, stamped
L3PP-4799Side A label (Upside-down)
L3PP-4800Side B label (Upside-down)
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 | Canada | RCA Camden CAL 659First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Germany | RCA Camden CAL 659First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1961 | UK | RCA Camden CDN-160 / RCA Camden CDN.160First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | RCA Camden CAL 659First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | RCA Camden CAL 659First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | RCA Camden CAL 659 / RCA Camden CAM-322GFirst yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | RCA Camden CAL 659First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | RCA Camden CAL 659 / RCA Camden CAM-322GFirst yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | RCA Camden CAL 659LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1964 | Unknown | RCA Camden CAL-659 RELP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1964 | US | RCA Camden CAL 659LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1964 | US | RCA Camden CAS 659(e) / RCA Camden CAS-659 (e)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1964 | US | RCA Camden CAS 659(e) / RCA Camden CAS 659 (e)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1964 | US | RCA Camden CAS 659(e) / RCA Camden CAS-659 (e)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA Camden CAL 659LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | RCA Camden CAL 659 / RCA Camden CAL-659 RELP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | RCA Camden CAL 659 / RCA Camden CAL-659 RELP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | RCA Camden CAL 659LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | RCA Camden CAS 659 (e)LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Camden CAS 659 (e)LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Camden CAS-659 (e)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Camden CAS-659 (e)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Camden CAS-659 (e)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Camden CAS-659(e) / RCA Camden CAS 659(e)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Camden CAS-659 (e)LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
25 vinyl pressings of Chet Atkins And His Guitar are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1961 and 1964.
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US, UK, Canada, Germany. One of them is RCA Camden CAL 659.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CAL 659, CDN-160) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, L3 PP4799 - 1S I B1 and L3 PP4800 - 1S I B1. 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.
