Skip to content
VinylLens
The Sea by Claude Debussy, album cover

Vinyl pressings

The Sea

by Claude Debussy · 1957

22 pressings7 countriesClassical

The Sea was first pressed on vinyl in 1957. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of The Sea

2 pressings came out in 1957, 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.

US

1957
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

H2 RP1480-6S C1side A runout stamped variant 1

H2 RP1481-7S ΛSside B runout stamped variant 1

H2 RP1480-4S A 1 Rside A runout stamped variant 2

H2 RP1481-6S A1 Rside B runout stamped variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 22 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1950s5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1957CanadaRCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111First yearLP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1957USRCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1958USRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2111LP, Stereo, AlbumLP, Stereo, Album
1959CanadaRCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111 / RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111 RELP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1959SpainRCA 3L16211LP, ReissueLP, Reissue
1960s5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1960USRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2111 / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2111LP, Album, Repress, StereoLP, Album, Repress, Stereo
1962FranceRCA 640.511 / RCA (LM 2111)LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
1962FranceRCA 640.511 / RCA 640 511LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1962FranceRCA Victor 630.446 / RCA Victor 630 446LP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1964USRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2111LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo
1980s3 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1981USRCA Red Seal ATL1-4157LP, Reissue, Remastered, StereoLP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
1982USRCA Red Seal ARP1-4444LP, RemasteredLP, Remastered
1983JapanRCA Red Seal RCL-5508 / RCA Red Seal ARP1-4444LP, Reissue, Remastered, StereoLP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
2010s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2015USAnalogue Productions LSC 2111LP, Reissue, Remastered, StereoLP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
2015USAnalogue Productions AAPC 2111 / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2111LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
Year unknown7 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?GermanyLiving Stereo LSC-2111LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?GermanyRCA Red Seal LSC-2111LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?JapanVictor RA-2123LPLP
?UKRCA Victor Red Seal RB-16039 / RCA Victor Red Seal LM 2111LP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
?USRCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111 / RCA Victor Red Seal LM 2111LP, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Reissue, Mono · Mono
?USAnalogue Productions AAPC 2111 / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2111LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
?USRCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111 / RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111 RELP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono

Tracklist

  1. ALa Mer
  2. BPorts Of Call (Escales)

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of The Sea are there?

22 vinyl pressings of The Sea are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1957 and 2015.

When was The Sea first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1957, in US, Canada. One of them is RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2111.

How do I tell if my copy of The Sea is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LM-2111) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, H2 RP1480-6S C1 and H2 RP1481-7S ΛS. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is The Sea on vinyl worth?

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.

More Claude Debussy on vinyl

VinylLens app

What is your copy of The Sea worth?

Point your phone at the label. VinylLens finds the exact pressing in seconds and shows its value for every condition, from Mint to Poor, so you know what your record is really worth.

Scan your records free