Vinyl pressings
by Duke Ellington And His Orchestra · 1957
A Drum Is A Woman 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.
8 pressings came out in 1957, 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.
XLP39156-1E ☆ IIISide A runout, variant 1
XLP39157-1E ☆ 1ASide B runout, variant 1
XLP39156-1AB . ☆Side A runout, variant 2
XLP39157-1D. ☆ 1ASide B runout, variant 2
XLP39156-1G.. ✰side A runout stamped variant 1
XLP39157-1B. ✰side B runout stamped variant 1
x"Lp"39156side A label
x"Lp"39157side B label
XLP39156-1C(var. 1) A side stamped
XLP39157-1J(var. 1) B side stamped
XLP39156-1C ☆ H(var. 2) A side stamped [exc. H]
XLP39157-1J H(var 2) B side stamped [exc. H]
XLP39156-1C ☆ HA side runout
XLP39157-1J HB side runout
x"Lp"39156A side label
x"Lp"39157B side label
AA 07253 1LSide A
AA 07253 2LSide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Australia | Coronet KLP-608First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | Canada | Columbia CL 951First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | UK | Philips BBL 7179First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 951First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 951First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 951First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 951First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | US | Columbia CL 951First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | US | Columbia Special Products JCL 951LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1973 | US | Columbia Special Products JCL 951LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1974 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPU-90LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1974 | Netherlands | CBS 65185LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | France | CBS CBS 84404LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Spain | Jazz Wax Records JWR 4527LP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Reissue, Limited Edition · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | Honey Pie Records HONEY079LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Italy | Philips B 07253 LLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Japan | Columbia PL 5056LP, Album | LP, Album |
17 vinyl pressings of A Drum Is A Woman are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1957 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1957, in US, UK, Australia, Canada. One of them is Columbia CL 951, released February 1957.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CL 951, BBL 7179, KLP-608) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XLP39156-1E ☆ III and XLP39157-1E ☆ 1A. 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.
