Vinyl pressings
by Duke Ellington And His Orchestra · 1954
Ellington '55 was first pressed on vinyl in 1954. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
3 pressings came out in 1954, the album's first year, in 3 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.
W1-521-D4 [Anvil]Runout Side A Stamped variant 1
W2-521-D3 [Anvil]Runout Side B Stamped variant 1
- W1-521-D2² ⌂A side runout variant 2
- W2-521-D4 ⌂B side runout variant 2
W1 521 Y-1B Z N 1Runout side A hand stamped
W2 521 Z-1B 1Runout side B hand stamped
W.521 YMatrix label side A
W.521 ZMatrix label side B
W1 - 521 - D4 M6 - 158080Runout A side
W2 - 521 - D3 M6 - 157748Runout B side
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | France | Capitol Records W 521 MFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1954 | US | Capitol Records W521 / Capitol Records W-521First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | UK | Capitol Records LCT 6008First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1955 | Canada | Capitol Records W-521LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1955 | Canada | Capitol Records T-521LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1955 | Denmark | Capitol Records H52LP | LP |
| 1955 | France | Capitol Records EAP 1-521 / Capitol Records EAP 2-5217", Album, 45 RPM | 7", Album, 45 RPM |
| 1955 | US | Capitol Records EAP 1-5217", 45 RPM, EP | 7", 45 RPM, EP |
| 1955 | US | Capitol Records EAP 1-521 / Capitol Records EAP 2-5217", Album, 45 RPM | 7", Album, 45 RPM |
| 1955 | US | Capitol Records EAP 1-521 / Capitol Records EAP 2-5217", Album, 45 RPM | 7", Album, 45 RPM |
| 1955 | US | Capitol Records T521 / Capitol Records T-521LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1956 | Spain | Capitol Records W-521LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | France | Capitol Records T 521 / Capitol Records T-521LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1969 | France | Capitol Records CTTX 240.814LP | LP |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | France | Music For Pleasure 2M 048 52158LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Capitol Records T 521LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1977 | US | Capitol Records M-11674 / Capitol Records SM-11674LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Spain | Capitol Records SM-11674LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 2011 | France | Capitol Records SM-11674 / Capitol Records M-11674LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Capitol Records W 521LP | LP |
| ? | Chile | Capitol Records T-521LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Capitol Records H-52LP | LP |
| ? | France | Capitol Records 2 C 062-80 270LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Capitol Records W-521LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | South Africa | Capitol Records LCT 6008LP | LP |
| ? | UK | World Record Club TP 201LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Capitol Records LCT 6008LP | LP |
| ? | US | Capitol Records M-11674 / Capitol Records SM-11674LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Venezuela | Capitol Records T 521LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
29 vinyl pressings of Ellington '55 are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1954 and 2011.
The earliest pressings are from 1954, in US, UK, France. One of them is Capitol Records W521, released August 1954.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use W521, LCT 6008, W 521 M) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, W1-521-D4 [Anvil] and W2-521-D3 [Anvil]. 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.
