Vinyl pressings
by Duke Ellington And His Orchestra · 1970
Ellington On The Air was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
5 pressings came out in 1970, 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.
UPF-144-A SMX-00005 6-25-70 AudioMatrixSide A runout
UPF-144-B SMX-00006 6-25-70 AudioMatrixSide B runout
SMX-00005Side A label
SMX-00006Side B label
CC-16-A
CC-16-B
AR-LP-12003-AEtched into runout area side A
AR-LP-12003-BEtched into runout area side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Denmark | Collector's Classics CC 16First yearLP | LP |
| 1970 | Italy | Ariston Records AR/LP/12003First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | North America (inc Mexico) | UpFront Records UPF- 144First yearLP | LP |
| 1970 | US | UpFront Records UPF-144First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | UpFront Records UPF-144First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Ember Records CJS 840LP | LP |
| 1974 | South Africa | Music For Pleasure MFP 3525LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Germany | Springboard 201.076LP | LP |
| 1978 | Mexico | Ariola Variedades ML-5041LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Canada | UpFront Records UPF-144 / UpFront Records UPF 144LP | LP |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | Phoenix 10 PHX 303LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | US | Phoenix 10 PHX 303LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | UK | Bulldog Records BDL 1046LP | LP |
| 1988 | Germany | Bellaphon 230.07.081LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Jazz Society 67403 / Jazz Society 67.403LP | LP |
| ? | UK | Ember Records CJS 840LP | LP |
| ? | US | Everest Records Archive Of Folk & Jazz Music FS-266LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | UpFront Records UPF-144LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
18 vinyl pressings of Ellington On The Air are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1970 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, Denmark, Italy, North America (inc Mexico). One of them is UpFront Records UPF-144.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UPF-144, CC 16, AR/LP/12003, UPF- 144) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UPF-144-A SMX-00005 6-25-70 AudioMatrix and UPF-144-B SMX-00006 6-25-70 AudioMatrix. 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.
