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Historically Speaking - The Duke by Duke Ellington, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Historically Speaking - The Duke

by Duke Ellington · 1956

29 pressings12 countriesJazz

Historically Speaking - The Duke was first pressed on vinyl in 1956. 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 Historically Speaking - The Duke

7 pressings came out in 1956, 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.

US

June 1956
Label and catalog number
Bethlehem Records BCP 60
Format
LP, Album, Mono
Runout / matrix

BCP-60-AA side runout

BCP-60-BB side runout

Full details of this pressing

UK

1956
Label and catalog number
London Records LTZ-N.15029London Records LTZ-N15029
Format
LP, Album, Mono
Runout / matrix

ABL-380-2BRunout side A stamped

ABL-381-1BRunout side B stamped

ABL.380Matrix label side A [inverted]

ABL.381Matrix label side B [inverted]

Full details of this pressing

UK

1956
Label and catalog number
London Records LTZ-N.15029London Records LTZ-N15029
Format
LP, Album, Mono
Runout / matrix

ABL-380-2B K KT 1Runout side A

ABL-381-1B N KT 1Runout side B

ABL.380Side A label

ABL.381Side B label

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 29 vinyl pressings

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

1950s9 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1956ArgentinaLondon Records LLM 17229 / London Records LLM-17229First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956CanadaBethlehem Records BCP 60First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956CanadaBethlehem Records BCP 60First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956UKLondon Records LTZ-N.15029 / London Records LTZ-N15029First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956UKLondon Records LTZ-N.15029 / London Records LTZ-N15029First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956USBethlehem Records BCP 60First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956USBethlehem Records BCP 60First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1957FranceLondon Records LTZ-N 15.029LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1958SpainDiscos London TW 15029LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1960s6 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1960South AfricaParlophone PMCJ 1116LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
1960SpainOdeon MOCL 112LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1960UKParlophone PMC 1116LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1965UKEmber Records CJS 809LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1966GermanyInternational Polydor Production 623 218LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1968GermanyInternational Polydor Production 623 218LP, AlbumLP, Album
1970s4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1975EuropeBethlehem Records BCP-6013 / Bethlehem Records BCP 6013LP, Compilation, ReissueLP, Compilation, Reissue
1976AustraliaBethlehem Records BCP 006LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1976NetherlandsBethlehem Records BCP-6013LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1976USBethlehem Records BCP-6013LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980s3 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1981FranceBethlehem Records BTM 6804LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1982UKAffinity AFF91 / Affinity AFF 91LP, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Reissue, Mono · Mono
1989FranceWH 66754LP, AlbumLP, Album
2020s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2023USBethlehem Records 538870131 / BMG 538870131LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
Year unknown6 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?FranceInternational Polydor Production 623 218LP, AlbumLP, Album
?GermanyOdeon O 83 044 / Odeon OPX 9LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?South AfricaRoots ROTH 109LPLP
?UKCarnival Gold Standard 2941 202LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?USBethlehem Records BCP 60LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?YugoslaviaPolydor 2335 061 / PGP RTB LPV 4335LP, AlbumLP, Album

Tracklist

  1. A1East St. Louis Toodle-o
  2. A2Creole Love Call
  3. A3Stompy Jones
  4. A4The Jeep Is Jumpin'
  5. A5Jack The Bear
  6. A6In A Mellow Tone
  7. B1Ko-Ko
  8. B2Midriff
  9. B3Stomp Look And Listen
  10. B4Unbooted Character
  11. B5Lonesome Lullaby
  12. B6Upper Manhattan Medical Group

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Historically Speaking - The Duke are there?

29 vinyl pressings of Historically Speaking - The Duke are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1956 and 2023.

When was Historically Speaking - The Duke first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1956, in US, UK, Argentina, Canada. One of them is Bethlehem Records BCP 60, released June 1956.

How do I tell if my copy of Historically Speaking - The Duke is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BCP 60, LTZ-N.15029, LLM 17229) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BCP-60-A and BCP-60-B. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Historically Speaking - The Duke 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.

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