Vinyl pressings
by Eddy Arnold · 1959
Thereby Hangs A Tale was first pressed on vinyl in 1959. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1959, 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.
K2WP5329-4S Ⅰ A1Runout Side A stamped, var.1
K2WP5330-1S Ⅰ A3Runout Side B stamped, var.1
K2 WP5329-1S A1 IRunout Side A stamped, var.2
K2 WP5330-1S A1 IRunout Side B stamped, var.2
K2 WP5329-2SSide A, stamped
K2 WP5330-2SSide B, stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP 2036First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | Canada | RCA Victor LPM-2036First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | South Africa | RCA 31,300 (LPM 2036)First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | UK | RCA RD-27155First yearLP | LP |
| 1959 | US | RCA Victor LPM 2036First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | RCA Victor LSP 2036First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | US | RCA Victor LPM 2036LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSP-2036LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSP-2036 / RCA Victor LSP 2036LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSP 2036LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
10 vinyl pressings of Thereby Hangs A Tale are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1959 and 1967.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US, UK, Canada, South Africa. One of them is RCA Victor LPM 2036.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LPM 2036, LSP 2036, RD-27155, LPM-2036) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, K2WP5329-4S Ⅰ A1 and K2WP5330-1S Ⅰ A3. 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.
