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Porgy & Bess by Ella Fitzgerald, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Porgy & Bess

by Ella Fitzgerald · 1959

97 pressings23 countriesSwingVocalOperaJazz

Porgy & Bess 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.

How to spot a first pressing of Porgy & Bess

8 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year, in 5 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

1959
Label and catalog number
Verve Records MG VS-6040-2
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Gatefold
Runout / matrix

30082 MGVS 6040 2 S1 R1 US PAT # RE 23,946 GB PAT # 713,418Var. 1 - Side A runout stamped

30083 MGVS 6040 2 S2 R1Var. 1 - Side B runout stamped

330084 MGVS 6040 2 S3 R2 US PAT # RE 23,946 GB PAT # 713,418Var. 1 - Side C runout stamped

330085 MGVS 6040 2 S4 R2Var. 1 - Side D runout stamped

Full details of this pressing

US

1959
Label and catalog number
Verve Records MG V-4011-2
Format
LP, Album, Mono
Runout / matrix

MGV-4011-2 50510Side A runout

MGV-4011-2 50511Side B runout

MGV-4011-2 50512Side C runout

MGV-4011-2 50513Side D runout

Full details of this pressing

UK

June 5, 1959
Label and catalog number
His Master's Voice CLP 1245His Master's Voice CLP 1246
Format
LP, Album, Mono
Runout / matrix

MGV 4011A-1N R 1Side 1 Runout

MGV 4011B-1N R 1Side 2 Runout

MGV 4011C-1N R 1Side 3 Runout

MGV 4011D-1N M 1Side 4 Runout

Full details of this pressing

Australia

1959
Label and catalog number
Verve Records MG V-4011-2
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Gatefold Booklet.
Runout / matrix

MGV-4011-2 S3Side C

MGV-4011-2 S4Side D

MGV-4011-2 S1Side 1

MGV-4011-2 S2Side 2

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 97 vinyl pressings

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

1950s8 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1959AustraliaVerve Records MG V-4011-2First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1959AustraliaVerve Records MG V-4011-2First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1959GermanyVerve Records MGV-4011-2First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1959GermanyVerve Records MG V-4011-2 / Verve Records MGS 4011-2First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1959New ZealandVerve Records MG V-4011-2First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1959USVerve Records MG VS-6040-2First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1959USVerve Records MG V-4011-2First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1959UKHis Master's Voice CLP 1245 / His Master's Voice CLP 1246First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1960s8 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1960FranceBarclay 104 011 / Barclay-Verve 104 011LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1960USVerve Records MG VS-6040-2 / Verve Records V-4011-2LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
1961USVerve Records V6-4011-2LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
1965USVerve Records V-4068LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
1966ItalyVerve Records GVL51.001LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1966ItalyVerve Records SGVL 51.001LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1967GermanyVerve Records MG V-4011-2 / Verve Records 711 201LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1968SpainVerve Records 711 201 / Verve Records 711 202LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1970s11 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1971ItalyVerve Records SGVL 51.001LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1975BrazilVerve Records 2352 021 / Verve Records 2352 022LPLP
1976GermanyVerve Records 2367 052LP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Misprint, Reissue, Stereo
1976USVerve Records VE-2-2507LP, ReissueLP, Reissue
1976USVerve Records VE-2-2507LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1976USVerve Records VE-2-2507LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1976USVerve Records VE-2-2507LP, Reissue, RepressLP, Reissue, Repress
1976USVerve Records VE-2-2507LP, Reissue, RepressLP, Reissue, Repress
1977AustraliaVerve Records 2610 043LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1979GermanyVerve Records 2632 052LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
1979YugoslaviaPGP RTB 2 LP 4375/76 / Verve Records 2632 052LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1980s9 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980GreeceVerve Records 2304 479LP, StereoLP, Stereo
1980PortugalVerve Records 2304 479LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980ScandinaviaVerve Records 2304 479LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1980JapanVerve Records MV 9506/7LP, StereoLP, Stereo
1985GreeceVerve Records 2304479LP, AlbumLP, Album
1985GreeceVerve Records 2304479LP, Album, White LabelLP, Album, White Label
1985GreeceVerve Records 2304479LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1985GreeceVerve Records 2304 479LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1989FranceVerve Records 2622 008LP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1990s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1991USSRRussian Disc R10 00317LP, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · UnofficialLP, Reissue, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial
2010s7 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2012EuropeVinyl Lovers 6785400LP, AlbumLP, Album
2013GermanySpeakers Corner Records MG VS-6040-2 / Verve Records MG VS-6040-2LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
2013GermanySpeakers Corner Records MG VS-6040-2 / Verve Records MG VS-6040-2LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressingLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing
2015EuropeNot Now Music CATLP115LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
2015EuropeMotivator Company Classics Catalog 144489.1151.013LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinylLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl
2017EuropeMFC Records MFC 013LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinylLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl
2019ItalyVerve Records MG VS-6040-2 / Verve Records MV 9506/7LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
2020s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2021EuropeZYX Music BHM 2055-1LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
2022EuropeWaxTime 772299LP, AlbumLP, Album
Year unknown51 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?UnknownVerve Records V6-4068LP, AlbumLP, Album
?ArgentinaVerve Records 2352021/22LPLP
?AustraliaVerve Records V-4068LPLP
?AustraliaVerve Records V6 4068LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
?AustriaVerve Records 2352 102LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?AustriaVerve Records V-5001LP, AlbumLP, Album
?AustriaSchallplattengilde Gutenberg AGL 1061 / Schallplattengilde Gutenberg MGV 3002LPLP
?AustriaOpera Nr. 3046 / Opera MGV 3002LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition
?BrazilVerve Records VMLP-14074LP, AlbumLP, Album
?BrazilVerve Records 2632 052LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
?CanadaVerve Records MIJ-2-5317LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?CanadaVerve Records MIJ-2-5317LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?CanadaVerve Records V-4068 / Verve Records V 4068 (D)LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?EuropeVerve Records 827 475-1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?FranceVerve Records 711 201/2LP, ReissueLP, Reissue
All 51 pressings from unknown years

Tracklist

  1. A1Overture
  2. A2Summertime
  3. A3I Wants To Stay Here
  4. B1My Man's Gone Now
  5. B2I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
  6. B3Buzzard Song
  7. B4Bess, You Is My Woman Now
  8. C1It Ain't Necessarily So
  9. C2What You Want Wid Bess?
  10. C3A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
  11. C4Oh, Doctor Jesus
  12. Medley
  13. D2There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
  14. D3Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?
  15. D4Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Porgy & Bess are there?

97 vinyl pressings of Porgy & Bess are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1959 and 2022.

When was Porgy & Bess first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US, UK, Australia, Germany and more. One of them is Verve Records MG VS-6040-2.

How do I tell if my copy of Porgy & Bess is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MG VS-6040-2, MG V-4011-2, CLP 1245, MGV-4011-2) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 30082 MGVS 6040 2 S1 R1 US PAT # RE 23,946 GB PAT # 713,418 and 30083 MGVS 6040 2 S2 R1. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Porgy & Bess 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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