Vinyl pressings
by Elvis Presley · 1960
A Mess Of Blues was first pressed on vinyl in 1960. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1960, the album's first year, in 9 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.
L2WW-0085-1CSide A runout, variant 1
L2PW-8066-1CSide B runout, variant 1
L2WW-0085-1C UB ET 1Side A runout, variant 2
L2PW-8066-2C CB ET 1Side B runout, variant 2
L2WW-0085-2C C HA Side runout, stamped
L2PW-8066-2C BM HB Side runout, stamped
3B.B Side runout, hand-etched at 9 o'clock
L2WW-0085A Side label
L2WW-0085-1CSide A runout stamped
L2PW-8066-1CSide B runout stamped
L2WW-0085-1CSide A runout stamped, variant 2
L2PW-8066-2C BU ETSide B runout stamped, variant 2
L2WW-0085-2CSide A runout stamped
L2PW-8066-1CSide B runout stamped
L2PW-0085Side A Printed Label
L2PW-8066Side B Printed Label
L2WW-0085-2C NHRunout side A
L2PW-8066-1CRunout side B
L2PW-0085Label side A
L2PW-8066Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Australia | RCA 10912First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Denmark | RCA 47-9333First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Germany | RCA 47-9333First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Germany | RCA 47-9333First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Germany | RCA 47-9333First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Ireland | RCA 45-ERC 1194First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Italy | RCA Italiana 45N 1096 / RCA 45N 1096First year7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | Italy | RCA Italiana 45N 1096 / RCA 45N 1096First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | Italy | RCA Italiana 45N 1096 / RCA 45N 1096First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Japan | Victor SS-1242First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Japan | Victor SS-1242First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | New Zealand | RCA 4/60205First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | Turkey | RCA Victor N 1096First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | UK | RCA 45-RCA 1194First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1960 | UK | RCA 45-RCA 11947", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Belgium | RCA Victor YBPB 0-450 / RCA YBPB 0-4507", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | UK | RCA Victor RCA 27297", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 1976 | UK | RCA Victor RCA 27297", Single, Reissue | 7", Single, Reissue |
| 1976 | UK | RCA Victor RCA27297", 45 RPM, Promo, Reissue · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1976 | Germany | RCA Victor PPBO-7074 / RCA Victor 26.11 4747", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | RCA 45.4647", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Germany | RCA 47-93337", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Germany | RCA 47-93337", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 47-93337", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor PPBO-7074 / RCA Victor 26.11 4747", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | RCA RCA 27297", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
36 vinyl pressings of A Mess Of Blues are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1960 and 1976.
The earliest pressings are from 1960, in UK, Australia, Denmark, Germany and more. One of them is RCA 45-RCA 1194.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 45-RCA 1194, 45-RCA-1194, RCA.1194, RCA 1194) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, L2WW-0085-1C and L2PW-8066-1C. 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.
