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The Chopin Ballades by Frédéric Chopin, album cover

Vinyl pressings

The Chopin Ballades

by Frédéric Chopin · 1960

49 pressings14 countriesRomanticPianoSoloClassical

The Chopin Ballades 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.

How to spot a first pressing of The Chopin Ballades

12 pressings came out in 1960, the album's first year, in 7 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

1960
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2370
Format
LP, Mono
Runout / matrix

K2 RP4017--3SRunout side A

K2 RP4018-3SRunout side B

K2RP-4017Label side A

K2RP-4018Label side B

Full details of this pressing

US

1960
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2370RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2370
Format
LP, Stereo · Shaded Dog Pressing
Runout / matrix

K2RY-4019Side A Label

K2RY-4020Side B Label

Full details of this pressing

US

1960
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2370
Format
LP, Stereo · Rockaway Pressing
Runout / matrix

K 2RY-4019-1S B1 ISide 1 Runout

K 2RY-4020-1S A2 I ASide 2 Runout

K2RY-4019Side 1 Label

K2RY-4020Side 2 Label

Full details of this pressing

UK

July 1960
Label and catalog number
RCA Red Seal RB-16206RCA Red Seal RB. 16206
Format
LP, Mono
Runout / matrix

K2RP-4017-2ASide A runout stamped

K2RP-4018-2ASide B runout stamped

K2RP-4017Side A label number (upside down)

K2RP-4018Side B label number (upside down)

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 49 vinyl pressings

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

1960s16 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1960CanadaRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2370First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1960CanadaRCA Victor Red Seal LM-2370First yearLP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1960EuropeRCA Victor LSC-2370-B / RCA Victor LSC 2370-BFirst yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1960FranceRCA Red Seal 644.517A LSC-2370First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1960GermanyRCA Victor Red Seal LM-2370First yearLP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1960GermanyRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2370-B / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2370-BFirst yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1960ItalyRCA Italiana Red Seal LM 2370 / RCA Red Seal LM 2370First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1960UKRCA Red Seal SB-2082 / RCA Victor Red Seal SB 2082LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
1960UKRCA Red Seal SB-2082 / RCA Red Seal SB.2082First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1960USRCA Victor Red Seal LM-2370First yearLP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1960USRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2370 / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2370First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1960USRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2370First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1960UKRCA Red Seal RB-16206 / RCA Red Seal RB. 16206First yearLP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1962FranceRCA 630.538LP, Mono · MonoLP, Mono · Mono
1964USRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2370 / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2370LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
All 16 pressings from the 1960s
1970s7 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1971YugoslaviaJugoton LPSV-RCA-70447 / RCA Victor LPSV-RCA-70447LPLP
1971ItalyRCA Red Seal LSC 2370LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1972ItalyRCA Red Seal LSC 2370LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1974FranceRCA Red Seal ARL 1 0625LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1974FranceRCA ARL 1 0625LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1975German Democratic Republic (GDR)ETERNA 8 26 740LP, StereoLP, Stereo
1975German Democratic Republic (GDR)Not On Label 8 26 740LP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressingLP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing
1980s5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1981ItalyRCA Red Seal LSC 2370LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1984FranceRCA GL 82370LP, StereoLP, Stereo
1984ItalyRCA GL 82370LP, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · PromoLP, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo
1984MexicoRCA Victor Red Seal MRS-1192LPLP
1985HungaryRCA SLPXL 31486 / Hungaroton SLPXL 31486LP, Album, RemasteredLP, Album, Remastered
Year unknown21 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?El SalvadorRCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2370LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?EuropeRCA Red Seal LSC 2370-B / RCA Red Seal 26.41053LP, Stereo, ReissueLP, Stereo, Reissue
?EuropeRCA Victor LSC-2370-B / RCA Victor LSC 2370-BLP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?EuropeRCA Red Seal LSC 2370-B / RCA Victor LSC 2370-BLP, Stereo, ReissueLP, Stereo, Reissue
?EuropeRCA Red Seal LSC 2370-BLP, Stereo, ReissueLP, Stereo, Reissue
?FranceRCA Red Seal ARL1 0625 / RCA Red Seal ARL 1 0625LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
?FranceRCA Red Seal ARL1 0625 / RCA Red Seal ARL 1 0625LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
?FranceRCA Red Seal ARL1 0625 / RCA Red Seal ARL 1 0625LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?FranceRCA Red Seal ARL1 0625 / RCA Red Seal ARL 1 0625LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
?GermanyRCA Red Seal 29 648-3LP, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club editionLP, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition
?SwitzerlandRCA Victor Red Seal 25 070LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Victor Red Seal 25 070LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Victor Red Seal 25 070LP, Reissue, Special Edition, StereoLP, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Victor Red Seal 25 070 / RCA Victor 25 070LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?UKRCA Red Seal SB-2082 / RCA Red Seal SB 2082LP, StereoLP, Stereo
All 21 pressings from unknown years

Tracklist

  1. A1Ballade No. 1 In G-minor, Op. 239:13
  2. A2Ballade No. 2 In F, Op. 386:36
  3. B1Ballade No. 3 In A-flat, Op. 477:12
  4. B2Ballade No. 4 In F-minor, Op. 5210:36

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of The Chopin Ballades are there?

49 vinyl pressings of The Chopin Ballades are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1960 and 1985.

When was The Chopin Ballades first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1960, in US, UK, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2370.

How do I tell if my copy of The Chopin Ballades is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LM-2370, LSC-2370, RB-16206, SB-2082) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, K2 RP4017--3S and K2 RP4018-3S. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is The Chopin Ballades 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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