UK
1959- Label and catalog number
- Columbia 33CX 1668
- Format
- LP, Album
Georg Friedrich HändelMessiah
Vinyl pressings
Messiah
by Georg Friedrich Händel · 1959
31 pressings8 countriesBaroqueOratorioClassical
Messiah 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 Messiah
10 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.
UK
1959- Label and catalog number
- Columbia 33CX 1670
- Format
- LP, Album
UK
1959- Label and catalog number
- Columbia CMS 806Columbia CMS (LP) 806
- Format
- LP, Album, Mono, Box Set, Mono
- Runout / matrix
33CX 1146Record 1 Individual Cat. No.
33CX 1147Record 2 Individual Cat. No.
33CX 1148Record 3 Individual Cat. No.
UK
1959- Label and catalog number
- Columbia SMS 1006Columbia SAX 2308
- Format
- LP, Box Set, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
SAX 2308Record 1 Center label
SAX 2309Record 2 Center label
SAX 2310Record 3 Center label
UK
1959- Label and catalog number
- Columbia 33CX 1668Columbia 33CX 1669
- Format
- LP, Mono, Box Set · Half Round Columbia Labels
- Runout / matrix
XAX 1741-7NSide 1 runout, stamped
XAX 1742-8NSide 2 runout, stamped
XAX 1743-11NSide 3 runout, stamped
XAX 1744-5NSide 4 runout, stamped
US
1959- Label and catalog number
- Angel Records 3598 C
- Format
- LP, Mono, Box Set
- Runout / matrix
XAX-X-1741Side 1 label
XAX-X-1742Side 2 label
XAX-X-1743Side 3 label
XAX-X-1744Side 4 label
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 31 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1950s10 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Australia | Columbia 33-OCX-1668First yearLP, Mono, Box Set, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Canada | Angel Records 3598 CFirst yearLP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1959 | Canada | Angel Records 3598C "S"First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1959 | UK | Columbia 33CX 1668First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1959 | UK | Columbia 33CX 1670First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1959 | UK | Columbia CMS 806 / Columbia CMS (LP) 806First yearLP, Album, Mono, Box Set, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | UK | Columbia SMS 1006 / Columbia SAX 2308First yearLP, Box Set, Album, Stereo | LP, Box Set, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | UK | Columbia 33CX 1668 / Columbia 33CX 1669First yearLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Angel Records 3598 CFirst yearLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Angel Records 3598 CFirst yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
1960s7 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | New Zealand | World Record Club ZX.500-1 / World Record Club ZX.500-2LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono, Box Set · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono, Box Set · Mono, Club edition |
| 1965 | UK | Columbia SMS 1006 / Columbia SAX 2308LP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1965 | Australia | World Record Club ME-2125 / World Record Club ME-2126LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono, Box Set · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono, Box Set · Mono, Club edition |
| 1965 | Australia | World Record Club SME-2125 / World Record Club SME-2126LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition |
| 1968 | Australia | World Record Club S-2125 / World Record Club S-2126LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition |
| 1968 | Australia | World Record Club 2125 / World Record Club 2126LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono, Box Set · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono, Box Set · Mono, Club edition |
| 1969 | UK | World Record Club ST. 902 / World Record Club ST. 903LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition |
1970s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | World Record Club S-2125 / World Record Club S-2126LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition |
| 1970 | UK | World Record Club SHB 40 / World Record Club ST 902LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition |
| 1975 | UK | World Records SHB 40LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
Year unknown11 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Seraphim SIC-6056LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Colombia | Angel Records ALDM 01/03 / Angel Records ALDM-01 03LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| ? | France | Trianon TRI - 33324/25/26LP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| ? | UK | Angel Records 3510 CLP, Club Edition, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Club Edition, Box Set · Club edition |
| ? | UK | Columbia 33CX 1668 / Columbia 33CX 1669LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| ? | UK | His Master's Voice XLP30050, 51, 52LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | His Master's Voice XLP.30050LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Columbia 33CX 1668 / Columbia 33CX 1669LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| ? | US | Seraphim SIC-6056LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | US | Seraphim SIC-6056LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | USA & Canada | Angel Records Ang 35808LP | LP |
Tracklist
- A1Overture
- A2aRecit: Comfort Ye
- A2bAir: Ev'ry Valley
- A2cChorus: And The Glory Of The Lord
- A3aRecit: Thus Saith The Lord
- A3bAir: But Who May Abide
- A4And He Shall Purify
- B1aRecit: Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive
- B1bAir: O Thou That Tallest
- B2aRecit: For, Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth
- B2bAir: The People That Walked In Darkness
- B2cChorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born
- Pastoral Symphony
- C1aRecit: There Were Shepherds
- C1bAnd Iol The Angel
- C1cAnd The Angel Said Unto Them
- C1dAnd Suddenly. Chorus: Glory To God
- C2Rejoice Greatly
- C3aRecit: Then Shall The Eyes
- C3bAir: He Shall Feed His Flock (Come Unto Him)
- C4His Yoke Is Easy
- D1Behold The Lamb Of God
- D2He Was Despised
- D3aChorus: Surley He Hath Borne Our Griefs
- D3bAnd With His Stripes
- D3cAll We, Like Sheep
- D3dRecit: All They That See Him
- D3eChorus: He Trusted In God
- D4aRecit: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
- D4bAir: Behold And See
- D4cRecit: He Was Cut Off
- D4dAir: But Thou Did'st Not Leave His Soul In Hell
- E1Lift Up Your Heads
- E2The Lord Gave The Word
- E3How Beautiful Are The Feet
- E4Their Sound Is Gone Out
- E5aWhy Do The Nations
- E5bChorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asundar
- E6aRecit: He That Dwelleth In Heaven
- E6bAir: Thou Shalty Break Them
- E7Hallelujah
- F1I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
- F2Since By Man Came Death
- F3aRecit: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
- F3bAir: The Trumpet Shall Sound
- F3c (a)Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb
- F3c (b)Amen
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Messiah are there?
31 vinyl pressings of Messiah are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1959 and 1975.
When was Messiah first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in UK, US, Australia, Canada. One of them is Columbia 33CX 1668.
How do I tell if my copy of Messiah is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 33CX 1668, 33CX 1670, CMS 806, SMS 1006) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Messiah 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.
