US
1959- Label and catalog number
- Westminster XWL 3306
- Format
- LP, Album, Mono, Box Set
Georg Friedrich HändelMessiah
Vinyl pressings
Messiah
by Georg Friedrich Händel · 1959
15 pressings6 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
3 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year. 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
- Westminster WST 306
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set
US
1959- Label and catalog number
- Westminster WST 306
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set · Black and Red Labels
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 15 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1950s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | US | Westminster XWL 3306First yearLP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Westminster WST 306First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1959 | US | Westminster WST 306First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
1960s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Germany | Heliodor 429037/40LP, Stereo, Box Set, Stereo | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Stereo |
| 1960 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | Heliodor 479037/40LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
1970s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Canada | Westminster Gold WGS-8163-3LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | Westminster Gold WGS-8163-3 / ABC Records WGX 3003LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
1980s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Italy | Rifi Westminster WSR LP 62300LP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
Year unknown7 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Italy | Scala Reale WSR-LP 61026/27/28 / Rifi Westminster WSR-LP 61026/27/28Box Set, LP, Album | Box Set, LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Westminster Gold WGX 3003 / ABC Records WGX 3003LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Westminster WMS 1013 / Westminster WST 306LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | US | Westminster WST 306LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue |
| ? | US | Westminster WST 306 / ABC Records WST 306LP, Album, Repress, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | US | ABC Records MS-6302 / Music Guild Records MS-6302LP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| ? | US | Westminster XWN 3306LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
Tracklist
- Side 1
- Side 2
- Side 3
- Side 4
- Side 5
- Side 6
- Side 7
- Side 8
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Messiah are there?
15 vinyl pressings of Messiah are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1959 and 1985.
When was Messiah first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US. One of them is Westminster XWL 3306.
How do I tell if my copy of Messiah is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use XWL 3306, WST 306) 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.
