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Music For The Royal Fireworks / Water Music by Georg Friedrich Händel, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Music For The Royal Fireworks / Water Music

by Georg Friedrich Händel · 1972

32 pressings10 countriesBaroqueClassical

Music For The Royal Fireworks was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. 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 Music For The Royal Fireworks

10 pressings came out in 1972, 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.

UK

1972
Label and catalog number
Argo ZRG 697
Format
LP, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ZRG-3583-2GSide A runout stamped

ZRG-3584-3GSide B runout stamped

{ZRG.3583}Side A label

ZRG 3584Side B label

Full details of this pressing

UK

1972
Label and catalog number
Argo ZRG 697
Format
LP, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ZRG-3583-1G BB JT 1Side A stamped, variant 1

ZRG-3584-2G BB JT 1Side B stamped, variant 1

ZRG-3583-1G BB JT 1Side A stamped, variant 2

ZRG-3584-1G BC JT 1Side B stamped, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

1972
Label and catalog number
Argo ZRG 697Argo ZRG.697
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ZRG-3583-1G CA 1Runout side A

ZRG-3584-2G KU 1Runout side B

ZRG.3583Label side A

ZRG.3584Label side B

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 32 vinyl pressings

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

1970s13 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1972AustraliaArgo ZRGA.697 / Argo ZRGA-697First yearLPLP
1972CanadaArgo XZRG 697First yearLPLP
1972FranceArgo 596021First yearLPLP
1972GermanyDecca 29 547-7 / Deutscher Schallplattenclub 29 547-7LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition
1972GermanyDecca SAD 22125First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1972GermanyDecca SAD 22125First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1972JapanLondon Records SLA (A) 1027 / Argo SLA (A) 1027First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1972NetherlandsArgo ZRG 697First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1972UKArgo ZRG 697First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1972UKArgo ZRG 697First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1972UKArgo ZRG 697 / Argo ZRG.697First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1974GermanyDecca 63 128LP, Club Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Club editionLP, Club Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Club edition
1974GermanyDecca 63 128LP, Club Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Club editionLP, Club Edition, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo · Club edition
1980s7 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1981UKArgo ZRG 697LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
1983German Democratic Republic (GDR)ETERNA 8 27 705LP, StereoLP, Stereo
1983German Democratic Republic (GDR)ETERNA 8 27 705LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
1983German Democratic Republic (GDR)ETERNA 8 27 705LP, Repress, StereoLP, Repress, Stereo
1983GermanyEt Cetera Records ZRG-3584LP, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture discLP, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc
1983JapanLondon Records L25C 3043LP, AlbumLP, Album
1986German Democratic Republic (GDR)ETERNA 8 27 705LP, RepressLP, Repress
Year unknown12 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?UnknownArgo ZRG 697LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?EuropeDecca 6.41710LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?FranceDecca 420.429-1LPLP
?GermanyDecca 411 391-1LPLP
?GermanyDecca 6.41710LP, AlbumLP, Album
?GermanyPaul Hartmann AG 16.45006LP, Club Edition, Reissue, Special Edition · Club editionLP, Club Edition, Reissue, Special Edition · Club edition
?GermanyDecca 6.41710 / Decca SAD 22 125LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
?GermanyDecca 29 547-7 / Decca 29 547/7LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition
?UKDecca 411 006-1LPLP
?UKArgo ZRG 697 / Argo ZRG.697LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
?UKArgo ZRG 697LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
?YugoslaviaJugoton LP 7 2 02418 6 / Argo 414596 2LPLP

Tracklist

  1. Music For The Royal Fireworks
  2. Water Music Suite In G Major
  3. Water Music Suite In D Major
  4. Water Music Suite In F Major

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Music For The Royal Fireworks are there?

32 vinyl pressings of Music For The Royal Fireworks are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1972 and 1986.

When was Music For The Royal Fireworks first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1972, in UK, Australia, Canada, France and more. One of them is Argo ZRG 697.

How do I tell if my copy of Music For The Royal Fireworks is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ZRG 697, ZRGA.697, XZRG 697, 596021) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZRG-3583-2G and ZRG-3584-3G. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Music For The Royal Fireworks 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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