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Porgy And Bess by George Gershwin, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Porgy And Bess

by George Gershwin · 1976

18 pressings9 countriesModernOperaClassical

Porgy And Bess was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. 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 Porgy And Bess

9 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 6 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

1976
Label and catalog number
London Records OSA13116
Format
LP, Stereo, Box Set, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ZAL-14312-2GRunout A, stamped

ZAL-14313-4GRunout B, stamped

ZAL-14314-2GRunout C, stamped

ZAL-14315-3GRunout D, stamped

Full details of this pressing

UK

1976
Label and catalog number
Decca SET 609-11
Format
LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set
Runout / matrix

ZAL-14312-2G 1CRunout side A

ZAL-14313-4G 11 2 BRunout side B

ZAL-14314-2G 1A 1Runout side C

ZAL-14315-3G 11 3 CRunout side D

Full details of this pressing

Europe

1976
Label and catalog number
Decca SET 609Decca SET 610
Format
LP, Stereo, Box Set
Runout / matrix

ZAL-14312-2G 1runout side a

ZAL-14313-3G C1 C3runout side b

ZAL-14314-3G 1 2runout side c

ZAL-14315-3G C1 C2runout side d

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 18 vinyl pressings

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

1970s10 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1976EuropeDecca SET 609 / Decca SET 610First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1976FranceDecca 7429/31First yearBox Set, Stereo, LPBox Set, Stereo, LP
1976GermanyDecca 6.35327First yearLP, Box SetLP, Box Set
1976GermanyDecca 6.35327 FXFirst yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1976GermanyDecca 6.35327 FXFirst yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1976SpainDecca SET 609-11First yearLP, Box SetLP, Box Set
1976UKDecca SET 609-11First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Box SetLP, Album, Stereo, Box Set
1976UKDecca SET 609-11First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1976USLondon Records OSA13116First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set, StereoLP, Stereo, Box Set, Stereo
1979YugoslaviaDecca LSDC-70876/7/8 / Jugoton LSDC-70876/7/8LP, Box SetLP, Box Set
1980s3 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1983German Democratic Republic (GDR)ETERNA 8 27 728-730LP, Box SetLP, Box Set
1984UKDecca SET 609-11LP, Repress, Box SetLP, Repress, Box Set
1986UKDecca SET 609-11LP, Repress, Box SetLP, Repress, Box Set
1990s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1996EuropeDecca SET 609-11LP, Reissue, Box SetLP, Reissue, Box Set
Year unknown4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?BrazilLondon Records 31C 167 61020/2LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?UKDecca SET 609-11LP, Album, Stereo, Box SetLP, Album, Stereo, Box Set
?USLondon Records OSA13116LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
?USLondon Records OSA13116LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box SetLP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set

Tracklist

  1. Porgy And Bess
  2. A1Introduction And Act 1, Scene 1
  3. A2Catfish Row
  4. A3A Summer Evening (Start)
  5. A4Jazzbo Brown Blues
  6. A5Summertime
  7. A6A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
  8. A7Here Comes De Honey Man
  9. A8They Pass By Singin''
  10. B1Oh Little Stars (Conclusion Act 1)
  11. 2. Act 1, Scene 2;
  12. B2Serena's Room
  13. B3The Following Night
  14. B4Gone, Gone, Gone
  15. B5Overflow
  16. B6My Man's Gone Now
  17. B7Leavin' For The Promise' Lan'
  18. 1. Act 2, Scene1;
  19. C1Catfish Row - A Month Later
  20. C2It Takes A Long Pull To Get There
  21. C3I Got Plenty O' Nuttin
  22. C4Buzzard Song
  23. C5Bess, You Is My Woman
  24. C6Oh, I Can't Sit Down
  25. 1. Act 2, Scene 2
  26. D1Kittiwah Island - Evening
  27. D2The Same Day
  28. D3I Aint Got No Shame
  29. D4It Aint Necessarily So
  30. D5What You Want Wid Bess?
  31. 2. Act 2, Scene 3;
  32. D6Catfish Row-Before Dawn
  33. D7A Week Later (Start)
  34. D8Oh, Doctor Jesus
  35. D9Strawberry Woman
  36. D10Crab Man
  37. D11I Loves You, Porgy
  38. E11 Act 2, Scene 3 (Conclusion)
  39. 2. Act 2, Scene 4;
  40. E2Serena's Room-Dawn Of The Following Day
  41. E3Oh, Hev'nly Father
  42. E4Oh, De Lawd Shake The Heavens
  43. E5Oh, Dere's Somebody Knockin' At De Do''
  44. E6A Red Headed Woman
  45. 3. Act 3, Scene1;
  46. E7Catfish Row-The Next Night
  47. E8Clara, Clara
  48. E9Death Of Crown
  49. 1. Act 3. Scene 2;
  50. F1Catfish Row-The Next Afternoon
  51. F2There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
  52. 2. Act 3, Scene 3;
  53. F3Catfish Row-A Week Later
  54. F4Good Mornin'
  55. F5Sistuh!
  56. F6Oh, Bess
  57. F7Oh Where Is My Bess
  58. F8Ow Lawd, I'm On My Way

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Porgy And Bess are there?

18 vinyl pressings of Porgy And Bess are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1976 and 1996.

When was Porgy And Bess first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Europe, France and more. One of them is London Records OSA13116.

How do I tell if my copy of Porgy And Bess is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use OSA13116, SET 609-11, SET 609, 7429/31) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZAL-14312-2G and ZAL-14313-4G. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Porgy And Bess 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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