Vinyl pressings
by Georges Bizet · 1958
Carmen And L'Arlesienne Suites was first pressed on vinyl in 1958. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1958, the album's first year, in 5 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.
ZAL-4095-3E BA ET RT 1Runout side 1, stamped
ZAL-4096-2E ZAL-4098-2E [ZAL-4098-2E scratched out] BH RT 3 1 CARunout side 2, stamped
ZAL.4095Matrix on label, side 1
ZAL.4096Matrix on label, side 2
ARLSide 1
ARLSide 2
UC RT 12 CA ZAL-4095-3ERunout side 1, stamped
G RT 1 ZAL-4096-2E [ZAL-4098-2E scratched out]Runout side 2, stamped
ZAL.4095Matrix on label, side 1
ZAL.4096Matrix on label, side 2
ZAL-4095-3E BA ET RT 1Runout side A - machine stamped - this variant
ZAL-4096-2E ZAL-4098-2E [ZAL-4098-2E scratched out] BH RT 3 1 CARunout side B - machine stamped - this variant
ZAL.4095Matrix on label - side A
ZAL.4096Matrix on label - side B
ZAL-4095-3ERunout side 1, stamped
ZAL-4096-2E ZAL-4098-2E [ZAL-4098-2E scratched out]Runout side 2, stamped
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Australia | Decca SXLA 2037First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1958 | France | Decca SXL 2037First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1958 | Germany | TELDEC »Telefunken-Decca« Schallplatten GmbH SXL 2037First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1958 | Colombia | Decca SXL 2037 / Decca SXL.2037First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1958 | UK | Decca SXL 2037 / Decca SXL.2037First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1958 | UK | Decca LXT 5461First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | UK | Decca SXL 2037 / Decca SXL.2037First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | Japan | London Records SLB 5LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | New Zealand | Decca BRM 3005 / Decca BRM.3005LP, 10", Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Spain | Decca SXL 2037LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | UK | Decca BR 3005 / Decca BR.3005LP, 10", Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | London Records CS 6062LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | UK | Decca SXL 2037 / Decca SXL.2037LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | UK | Decca SXL 2037 / Decca SXL.2037LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1960 | UK | Decca SXL 2037 / Decca SXL.2037LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | London Records CM 9008 / London Records LL.3088LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | France | Decca SXL 2037LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | France | Decca SXL 2037LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| 1962 | Japan | London Records SLC 1105LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1962 | Japan | London Records SLG 6LP, 10", Stereo | LP, 10", Stereo |
| 1966 | France | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 141LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1966 | France | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 141LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1967 | Japan | London Records SLC 1514LP | LP |
| 1968 | US | London Records STS 15052LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | London Records STS 15052LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Japan | London Records SLC 2009LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | London Records STS 15052LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | London Records SLC 6007LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1973 | Spain | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 141LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | UK | Decca ECS 755 / Eclipse ECS 755LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | London Records SLC 8007LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Germany | Speakers Corner Records SXL 2037 / Decca SXL 2037LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2012 | Germany | Speakers Corner Records SXL 2037 / Decca SXL 2037LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2019 | US | Original Recordings Group ORG 157 / London Records CS 606212", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Ace Of Diamonds SDDA 141LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Decca LXTA 7504 / Decca LXTA-7504LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 141LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | TELDEC »Telefunken-Decca« Schallplatten GmbH SXL 2037-BLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca ND 100LP | LP |
| ? | Italy | Decca ECSI 755 / Eclipse ECSI 755LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | London Records SLC-1707LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | London Records Slc 6007LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | London Records SLX383LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | London Records SLC 1233LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 141LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca SXL 2037 / Decca SXL.2037LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca LXT 5461LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Ace Of Diamonds ADD 141LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | London Records CS 6062LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
50 vinyl pressings of Carmen And L'Arlesienne Suites are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1958 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1958, in UK, Colombia, Australia, France and more. One of them is Decca SXL 2037, released November 1958.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SXL 2037, LXT 5461, SXLA 2037) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZAL-4095-3E BA ET RT 1 and ZAL-4096-2E ZAL-4098-2E [ZAL-4098-2E scratched out] BH RT 3 1 CA. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
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.
