Vinyl pressings
by Giuseppe Verdi · 1959
Aida 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.
5 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year, in 3 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-4545-4E BC ET 31 SMRunout side A - machine stamped
ZAL-4546-2E BU ET 2BRunout side B - machine stamped
ZAL-4547-3E H ET 1Runout side C - machine stamped
ZAL-4548-3E I ET 2BRunout side D - machine stamped
ZAL.4545Side A
ZAL4546Side B
ZAL.4547Side C
ZAL.4548Side D
ZAL-4545-4E BC ET 31 SMRunout side A - machine stamped
ZAL-4546-2E BU ET 2BRunout side B - machine stamped
ZAL-4547-3E H ET 1Runout side C - machine stamped
ZAL-4548-3E I ET 2BRunout side D - machine stamped
ARL-4545-2A 9 1 CBRunout, Side A - stamped
ARL-4546-2A 9 1 CARunout, Side B - stamped
ARL-4547-2A 8 1 CARunout, Side C - stamped
ARL-4548-2A 10 1 CARunout, Side D - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | South Africa | Decca LXT 5539-40-1First yearLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1959 | UK | Decca SXL 2167 - 8 - 9First yearLP, Deluxe Edition, Special Edition, Stereo, Box Set, Album, Special Edition, Stereo | LP, Deluxe Edition, Special Edition, Stereo, Box Set, Album, Special Edition, Stereo |
| 1959 | Australia | Decca SXLA 2242First yearLP, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1959 | UK | Decca SXL 2167-8-9First yearLP, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1959 | UK | Decca LXTA-5539/41First yearLP, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Germany | Decca SXL 2167/69LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1960 | Japan | Decca SLX 3-2LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1960 | Spain | Decca SXL 2167/9LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1960 | UK | Decca LXT 5539/41LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1960 | UK | Decca SXL 2167-8-9LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1960 | US | London Records A4345 / London Records A-4345LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1960 | US | London Records OSA-1313 / London Records OSA 1313LP, Stereo, Box Set, Album | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Album |
| 1963 | France | Decca LXT 5539/41LP, Album, Box Set | LP, Album, Box Set |
| 1963 | UK | Decca SXL 2167/9 / Decca SXL 2167-8-9LP, Stereo, Repress, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Repress, Box Set |
| 1964 | Chile | London Records SOL-318 / London Records SLLC-38306LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1967 | Argentina | London Records LLC 17948/50 / London Records SLLC 17948/50LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1967 | Japan | London Records SLC 7022/4LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Japan | London Records SLA 7501/3LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | UK | Decca 414 087-1LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1986 | US | London Records 414 087-1 LJ3LP, Stereo, Reissue, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Reissue, Box Set |
| 1989 | Spain | Decca 424944-1LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1989 | Spain | Decca 424 942-1LP | LP |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Germany | Decca SXL 2167-8-9LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1997 | Germany | Decca SXL 2167-8-9LP, Limited Edition, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing, Limited | LP, Limited Edition, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing, Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | London Records SLC 1008LP | LP |
| ? | Australia | Decca SXLA 2167/9Box Set, LP, Album, Stereo | Box Set, LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Brazil | London Records LLC 5189/91LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca LXT 5539/41LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.35261LP, Album, Reissue, Box Set | LP, Album, Reissue, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2167/69LP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | Decca LXT 5539/41LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2167/69 / Decca SXL 2167/69-BLP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2167/69-BLP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2167-69-BLP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2167/69-BBox Set, LP, Stereo | Box Set, LP, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | London Records L54C-5070/2LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Decca SXL 2167/9LP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Spain | Decca SXL 2167/9LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | UK | Decca SXL 2167/9 / Decca SXL 2167-8-9LP, Stereo, Repress, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Repress, Box Set |
43 vinyl pressings of Aida are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1959 and 1997.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in UK, Australia, South Africa. One of them is Decca SXL 2167-8-9, released December 1959.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SXL 2167-8-9, LXTA-5539/41, SXL 2167 - 8 - 9, SXLA 2242) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZAL-4545-4E BC ET 31 SM and ZAL-4546-2E BU ET 2B. 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.
