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Ballads, Blues And Boasters by Harry Belafonte, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Ballads, Blues And Boasters

by Harry Belafonte · 1964

26 pressings11 countriesCalypsoBluesPopFolk

Ballads, Blues And Boasters was first pressed on vinyl in 1964. 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 Ballads, Blues And Boasters

18 pressings came out in 1964, 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.

US

September 1964
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-2953
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Indianapolis Press
Runout / matrix

RR3M--0232--1S I Ʌ2Side A runout, stamped

RR3M--0233--1S I ɅISide B runout, stamped

RR3M-0232Side A label

RR3M-0233Side B label

Full details of this pressing

US

1964
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-2953
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Hollywood Press
Runout / matrix

RR3M--0232--3S H ARunout A stamped

RR3M--0233--3S HRunout B stamped

RR3M-0232Label A

RR3M-0233Label B

Full details of this pressing

US

1964
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LSP-2953RCA Victor LSP 2953
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Rockaway Pressing
Runout / matrix

RR3S--0234-16S RSide A runout, stamped, variant 1

RR3S--0235-19S RSide B runout, stamped, variant 1

RR3S--0234-15S 11 RSide A runout, stamped, variant 2

RR3S--0235-19S 11 RSide B runout, stamped, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1964
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-2953
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Rockaway Press
Runout / matrix

RR3M--0232--2S A2 RSide A stamped except "A2"

RR3M--0233--5S A1 RSide B stamped

RR3M-0232Label A

RR3M-0233Label B

Full details of this pressing

US

1964
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LSP-2953
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Indianapolis Press
Runout / matrix

RR3S-0234 - 10S I Ʌ1Side A label

RR3S-0234 - 10S I Ʌ2Side B label

Full details of this pressing

US

1964
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LSP-2953
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Hollywood press
Runout / matrix

RR3S--0234-12S HSide 1 stamped

RR3S--0235-12S HSide 2 stamped

RR3S-0234Side 1 label

RR3S-0234Side 2 label

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 26 vinyl pressings

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

1960s19 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1964ArgentinaRCA Victor LPM-2953First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1964AustraliaRCA LSP-2953First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1964AustraliaRCA LPM-2953First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1964CanadaRCA Victor LSP-2953First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1964CanadaRCA Victor LPM-2953First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1964GermanyRCA Victor LSP-2953First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1964GermanyRCA Victor LPM-2953First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1964GermanyRCA Victor LSP-2953First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1964GermanyRCA Victor LSP-2953First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1964New ZealandRCA Victor LPM-2953First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1964UKRCA Victor RD-7672First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1964UKRCA Victor SF-7672 / RCA Victor LSP-2953First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1964USRCA Victor LPM-2953First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1964USRCA Victor LSP-2953 / RCA Victor LSP 2953First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1964USRCA Victor LPM-2953First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
All 19 pressings from the 1960s
1970s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1971FranceRCA Victor 741018LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1971FranceRCA Victor 741018LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing
Year unknown5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?GermanyRCA Victor LSP-2953LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?ItalyRCA Victor LPM-2953LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?JapanVictor SHP-5393LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?TaiwanFirst Record ⓈFL-1152 / First Record Ⓢ FL-1152LP, Album, Stereo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Album, Stereo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl
?TaiwanFirst Record FL 1152LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinylLP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl

Tracklist

  1. A1Tone The Bell Easy3:20
  2. A2Blue Willow Moan3:35
  3. A3Ananias2:50
  4. A4Boy3:49
  5. A5My Love Is A Dewdrop3:25
  6. A6Back Of The Bus3:25
  7. B1Pastures Of Plenty3:38
  8. B2John The Revelator3:41
  9. B3Four Strong Winds2:54
  10. B4Black Betty4:14
  11. B5Big Boat Up The River4:06

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Ballads, Blues And Boasters are there?

26 vinyl pressings of Ballads, Blues And Boasters are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1964 and 1971.

When was Ballads, Blues And Boasters first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1964, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is RCA Victor LPM-2953, released September 1964.

How do I tell if my copy of Ballads, Blues And Boasters is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LPM-2953, LSP-2953, RD-7672, SF-7672) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RR3M--0232--1S I Ʌ2 and RR3M--0233--1S I ɅI. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Ballads, Blues And Boasters 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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