Vinyl pressings
by Harry Belafonte · 1958
Belafonte Sings The Blues 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.
23 pressings came out in 1958, 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.
J2 PP4468-4S I A1(var. 1) A-Side - Stamped
J2 PP4469-4S I B2(var. 1) B-Side - Stamped
J2 PP4468-4S ɪ A1(var. 2) A-Side - Stamped
J2 PP4469-4S ɪ A1(var. 2) B-Side - Stamped
J2 PY4470-23SRunout, side A
J2 PY4471-18SRunout, side B
J2 PY4470-14S BI R B(var. 1) side A runout stamped
J2 PY4471-8S BI R(var. 1) side B runout stamped
J2 PP4468-4S I B1Runout A
J2 PP4469-4S I B1Runout B
J2PP-4468Label A
J2PP-4469Label B
J2 PP4468-8S A1 RA-side runout, stamped
J2 PP4469-2S A2 RB-side runout, stamped
J2PP-4468A-side label
J2PP-4469B-side label
J2 PP4468-4S I A6Side A runout, stamped
J2 PP4469-4S B4 ISide B runout, stamped
J2PP-4468Side A label
J2PP-4469Side B label
J2 PP4468-2S I C1(var. 1) A-Side - Stamped
J2 PP4469-2S(var. 1) B-Side - Stamped
J2PP-4468A-Side - Label
J2PP-4469B-Side - Label
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 | RCA L10563First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Canada | RCA Victor LPM-1972First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Canada | RCA Victor LOP-1006First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-1972First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1958 | Germany | RCA LSP 1972First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1958 | Germany | RCA LPM-1972 / RCA LPM 1972First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Germany | RCA Victor LOP-1006-CFirst yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Germany | RCA LSP 1972First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1958 | Italy | RCA ITALIANA LOP-1006First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Italy | RCA Italiana LOP 1006First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Japan | Victor LS-5120First yearLP | LP |
| 1958 | UK | RCA RD-27095First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1958 | UK | RCA SF.5016First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1958 | US | RCA Victor LOP-1006First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | US | RCA Victor LPM-1972LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | France | RCA Victor 430 274 SLP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| 1969 | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | South Africa | Teal Record Company GSL 241LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Europe | RCA Victor LSP-1972 / Classic Records LSP-1972LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 1996 | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972 / Classic Records LSP-1972LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Numbered | LP, Album, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Numbered |
| 1996 | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1996 | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972LP, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | Classic Records LSP 1972-45 / RCA Victor LSP-197212", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | 12", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2008 | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972 / Classic Records LSP-1972LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 2009 | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972 / Classic Records LSP-1972LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Impex Records IMP6012-4512", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2012 | US | Impex Records IMP6012-4512", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| 2012 | US | Impex Records IMP6012-4512", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2015 | US | Analogue Productions AAPF 1972LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2015 | US | Analogue Productions AAPF 1972LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-1972LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | RCA Victor 740.652LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Victor SHP-5186LP | LP |
| ? | US | Classic Records LSP-1972-45 / RCA Victor LSP-197212", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Single Sided, Album, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972 / Classic Records LSP-1972LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSP-1972LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
48 vinyl pressings of Belafonte Sings The Blues are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1958 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1958, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor LOP-1006.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LOP-1006, LSP-1972, LPM-1972, LSP 1972) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, J2 PP4468-4S I A1 and J2 PP4469-4S I B2. 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.
Calypso
1956 · 108 pressings
Belafonte At Carnegie Hall (The Complete Concert)
1959 · 94 pressings
Cocoanut Woman / Island In The Sun
1957 · 76 pressings
Belafonte Returns To Carnegie Hall
1960 · 65 pressings
An Evening With Belafonte / Mouskouri
1965 · 63 pressings
Banana Boat (Day-O) / Star-O
1956 · 57 pressings
