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Calypso by Harry Belafonte, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Calypso

by Harry Belafonte · 1956

108 pressings26 countriesCalypsoLatinFolkWorld

Calypso was first pressed on vinyl in 1956. 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 Calypso

24 pressings came out in 1956, the album's first year, in 12 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

June 2, 1956
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-1248
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Indianapolis Pressing
Runout / matrix

G2 PP2984-11S I B1Runout side A - variant 1

G2 PP2985-13 I A1Runout side B - variant 1

G2 PP2984 1S I B1Runout side A - variant 2

G2 PP2985 3S I B5Runout side B - variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1956
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-1248
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Hollywood Pressing
Runout / matrix

G2 PP2985-5S Hside B runout stamped

G2 PP2984-7S H ASide 1, Variant 1 [stamped]

G2 PP2985-7S ASide 2, Variant 1 [stamped]

G2 PP2984-32S HSide 1, Variant 2 [stamped]

Full details of this pressing

US

1956
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-1248RCA Victor LPM 1248
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Rockaway Pressing
Runout / matrix

G2 PP2984-17S B1 RSide A runout, variant 1

G2 PP2985-20S A1 RSide B runout, variant 1

G2 PP2984-17S B1 RSide A runout, variant 2

G2 PP2985-18S B1 RSide B runout, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1956
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-1248
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Rockaway Pressing
Runout / matrix

(stamped) G2 PP2984-28S A1 R

(etched/*stamped*) G2PP - 2985-28S *B1 R*

Full details of this pressing

US

1956
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-1248
Format
LP, Album, Mono
Runout / matrix

G2 PP2984-6S ASide 1 runout stamped

G2 PP2985-6S ASide 2 runout stamped

Full details of this pressing

US

1956
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor LPM-1248
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Hollywood Pressing
Runout / matrix

G2 PP2984-7S H ASide 1

G2 PP2985-7S ASide 2

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 108 vinyl pressings

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

1950s39 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1956ArgentinaRCA Victor AGL-3003First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956AustraliaRCA L10244First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956AustraliaRCA L10244First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956CanadaRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM 1248First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956CanadaRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM 1248First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956CanadaRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM 1248First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956CanadaRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM 1248First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956FranceRCA 430.212First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1956GermanyRCA LPM-1248-C / RCA LPM 1248 CFirst yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956GermanyRCA LPM 1248First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956IndiaRCA Victor LPM-1248First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956JapanVICTOR LS-5026First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956New ZealandRCA LPM-1248First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956South AfricaRCA Victor LPM-1248First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1956South AfricaRCA Victor 31,074First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
All 39 pressings from the 1950s
1960s18 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1960AustraliaRCA L10244LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
1960USRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM 1248LP, Album, Repress, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono
1960USRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM 1248LP, Album, Repress, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono
1961New ZealandRCA Victor LSP-1248(e) / RCA Victor LSP 1248LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1961USRCA Victor LPM-1248LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1961USRCA Victor LSP-1248(e) / RCA Victor LSP 1248LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1961USRCA Victor LSP-1248(e) / RCA Victor LSP 1248LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1962FranceRCA 430.212 / RCA Victor 430.212LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
1962FranceRCA 430.212 / RCA Victor 430.212LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
1962JapanVictor SHP-5095LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1963IsraelRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM 1248LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
1963USRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM-1248 RELP, Album, Mono, Reissue · MonoLP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono
1963USRCA Victor LPM-1248 / RCA Victor LPM 1248LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · MonoLP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono
1965USRCA Victor LSP-1248(e)LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1965USRCA Victor LSP-1248(e) / RCA Victor LSP 1248LP, ReissueLP, Reissue
All 18 pressings from the 1960s
1970s5 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1971SpainRCA LSP-10444LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1971FranceRCA Victor 741.006 / RCA Victor LSP 1247LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1971FranceRCA Victor 741.006 / RCA Victor LSP 1247LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing
1972FranceRCA Victor 741.006 / RCA Victor LSP 1247LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1977KenyaRCA Victor 741.006 / RCA Victor LSP-1247LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980s7 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1980GermanyRCA Victor CL 13801LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980South AfricaRCA Victor MMT 1090LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1980ZimbabweRCA Victor MMT 1090LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1981NetherlandsRCA International NL-13801LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1981SpainRCA NL-13801LP, Album, RepressLP, Album, Repress
1982AustraliaRCA AYL1 I 3801LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1983ItalyRCA Camden CL 83801LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
2010s4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2011EuropeRumble Records RUM2011015LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
2017SpainWaxTime 772215LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
2018EuropeDOL DOL957HGLP, AlbumLP, Album
2018EuropeDel Ray Records DR10010LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
Year unknown35 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?UnknownRCA Victor 05(0131)00060 / Sonolux 05(0131)00060LP, AlbumLP, Album
?AustraliaRCA SL10244LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?AustraliaRCA Australia L10244LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?AustraliaRCA L10244LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?AustraliaRCA SL-10244 / RCA Victor SL-10244LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?AustraliaRCA Australia L10244LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?CanadaRCA Victor LPM-1248LP, Album, Repress, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Repress, Mono · Mono
?CanadaRCA Victor LPE-1248LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?CanadaRCA Victor LPM-1248LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
?CanadaRCA Victor LPE-1248 / RCA Victor LPE 1248LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?CanadaRCA Victor LPE-1248 / RCA Victor LPE 1248LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?CanadaRCA Victor LPE-1248LP, ReissueLP, Reissue
?CanadaRCA Victor LPE-1248LP, ReissueLP, Reissue
?CanadaRCA Victor LPM-1248LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
?CanadaRCA AYL1-3801LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
All 35 pressings from unknown years

Tracklist

  1. A1Day O3:02
  2. A2I Do Adore Her2:48
  3. A3Jamaica Farewell3:02
  4. A4Will His Love Be Like His Rum?2:33
  5. A5Dolly Dawn3:13
  6. B1Star O2:02
  7. B2The Jack-Ass Song2:52
  8. B3Hosanna2:34
  9. B4Come Back Liza3:03
  10. B5Brown Skin Girl (Calypso)2:43
  11. B6Man Smart (Woman Smarter)3:31

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Calypso are there?

108 vinyl pressings of Calypso are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1956 and 2018.

When was Calypso first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1956, in US, Argentina, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA Victor LPM-1248, released June 2, 1956.

How do I tell if my copy of Calypso is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LPM-1248, AGL-3003, L10244, 430.212) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, G2 PP2984-11S I B1 and G2 PP2985-13 I A1. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Calypso 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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