Vinyl pressings
by Harry Belafonte · 1957
Cocoanut Woman / Island In The Sun was first pressed on vinyl in 1957. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
38 pressings came out in 1957, the album's first year, in 14 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.
H2 PW1274-2S I A3Runout, side A, stamped, variant 1
H2 PW 1279-1S IRunout, side B, stamped, variant 1
H2 PW1274-2S I A1Runout, side A, stamped, variant 2
H2 PW 1279-2S I A4Runout, side B, stamped, variant 2
H2 PW1274-4S A2 RRunout side A variant 1 etched
H2 PW1279-4S A2 RRunout side B variant 1 etched
H2 PW1274-5S A1 RRunout side A variant 2 stamped
H2 PW1279-4S A4 RRunout side B variant 2 stamped
H2PW-1274A side label
H2PW-1279B side label
H2 PW1274-6S H A1Deadwax A
H2PW-1279-6S H A1Deadwax B
H2 PB 1274 1S IA side stamped
H2 PB 1279 4S IB side stamped
H2 PW1274-4S A2 RRunout side A
H2 PW1279-4S A2 RRunout side B
H2PW-1274Label side A
H2PW-1279Label side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Australia | RCA 10306First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1957 | Australia | RCA 10306First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1957 | Australia | RCA 10306First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1957 | Australia | RCA Victor 10306First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1957 | Belgium | RCA 47-6885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1957 | Canada | RCA Victor 47-6885First year7", Promo · Promo | 7", Promo · Promo |
| 1957 | Denmark | RCA 47-6885First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1957 | Finland | RCA 47-6885First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1957 | France | RCA Victor 45.404First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | Germany | RCA 47-6885First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1957 | Germany | RCA 47-6885First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1957 | Ireland | RCA RCA-1007First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1957 | Italy | RCA Italiana A25V 0605First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1957 | Italy | RCA Italiana 45N 0605 / RCA 45N 0605First year7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | Italy | RCA Italiana 45N 0605First year7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | UK | RCA Victor RCA 10077", 45 RPM, Single, Repress | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | France | RCA Victor 49.6587", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo |
| 1975 | Germany | RCA Victor 47-68857", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1979 | Germany | RCA Victor 47-68857", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Belgium | RCA Victor 45.68857", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor 20-6885Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Finland | RCA 20-6885Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 47-68857", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA 20-6885Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Germany | RCA 47-68857", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| ? | Germany | RCA 47-68857", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 47-68857", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor 47-68857", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| ? | Germany | RCA 47-68857", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| ? | Germany | RCA 47-68857", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Germany | RCA 47-68857", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| ? | Germany | RCA 47-68857", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | Greece | RCA 47g 6167", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Greece | RCA Victor 47g 6167", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
76 vinyl pressings of Cocoanut Woman / Island In The Sun are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1957 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1957, in US, UK, Canada, Italy and more. One of them is RCA Victor 47-6885.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 47-6885, 20-6885, RCA 1007, RCA-1007) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, H2 PW1274-2S I A3 and H2 PW 1279-1S I. 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.
