Vinyl pressings
by Hector Berlioz · 1959
Symphonie Fantastique 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.
8 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year, in 2 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.
VS-188・A-1 ARC 1254 RVG STEREOEtched & stamped side 1 runout
VS-188・B-4 STEREO RVG ARC [no date]Etched & stamped side 2 runout
RVG VS-188 B-4 STEREOEtching / Stampers A
ARC 3-16-4 RVG STEREO VS-188 A-1Etching / Stampers B
VS-188 B-4Etching / Stampers A (variation 1)
VS-188 A-1Etching / Stampers B (variation 1)
S-188-AEtching / Stampers A (variation 2)
S-188-BEtching / Stampers B (variation 2)
RVG STEREO VS-188 ARunout Side 1
RVG STEREO VS-188 B-4Runout Side 2
S-188-ALabel Side 1
S-188-BLabel Side 2
M-1152･A ･ ARC RVGRunout side A
M-1125･B ･ ARC RVGRunout side B
M-1152-AMatrix label side A
M-1152-B
VS-188 B-4Etching / Stampers A (variation 1)
VS-188 A-1Etching / Stampers B (variation 1)
S-188-AEtching / Stampers A (variation 2)
S-188-BEtching / Stampers B (variation 2)
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 | France | VOX GBY 11.090First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | France | VOX PL 11.090 / VOX GBY 11.090First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | France | VOX PL/D 11.090First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | VOX STPL 511.090First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | VOX STPL 511.090First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | VOX STPL 511.090First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | VOX PL 11.090First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | VOX STPL/D 511.090First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | France | Super Majestic BBH 1.490 / Super Majestic SBBH 1490LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | France | Le Livre De Paris-Hachette 79 - 4LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | RCA Custom FW-322LP | LP |
| 1976 | US | RCA Custom FW-322LP | LP |
| 1977 | Canada | Funk & Wagnalls FW-322 / RCA Custom FW-322LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | Funk & Wagnalls FW-322LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | Funk & Wagnalls FW-322 / Funk & Wagnalls FW 322LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | Fabbri Editori GMN-12LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1979 | Argentina | Servicios Editoriales VisconteaLP, Numbered, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Numbered | LP, Numbered, Promo, Stereo · Promo, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Brazil | Abril CulturalLP | LP |
| 1980 | Brazil | Abril CulturalLP | LP |
| 1980 | Romania | Electrecord ST-ECE 01649LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Italy | Fabbri Editori GMN-12LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1981 | Spain | Philips 68 51 050LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1982 | Australia | Bay Records FW-624LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Brazil | Abril CulturalLP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1984 | Canada | RCA Custom FW-624LP | LP |
| 1984 | Spain | Sovisa SLP. 30.439LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1984 | US | RCA Custom FW-624LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Rainbow RPG 5033LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Romania | Electrecord ST-ECE 01649LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Romania | Electrecord ST-ECE 01649LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Stereo Sounds SSC 518LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | US | Classics International CIS-1803LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | US | VOX STPL 511.090LP, Misprint, Repress, Stereo | LP, Misprint, Repress, Stereo |
33 vinyl pressings of Symphonie Fantastique are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1959 and 1984.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US, France. One of them is VOX STPL 511.090.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use STPL 511.090, PL 11.090, STPL/D 511.090, GBY 11.090) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VS-188・A-1 ARC 1254 RVG STEREO and VS-188・B-4 STEREO RVG ARC [no date]. 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.
