Vinyl pressings
by Hector Berlioz · 1960
Symphonie Fantastique was first pressed on vinyl in 1960. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
4 pressings came out in 1960, 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.
SR 90254A FR 2 B1 P17 I [P17 is hand etched]Runout side A - machine stamped
SR 90254B FR 5 I [I is machine stamped and turned 90 degrees]Runout side B - hand etched
MG 50254A FR 1Runout side A - machine stamped
MG 50254B FR 2Runout side B - machine stamped
SR 90254A FR 2 B1 P17 I [P17 is hand etched]Runout side A - machine stamped
SR 90254B FR 1A1 P17 I [I is Machine stamped; P1 is hand etched; SR 90254B is hand etched]Runout side B - hand etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90254 / Mercury SR90254First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1960 | US | Mercury MG50254 / Mercury Living Presence MG50254First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90254 / Mercury SR90254First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1960 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90254 / Mercury SR90254LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| 1960 | UK | Mercury Living Presence MMA 11104First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90375 / Mercury SR90375LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1964 | UK | Philips GL 5829LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Philips 6538 001LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Italy | Mercury Living Presence SR90254 / Mercury SR90254LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Italy | Mercury SR90254 / Mercury Living Presence SR90254LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Mercury MG50375LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Europe | Mercury 120 504 MGLLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | France | Mercury 130.504 MLYLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 6538 001LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 6513 015LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 130504 MGYLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Mercury 120 504 MGLLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Wing Records SRW 18098LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90254 / Mercury SR90254LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
19 vinyl pressings of Symphonie Fantastique are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1960 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1960, in US, UK. One of them is Mercury Living Presence SR90254.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SR90254, MG50254, MMA 11104) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SR 90254A FR 2 B1 P17 I [P17 is hand etched] and SR 90254B FR 5 I [I is machine stamped and turned 90 degrees]. 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.
