Vinyl pressings
by Jackie Gleason · 1952
Music For Lovers Only was first pressed on vinyl in 1952. 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 1952, the album's first year, in 4 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.
H-352-Y6 #4 [Anvil symbol] 5-53A side stamped variant 1
H-352-Z4 #3 [Anvil symbol] 5-53B side stamped variant 1
H-352-Y5#2 [Anvil symbol] 3-53 6A side stamped variant 2
H-353-Z4 [Anvil symbol] 1-53 4B side stamped variant 2
CAP H 352 YXA side stamped variant 1
CAP H 352 ZXB side stamped variant 1
Manufactured in GermanyA side
H-352-Y17stamped in the runout on side A
H-352-Z26stamped in the runout on side B
H-352-Y8 ⌂
H-352-Z13 ⌂
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Germany | Capitol Records H352 / Capitol Records H-352First yearLP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| 1952 | Italy | Capitol Records H-352First yearLP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| 1952 | Netherlands | Capitol Records H 352 / Capitol Records H352First yearLP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| 1952 | US | Capitol Records H352 / Capitol Records H-352First yearLP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| 1953 | Canada | Capitol Records H352 / Capitol Records H-352LP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| 1953 | France | Capitol Records H-352 MLP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1953 | US | Capitol Records H-352 / Capitol Records H 352LP, 10", Album, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| 1953 | US | Capitol Records H-352LP, 10", Album, Repress | LP, 10", Album, Repress |
| 1953 | US | Capitol Records EBF 3527", EP, Mono · Mono | 7", EP, Mono · Mono |
| 1953 | US | Capitol Records H-352 / Capitol Records H352LP, 10", Album, Repress | LP, 10", Album, Repress |
| 1953 | US | Capitol Records H352 / Capitol Records H-352LP, 10", Album, Repress | LP, 10", Album, Repress |
| 1953 | US | Capitol Records W475LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | Canada | Capitol Records W-352LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | Capitol Records L-352 / Capitol Records L352LP, 10", Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | Uruguay | Capitol Records SW 352LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | US | Capitol Records SW-352LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1960 | US | Capitol Records SW-352LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Capitol Records SW-352LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Capitol Records SW-352 / Capitol Records SW352LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Capitol Records SW-352LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Capitol Records W-352LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | Capitol Records W-352 / Capitol Records W 352LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| 1969 | US | Capitol Records SW-352 / Capitol Records SW352LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Capitol Records CLL 005LP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records H-352LP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records SN 66104LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records EBF-352 / Capitol Records EBF 3527", 45 RPM, Album, EP | 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records SW-352LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records W-352LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | France | Capitol Records EBF-3527", 45 RPM, Album | 7", 45 RPM, Album |
| ? | Germany | Capitol Records W-352LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Germany | Capitol Records EBF 3527", 45 RPM, Album, EP | 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP |
| ? | Japan | Capitol Records CSP-1048LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Netherlands | Capitol Records T-352 / Delta T-352LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Capitol Records 5C 038-81628LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | New Zealand | Capitol Records H-352LP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| ? | Sweden | Capitol Records H-35210", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Mono · Mono | 10", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Capitol Records LC 6588LP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
70 vinyl pressings of Music For Lovers Only are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1952 and 1969.
The earliest pressings are from 1952, in US, Germany, Italy, Netherlands. One of them is Capitol Records H352, released October 27, 1952.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use H352, H-352, H 352) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, H-352-Y6 #4 [Anvil symbol] 5-53 and H-352-Z4 #3 [Anvil symbol] 5-53. 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.
