Vinyl pressings
by Jean Sibelius · 1959
Symphony No. 2 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.
9 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year, in 6 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.
K2 RP3212 5SRunout, side A, var. 1
K2 RP3213-5SRunout, side B, var. 1
K2 RP3212-1S A6 IRunout, side A, var. 2
K2 RP3213-1S I B1Runout, side B, var. 2
K2 RY3214-5S B1 ISide A stamped, variant 1
K2 RY3215-3S C5 ISide B stamped, variant 1
K2 RY3214-1S A1 ISide A stamped, variant 2
K2 RY3215-3S A1 ISide B stamped, variant 2
K2 RY3214-2SA side runout, stamped
K2 RY3215-2SB side runout, stamped
K2 RY -3214Label side A
K2 RY -3215Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Canada | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2342First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Germany | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2342 / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2342First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | Italy | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2342 / RCA Victor Red Seal LM 2342First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Japan | Victor LS-2278 / Victor Red Seal LS-2278First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Japan | Victor Red Seal SHP-2141First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | UK | RCA Red Seal RB-16186 / RCA Red Seal LM-2342First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | UK | RCA Red Seal SB-2070First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1959 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2342 / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2342First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2342 / RCA Victor Red Seal LM 2342First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2342LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1965 | France | RCA Victor 630.809 ALP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | France | RCA Victor 640.809 ALP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | UK | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 234LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | London Records STS 15098 / London Records STS.15098LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | UK | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 234LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | Japan | London Records GT 9047LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | UK | Decca ECS 789 / Decca ECS.789LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | London Records K15C-8035LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | UK | Contour Red Label CC 7563LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1988 | Japan | London Records K38C 70028 / London Records K38C-70028LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2342LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | London Stereo Treasury Series STS 15098LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Decca 592029LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2342LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2342 / RCA Victor Red Seal LSC 2342LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Israel | RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2342LP | LP |
| ? | US | London Records STS 15098LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2342 / Classic Records LSC 2342LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2342LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| ? | US | RCA Victor Red Seal LSC-2342LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | London Records STS 15098 / London Records STS.15098LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | London Records STS 15098 / London Records STS.15098LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | London Records STS 15098LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
33 vinyl pressings of Symphony No. 2 are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1959 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US, UK, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is RCA Victor Red Seal LM-2342, released September 1959.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LM-2342, LSC-2342, RB-16186, SB-2070) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, K2 RP3212 5S and K2 RP3213-5S. 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.
Violinkonzert - Finlandia
1965 · 48 pressings
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Minor, Op. 47 / Humoresques Op. 87
1965 · 42 pressings
Finlandia · Valse Triste · Der Schwan Von Tuonela ·Tapiola
1967 · 40 pressings
Symphony No.5 And Karelia Suite
1960 · 33 pressings
Finlandia · Karelia Suite · Valse Triste, etc.
1966 · 33 pressings
Finlandia
1960 · 30 pressings
