Vinyl pressings
by Johann Sebastian Bach · 1962
St. Matthew Passion was first pressed on vinyl in 1962. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
7 pressings came out in 1962, the album's first year, in 3 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.
YAX-X-891-D2 #2 ⌂ &side A runout stamped
YAX-X-892-D1 ⌂ &side B runout stamped
YAX-X-893-D2 ⌂ &side C runout stamped
YAX-X-894-D1 ⌂ &side D runout stamped
XAX-2308-N1 ⌂side A runout stamped
XAX-2309-N1 ⌂side B runout stamped
XAX-2310-N2 ⌂side C runout stamped
XAX-2311-N2 ⌂side D runout stamped
XAX 2233-2NSide A, runout
noneSide B, runout
XAX 2234-4NSide C, runout
XAX 2235-4NSide D, runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | France | Columbia FCX 924 à FCXS 928First yearBox Set, LP, Mono · Mono | Box Set, LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | France | Columbia SAXF 243 / 7First yearBox Set, LP, Stereo | Box Set, LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | UK | Columbia CMS 842First yearBox Set, LP, Single Sided, Mono, LP, Mono, LP, Mono, LP, Mono, LP, Mono · Mono | Box Set, LP, Single Sided, Mono, LP, Mono, LP, Mono, LP, Mono, LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | UK | Columbia SAXS 2446First yearLP | LP |
| 1962 | UK | Columbia SMS 1013 / Columbia SAXS 2446First yearBox Set, Stereo, LP, Single Sided, LP, Stereo | Box Set, Stereo, LP, Single Sided, LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Angel Records 3599 E/L / Angel Records SEL 3599First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set, Album | LP, Stereo, Box Set, Album |
| 1962 | US | Angel Records 3599 E/LFirst yearLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Angel Records 3599 E/L / Angel Records SEL 3599LP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set, Album | LP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | UK | His Master's Voice SLS 827 / His Master's Voice 1E 191 ◦ 01312-5Box Set, Reissue, Stereo, LP | Box Set, Reissue, Stereo, LP |
| 1973 | UK | His Master's Voice SLS 827 / His Master's Voice 1E 191 ◦ 01312-5Box Set, LP, Reissue, Stereo | Box Set, LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1974 | UK | His Master's Voice SLS 827 / His Master's Voice SLS.827LP, Repress, Box Set | LP, Repress, Box Set |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | France | La Voix De Son Maître 2C 165-01312/5LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1983 | Yugoslavia | His Master's Voice LSHMV-70534 / Jugoton LSHMV-70534LP, Reissue, Box Set, Stereo, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Box Set, Stereo, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Greece | Angel Records 7243 5 68234 1 9 / Angel Records 5 68234 1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Angel Records 3599 E/LLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono | LP, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Angel Records 3599 E/LLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | His Master's Voice 1C 153-01 312/15Box Set, LP, Reissue, Stereo | Box Set, LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Columbia STC 80 694LP | LP |
| ? | Germany | Columbia STC 80 693LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Columbia C 91 200/03 / Columbia WCX 573/76Box Set, Mono, LP, Reissue · Mono | Box Set, Mono, LP, Reissue · Mono |
| ? | Germany | His Master's Voice SFKP 78 630 / Die Stimme Seines Herrn SFKP 78 630Box Set, LP, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | Box Set, LP, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | Germany | Electrola SME 91 200/03 / Die Stimme Seines Herrn SME 91 200/03Box Set, Album, LP, Reissue, Repress | Box Set, Album, LP, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Germany | Columbia STC 91 200/03Box Set, LP, Reissue, Stereo | Box Set, LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | Angel Records EAC77245-48Box Set, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Stereo | Box Set, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Stereo |
| ? | UK | His Master's Voice SLS 827 / His Master's Voice 1E 191-01 312/5LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | UK | His Master's Voice SLS 827 / His Master's Voice 1E 191 ◦ 01312-5Box Set, LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | Box Set, LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Columbia SMS 1013 / Columbia SAXS 2446Box Set, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Stereo, LP, Single Sided, Stereo | Box Set, Reissue, Stereo, LP, Stereo, LP, Single Sided, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Columbia CMS 842LP, Single Sided, Reissue, Mono, LP, Reissue, Mono, Box Set, Mono · Mono | LP, Single Sided, Reissue, Mono, LP, Reissue, Mono, Box Set, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Columbia SMS 1013 / Columbia SAXS 2446Box Set, Repress, Stereo, LP, Single Sided, Stereo, LP, Stereo | Box Set, Repress, Stereo, LP, Single Sided, Stereo, LP, Stereo |
30 vinyl pressings of St. Matthew Passion are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1962 and 1994.
The earliest pressings are from 1962, in US, UK, France. One of them is Angel Records 3599 E/L, released September 1962.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 3599 E/L, CMS 842, SAXS 2446, SMS 1013) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, YAX-X-891-D2 #2 ⌂ & and YAX-X-892-D1 ⌂ &. 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.
