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Johann Sebastian BachThe Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete)

Vinyl pressings

The Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete)

by Johann Sebastian Bach · 1955

11 pressings5 countriesBaroquePreludeHarpsichordSolo

The Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete) was first pressed on vinyl in 1955. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of The Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete)

1 pressing came out in 1955, the album's first year. 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.

US

1955
Label and catalog number
RCA Victor Red Seal LM-6800
Format
LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Mono, Box Set, Limited Edition · Signed
Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 11 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1950s3 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1955USRCA Victor Red Seal LM-6800First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Mono, Box Set, Limited Edition · Mono, Limited, NumberedLP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Mono, Box Set, Limited Edition · Mono, Limited, Numbered
1958CanadaRCA Victor Red Seal LM-6801LP, Album, Box SetLP, Album, Box Set
1958USRCA Victor Red Seal LM-6801LP, Album, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1960s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1968ItalyRCA Red Seal LMD 6801LP, Deluxe EditionLP, Deluxe Edition
1970s3 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1971UKRCA Victor Red Seal SER 5603/8LP, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1972GermanyRCA NA-R 25 067/1-5LP, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1979ItalyRCA Victrola VL 42351(6)LP, Reissue, Box SetLP, Reissue, Box Set
Year unknown4 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?GermanyRCA NA-R 25 067/1-5LP, Reissue, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Reissue, Mono, Box Set · Mono
?ItalyRCA Red Seal LMD 6801 (6)LP, Reissue, Box Set, Deluxe EditionLP, Reissue, Box Set, Deluxe Edition
?ItalyRCA Red Seal VLS 42351(6)LP, StereoLP, Stereo
?USRCA Victor Red Seal LM-6801LP, Album, Reissue, Box SetLP, Album, Reissue, Box Set

Tracklist

  1. Book 1
  2. A1Prelude And Fugue I In C Major
  3. A2Prelude And Fugue II In C Minor
  4. A3Prelude And Fugue III In C-Sharp Major
  5. A4Prelude And Fugue IV In C-Sharp Minor
  6. A5Prelude And Fugue V In D Major
  7. B1Prelude And Fugue VI In D Minor
  8. B2Prelude And Fugue VII In E-Flat Major
  9. B3Prelude VIII In E-Flat Minor; Fugue VIII In D-Sharp Minor
  10. C1Prelude And Fugue IX In E Major
  11. C2Prelude And Fugue X In E Minor
  12. C3Prelude And Fugue XI In F Major
  13. C4Prelude And Fugue XII In F Minor
  14. D1Prelude And Fugue XIII In F-Sharp Major
  15. D2Prelude And Fugue XIV In F-Sharp Minor
  16. D3Prelude And Fugue XV In G Major
  17. D4Prelude And Fugue XVI In G Minor
  18. E1Prelude And Fugue XVII In A-Flat Major
  19. E2Prelude And Fugue XVIII In G-Sharp Minor
  20. E3Prelude And Fugue XIX In A Major
  21. E4Prelude And Fugue XX In A Minor
  22. E5Prelude And Fugue XXI In B-Flat Major
  23. F1Prelude And Fugue XXII In B-Flat Minor
  24. F2Prelude And Fugue XXIII In B Major
  25. F3Prelude And Fugue XXIV In B Minor
  26. Book 2
  27. G1Prelude And Fugue I In C Major
  28. G2Prelude And Fugue II In C Minor
  29. G3Prelude And Fugue III In C-Sharp Major
  30. G4Prelude And Fugue IV In C-Sharp Minor
  31. H1Prelude And Fugue V In D Major
  32. H2Prelude And Fugue VI In D Minor
  33. H3Prelude And Fugue VII In E-Flat Major
  34. H4Prelude And Fugue VIII In D-Sharp Minor
  35. I1Prelude And Fugue IX In E Major
  36. I2Prelude And Fugue X In E Minor
  37. I3Prelude And Fugue XI In F Major
  38. I4Prelude And Fugue XII In F Minor
  39. J1Prelude And Fugue XIII In F-Sharp Major
  40. J2Prelude And Fugue XIV In F-Sharp Minor
  41. J3Prelude And Fugue XV In G Major
  42. J4Prelude And Fugue XVI In G Minor
  43. K1Prelude And Fugue XVII In A-Flat Major
  44. K2Prelude And Fugue XVIII In G-Sharp Minor
  45. K3Prelude And Fugue XIX In A Major
  46. K4Prelude And Fugue XX In A Minor
  47. L1Prelude And Fugue XXI in B-Flat Major
  48. L2Prelude And Fugue XXII In B-Flat Minor
  49. L3Prelude And Fugue XXIII In B Major
  50. L4Prelude And Fugue XXIV In B Minor

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of The Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete) are there?

11 vinyl pressings of The Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete) are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1955 and 1979.

When was The Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete) first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1955, in US. One of them is RCA Victor Red Seal LM-6800.

How do I tell if my copy of The Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete) is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LM-6800) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is The Well-Tempered Clavier (Complete) on vinyl worth?

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.

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