Vinyl pressings
by Leland Hayward · 1959
The Sound Of Music 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.
15 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year, in 5 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.
XXSM48557-1CBSide 1 (stamped), variant 1
XXSM- 48558-2BGSide 2 (stamped), variant 1
XXSM48557-2C VHSide 1 (stamped) (VH etched), variant 2
XXSM48558-2F (X)HSide 2 (stamped) ((X)H etched), variant 2
XXLP 48555-1AESide 1 runout, variant 1
XXLP 48556-2BSide 2 runout, variant 1
XXLP 48555-1AHSide 1 runout, variant 2
XXLP 48556-1AASide 2 runout, variant 2
XXLP48555-1CCSide A, runout variant 1
XXLP48556-1BBSide B, runout variant 1
XXLP48555-1AD TA IIIISide A, runout variant 2
XXLP48556-1FSide B, runout variant 2
XXSM48557-2J CSide A runout stamped [Variant 1]
XXSM48558-1ALSide B runout stamped [Variant 2]
XXSM48557-2CLSide A runout stamped [Variant 2]
XXSM48558-2CBSide B runout stamped [Variant 2]
ZEP 49064Side A
ZEP 49066Side B
ZEP 49068Side C
ZEP 49070Side D
SXMM 48668-1KSide A runout
XXSM 48557-1LSide B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Australia | CBS Masterworks KLL 1650 / Coronet KLL-1650First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks KOL 5450First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | New Zealand | Coronet KLL 1650First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | UK | Philips ABL 3370First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | UK | Philips SABL.198 / Philips 835573AYFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | Columbia Masterworks KOL 5450First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Columbia Masterworks KOL 5450First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | Columbia KOS 2020First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1959 | US | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1959 | US | Columbia Masterworks KOL 5450First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1959 | US | Columbia Masterworks KOA 5450First year7", 45 RPM, Album, EP, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | UK | CBS APG 60001LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono | LP, Album, Mono, Reissue · Mono |
| 1962 | UK | CBS SAPG 60001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1962 | UK | CBS SAPG 60001 / CBS KOS 2020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | US | Columbia Masterworks S 32601 / Columbia Masterworks JS 32601LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Australia | CBS BW 8LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | US | Analog Spark AS00034 / Masterworks Broadway 88807202175412", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2019 | US | Craft Recordings CR00195 / Rodgers And Hammerstein CR0019512", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS KLLS 1650 / CBS KLLS-1650LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | CBS KLL - 1650 / CBS KLL -1650LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Australia | CBS KLLS 1650 / CBS KLLS-1650LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks KOL 5450LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks KOL 5450LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | CBS YS-452-CLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | CBS/Sony SONX 60024LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | CBS Masterworks KLL 1650 / Coronet KLL-1650LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | South Africa | CBS BSF 9041LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Columbia SBRG 70008LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks KOL 5450LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks KOL 5450LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
53 vinyl pressings of The Sound Of Music are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1959 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia Masterworks KOS 2020.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KOS 2020, KOL 5450, KOA 5450, ABL 3370) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XXSM48557-1CB and XXSM- 48558-2BG. 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.
