Vinyl pressings
by Lena Horne · 1959
Porgy And Bess 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.
25 pressings came out in 1959, the album's first year, in 10 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.
K2PP 2108 1S Ⅰ C ̷3̷Runout A stamped
K2PP_2109_1S Ⅰ A1Runout B stamped except A1 etched
K2PP-2108Label A (in parentheses)
K2PP-2109Label B (in parentheses)
K2 PY2110-3SSide A stamped
K2 PY2111-3SSide B stamped
K2 PY2110-1S B5Side A stamped
K2 PY21111-9S A1Side B stamped
K2PP-21-5S A2 RRunout Side A, Variant #1 etched, exc. A2 stamped
K2PP-2109-3S A1 RRunout Side B, Variant #1 etched, exc. A2 and R stamped
K2PP-2108-3S A1 RRunout Side A, Variant #2 etched, exc. A1, stamped
K2PP-2109-5S A1 RRunout Side B, Variant #2 etched, exc. A1 and R, stamped
K2 PY2110-8S A1 RSide A runout, variant 1
K2 PY2111-8S 1A RSide B runout, variant 1
K2 PY2110-8S A1 RSide A runout, variant 2
K2 PY2111-2S A2 RSide B runout, variant 2
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 | RCA SL 10711First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Brazil | RCA Victor BBL 42First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1959 | Canada | RCA Victor LSO 1507First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Canada | RCA Victor LOP-1507First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | France | RCA 430.290First yearLP | LP |
| 1959 | Germany | RCA LPM-2019 / RCA LPM 2019First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Germany | RCA Victor LSP-2019First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Germany | RCA LSP-2019 / RCA LSP 2019First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Germany | RCA LSP-2019 / RCA Victor LSP-2019First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Germany | RCA LPM-2019 / RCA LPM 2019First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Italy | RCA Italiana LOP-1507First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Italy | RCA Italiana LOP-1507First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | Japan | Victor LS-5147First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | New Zealand | RCA RPLS 3104First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | New Zealand | RCA RPL 3104First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Japan | Victor SRA-5094LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Australia | Summit Records Australia SCD499-074 / RCA Rockaway SCD499-074LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1976 | Germany | RCA International PJL 1-8049LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Germany | RCA International PJL 1-8049LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Netherlands | RCA International (Camden) NL-42998 / RCA NL-42998LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1985 | Germany | RCA International NL89346LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | RCA LPM-2019 / RCA LPM 2019LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Germany | RCA LPM-2019LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Japan | RCA SRA-5094LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor LSO-1507LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
35 vinyl pressings of Porgy And Bess are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1959 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US, UK, Australia, Brazil and more. One of them is RCA Victor LOP-1507, released May 1959.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LOP-1507, LSO-1507, LSP-2019, SF-5039) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, K2PP 2108 1S Ⅰ C ̷3̷ and K2PP_2109_1S Ⅰ A1. 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.
