Vinyl pressings
by Les Baxter & His Orchestra · 1951
Tangos was first pressed on vinyl in 1951. 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 1951, the album's first year, in 2 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.
H-263-Y1#3 [Anvil symbol]A side stamped variant 1
H-263-Z5#3 [Anvil symbol]B side stamped variant 1
H-263-Y4 [Anvil symbol]A side stamped variant 2
H-263-Z10 [Anvil symbol]B side stamped variant 2
L 263-Y1 [Anvil symbol] 2 51 15A side stamped
L 263-Z3 [Anvil symbol] 1 51B side stamped
L-263A side label
L-263B side label
1 H-263-Y6 [Anvil symbol]A side stamped
1 H-263-Z9 [Anvil symbol]B side stamped
H1-263A side label
H2-263B side label
F1-263Side A Label (PART 1)
F2-263Side B Label (PART 2)
F3-263Side C Label (PART 3)
F4-263Side D Label (PART 4)
(H-263) YSide A Label
(H-263) ZSide B Label
45-6706-D1Side A Runout
45-6727-D1 [lathe] 3-52 11C-Side Runout Etching
45-6739-D1 [lathe] 3-52 10F-Side Runout Etching
45-6742-D2Side H 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | US | Capitol Records EBF-263First year7", 45 RPM, Album, EP | 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP |
| 1951 | US | Capitol Records H-263First yearLP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1951 | US | Capitol Records CDF-263First year7", 45 RPM, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono |
| 1951 | US | Capitol Records L-263 / Capitol Records L 263First yearLP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1951 | US | Capitol Records EBF-263First year7", 45 RPM, Album, EP | 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP |
| 1951 | Canada | Capitol Records H-263 / Capitol Records H263First yearLP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1951 | US | Capitol Records H-263 / Capitol Records H263First yearLP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1951 | US | Capitol Records L-263 / Capitol Records L 263First yearLP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1951 | US | Capitol Records H-263 / Capitol Records H263First yearLP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | Japan | Capitol Records 2LP-73LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Capitol Records T-263LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Australia | Capitol Records T1372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | Brazil | Capitol Records T1372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | Canada | Capitol Records T1372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | France | Capitol Records T1372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | Capitol Records T1372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | Capitol Records T279LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1965 | US | Capitol Records T1372 / Capitol Records T-1372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | US | Capitol Records M-11979LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | Capitol Records T1372LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Brazil | Capitol Records H-263LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono | LP, 10", Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records T1372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records T-263LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Capitol Records EBF 2637", 45 RPM, Album, EP | 7", 45 RPM, Album, EP |
| ? | US | Capitol Records T279LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Capitol Records T-263LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
26 vinyl pressings of Tangos are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1951 and 1985.
The earliest pressings are from 1951, in US, Canada. One of them is Capitol Records H-263, released January 1951.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use H-263, L-263, EBF-263, CDF-263) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, H-263-Y1#3 [Anvil symbol] and H-263-Z5#3 [Anvil symbol]. 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.
