Vinyl pressings
by Louis Armstrong And His Band · 1962
The Real Ambassadors 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.
11 pressings came out in 1962, the album's first year, in 4 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.
XLP-56582-1ERunout A variant 1
XLP-56583-1BRunout B variant 1
XLP-56582-1D BH1Runout A variant 2
XLP-56583-1A . BH11Runout B variant 2
XSM-56584-1ASide 1 runout
XSM-56585-1D BH1Side 2 runout
T XLP-56582-1E ||Side A runout
P T XLP-56583-1A. V\\Side B runout
XLP-56582-1E (Side 1)
XLP-56583-1B (Side 2)
BPG 62083 1L ▽ 2//420 1 VVVRunout groove side A, stamped
BPG 62083 2L ▽1=420 V V3Runout groove side B, stamped
BPG-62083 1LCenter label side A
BPG-62083 2LCenter label side B
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 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks OS-2250 / Columbia Masterworks OS 2250First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1962 | Canada | Columbia Masterworks OL-5850First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | New Zealand | Coronet KLL 1757First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | UK | CBS BPG 62083 / CBS CL 1857First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | UK | CBS SBPG 62083First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1962 | UK | CBS BPG 62083First yearLP, Album, Sampler | LP, Album, Sampler |
| 1962 | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 5850First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Columbia Masterworks OL 5850First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Columbia Masterworks OS-2250First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Columbia Masterworks OL-5850First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Columbia Masterworks OL-5850First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | Australia | CBS BP 233004 / CBS BP-233004LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | Japan | Columbia YS-245LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 20AP 1434LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Europe | CBS CBS 57035LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Europe | WaxTime 771724LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue, Remastered, Limited Edition · Limited |
| 2016 | Europe | Not Now Music NOTLP213LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Jazz Wax Records JWR 4640LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS Masterworks SBP 233004LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Columbia Masterworks OS-2250 / Columbia Masterworks OS 2250LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 57035LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS BPL 62083LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks OS 2250LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
23 vinyl pressings of The Real Ambassadors are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1962 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1962, in US, UK, Canada, New Zealand. One of them is Columbia Masterworks OL 5850.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use OL 5850, OS-2250, OL-5850, BPG 62083) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XLP-56582-1E and XLP-56583-1B. 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.
