US
1972- Label and catalog number
- Harmony KH 31326
- Format
- LP, Compilation
- Runout / matrix
HAL 31326-2BSide 1
HBL 31326-2ASide 2
Louis ArmstrongThe Louis Armstrong Saga
Vinyl pressings
The Louis Armstrong Saga
by Louis Armstrong · 1972
13 pressings8 countriesJazz
The Louis Armstrong Saga was first pressed on vinyl in 1972. 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 Louis Armstrong Saga
7 pressings came out in 1972, 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.
US
1972- Label and catalog number
- Harmony KH 31326
- Format
- LP, Compilation · Pitman Pressing
- Runout / matrix
P 1 o HAL 31326-2B 2 S A7Runout side A
o HBL-31326-2A P ·: SRunout side B
AL 31326Side A label
BL 31326Side B label
Australia
1972- Label and catalog number
- Harmony HC 15020
- Format
- LP, Compilation
Australia
1972- Label and catalog number
- Music For Pleasure MFP 5923Music For Pleasure MFP-5923
- Format
- LP, Compilation, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
A MX167257 MFP5923-1Side A runout
A MX167258 MFP5923-2Side B runout
MX167257Side A label
MX167258Side B label
Canada
1972- Label and catalog number
- Harmony KH 31326
- Format
- LP, Compilation
- Runout / matrix
HAL 31326-2BSide 1
HBL 31326-2ASide 2
Netherlands
1972- Label and catalog number
- CBS S 53117CBS KH 31326
- Format
- LP, Compilation
- Runout / matrix
S 53117-ARunout side A, etched
S 53117-BRunout side B, etched
S 53117-1Label side A
S 53117-2Label side B
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 13 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1970s10 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Australia | Harmony HC 15020First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | Australia | Music For Pleasure MFP 5923 / Music For Pleasure MFP-5923First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1972 | Canada | Harmony KH 31326First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | Netherlands | CBS S 53117 / CBS KH 31326First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | New Zealand | Columbia 299 (KH 31326)First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1972 | South Africa | CBS HOJ 7518LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1972 | US | Harmony KH 31326First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1972 | US | Harmony KH 31326First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1976 | US | Columbia Special Products P 13294LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | France | Versailles VER 34113LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
Year unknown3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australasia | Music For Pleasure MFP 5923LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | US | Columbia Limited Edition LE 10360LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia Special Products P 13294LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
Tracklist
- A1Muskrat Ramble
- A2Struttin' With Some Barbecue
- A3Twelfth Street Rag
- A4Chicago Breakdown
- A5Body And Soul
- B1Basin Street Blues
- B2St. James Infirmary
- B3Royal Garden Blues
- B4A Theme From The Threepenny Opera (Mack The Knife)
- B5Cabaret
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Louis Armstrong Saga are there?
13 vinyl pressings of The Louis Armstrong Saga are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1972 and 1977.
When was The Louis Armstrong Saga first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1972, in US, Australia, Canada, Netherlands and more. One of them is Harmony KH 31326.
How do I tell if my copy of The Louis Armstrong Saga is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KH 31326, HC 15020, MFP 5923, S 53117) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, HAL 31326-2B and HBL 31326-2A. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is The Louis Armstrong Saga 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.
