US
April 1947- Label and catalog number
- RCA Victor Red Seal DM 1115
- Format
- Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album
Ludwig van BeethovenMoonlight Sonata
Vinyl pressings
Moonlight Sonata
by Ludwig van Beethoven · 1947
11 pressings5 countriesClassicalRomanticPianoSonata
Moonlight Sonata was first pressed on vinyl in 1947. 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 Moonlight Sonata
1 pressing came out in 1947, the album's first year. 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.
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 11 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1940s4 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal DM 1115First yearShellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album | Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Album |
| 1949 | Canada | RCA Victor Red Seal WDM 11157", 45 RPM, Album, Mono · Mono, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Album, Mono · Mono, Colored vinyl |
| 1949 | Chile | RCA Victor Sello Rojo WDM-11157", 45 RPM, Album, Mono · Mono, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Album, Mono · Mono, Colored vinyl |
| 1949 | US | RCA Victor Red Seal WDM 11157", 45 RPM, Mono, Box Set, Album · Mono, Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Mono, Box Set, Album · Mono, Colored vinyl |
1950s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Italy | RCA Italiana Red Seal ERA 144 / RCA Italiana ERA 1447", 45 RPM, EP, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, EP, Mono · Mono |
1960s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Italy | RCA Italiana ERA 144 / RCA ERA 1447", 45 RPM, EP, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, EP, Reissue |
| 1960 | Italy | RCA Italiana Red Seal ERA 144 / RCA Italiana ERA 1447", 45 RPM, EP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, EP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
Year unknown4 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | RCA ERA 144 / RCA Red Seal ERA 1447", 45 RPM, EP | 7", 45 RPM, EP |
| ? | Italy | RCA Italiana Red Seal ERA 144 / RCA Victor Red Seal ERA 1447", 45 RPM, EP, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, EP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Italy | RCA Red Seal ERA 144 / RCA Victor Red Seal ERA 1447", 45 RPM, EP, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, EP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | RCA Victor ERA 1447", 45 RPM, EP | 7", 45 RPM, EP |
Tracklist
- Sonata In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 ("Moonlight")
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Moonlight Sonata are there?
11 vinyl pressings of Moonlight Sonata are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1947 and 1960.
When was Moonlight Sonata first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1947, in US. One of them is RCA Victor Red Seal DM 1115, released April 1947.
How do I tell if my copy of Moonlight Sonata is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DM 1115) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Moonlight Sonata 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.
