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Ludwig van BeethovenMoonlight Sonata: Three Favorite Beethoven Sonatas

Vinyl pressings

Moonlight Sonata: Three Favorite Beethoven Sonatas

by Ludwig van Beethoven · 1965

34 pressings9 countriesClassicalSonataPianoClassical

Moonlight Sonata was first pressed on vinyl in 1965. 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 1965, 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.

Italy

1965
Label and catalog number
RCA LM 20089RCA Victor LM 20089
Format
LP, Album, Mono · Gatefold
Runout / matrix

QKBP 11686 1S - 2A 4Runout side A

QKBP 11687 4S - 1A 6Runout side B

QKBP 11686 1S - 1A 4Runout side A, variant 2

QKBP 11687 4S - 1A 6Runout side B, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 34 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1960s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1965ItalyRCA LM 20089 / RCA Victor LM 20089First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1967GermanyRCA Victor Red Seal 6293 / RCA Victor Red Seal SGR 668-BLP, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club editionLP, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition
1970s15 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1971CanadaRCA Red Seal LSC-4001LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1971SpainRCA Red Seal LSC-4001LPLP
1971SpainRCA Red Seal LSC-4001LPLP
1971USRCA Red Seal LSC-4001LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1971USRCA Red Seal LSC-3307LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1971USRCA Red Seal LSC-3307LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1971USRCA Red Seal LSC-3307LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1973GermanyRCA Red Seal 62 265 / Parnass 62 265LP, Reissue, Special Edition, StereoLP, Reissue, Special Edition, Stereo
1973GermanyRCA Red Seal 62 265 / Parnass 62 265LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
1973IsraelRCA Red Seal LSC-3307LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
1973ItalyRCA LSC 4001LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
1974FranceRCA Red Seal ARL1 0695LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
1977ItalyRCA GL 42134LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
1978BrazilRCA Red Seal 105.4077LP, StereoLP, Stereo
1979SpainRCA Victor 57877LP, ReissueLP, Reissue
1980s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1981ItalyRCA LSC 4001LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
Year unknown16 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?FranceRCA Red Seal ARL 10695LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition
?GermanyRCA Red Seal LSC-4001LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?GermanyRCA Red Seal LSC-4001LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?GermanyRCA Red Seal LSC 4001 / RCA Red Seal 26.41126LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo
?GermanyRCA Red Seal LSC-4001LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?IsraelRCA Red Seal LSC-3307LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
?ItalyFirst Class VLS-45766LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Red Seal 25 069LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Red Seal 25 069LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Red Seal 25 069LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Red Seal 25 069LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Victor Red Seal 25 069LP, Album, Special EditionLP, Album, Special Edition
?SwitzerlandRCA Red Seal 25 069LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Red Seal 25 069LP, Special Edition, StereoLP, Special Edition, Stereo
?SwitzerlandRCA Victor Red Seal 25 069LP, Album, Special Edition, StereoLP, Album, Special Edition, Stereo
All 16 pressings from unknown years

Tracklist

  1. Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor Op. 27, No. 2 ("Moonlight")
  2. Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 ("Pathétique")
  3. Sonata No. 23 In F Minor, Op. 57 ("Appassionata")

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Moonlight Sonata are there?

34 vinyl pressings of Moonlight Sonata are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1965 and 1981.

When was Moonlight Sonata first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1965, in Italy. One of them is RCA LM 20089.

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 LM 20089) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, QKBP 11686 1S - 2A 4 and QKBP 11687 4S - 1A 6. 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.

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