US
1961- Label and catalog number
- Columbia Masterworks M4L-254 (M)
- Format
- Box Set, Mono, LP, Mono · 6-Eye label, Nonbreakable
Ludwig van BeethovenThe Middle Quartets
Vinyl pressings
The Middle Quartets
by Ludwig van Beethoven · 1961
10 pressings3 countriesChamber MusicString EnsembleRomanticClassical
The Middle Quartets was first pressed on vinyl in 1961. 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 Middle Quartets
1 pressing came out in 1961, 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 10 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1960s5 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | US | Columbia Masterworks M4L-254 (M)First yearBox Set, Mono, LP, Mono · Mono | Box Set, Mono, LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | Italy | CBS 120.502 (4) (M4L 254)Box Set, LP, Mono · Mono | Box Set, LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | CBS 120.502 / M4S 616; M4L 254Box Set, LP | Box Set, LP |
| 1962 | US | Columbia Masterworks M4L-254/ML5588Box Set, Stereo, LP | Box Set, Stereo, LP |
| 1968 | Italy | CBS Italiana S.p.A. E 77361LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set, Stereo |
Year unknown5 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | CBS/Sony SONS 30021~23Box Set, LP | Box Set, LP |
| ? | Japan | CBS/Sony SOCZ 398~400LP, Album, Box Set | LP, Album, Box Set |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks M4S 616Box Set, LP, Reissue, Stereo | Box Set, LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks M4S 616LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set |
| ? | US | Columbia Masterworks M4L 254 / Columbia Masterworks M4L-254Box Set, LP, Mono · Mono | Box Set, LP, Mono · Mono |
Tracklist
- String Quartet In F, Op. 59 No. 1
- String Quartet In E Minor, Op. 59 No. 2
- String Quartet In C, Op. 59 No. 3
- String Quartet In F Minor, Op. 95 No. 11 *Serioso*
- String Quartet In E Flat, Op. 74 No. 10 *Harp*
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of The Middle Quartets are there?
10 vinyl pressings of The Middle Quartets are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1961 and 1968.
When was The Middle Quartets first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US. One of them is Columbia Masterworks M4L-254 (M).
How do I tell if my copy of The Middle Quartets is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use M4L-254 (M)) 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 The Middle Quartets 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.
