UK
December 1963- Label and catalog number
- Decca LK 4557Decca LK.4557
- Format
- LP, Album, Mono
- Runout / matrix
ARL.6041Side 1 label [Inverted]
ARL.6042Side 2 label [Inverted]
Mantovani And His OrchestraA Song For Christmas
Vinyl pressings
A Song For Christmas
by Mantovani And His Orchestra · 1963
17 pressings7 countriesEasy ListeningHolidayPopClassical
A Song For Christmas was first pressed on vinyl in 1963. 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 A Song For Christmas
5 pressings came out in 1963, the album's first year, in 2 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.
UK
December 1963- Label and catalog number
- Decca SKL 4557Decca SKL.4557
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
ZAL.6041Side 1 label [Inverted]
ZAL.6042Side 2 label [Inverted]
US
1963- Label and catalog number
- London Records PS 338
- Format
- LP, Stereo
US
1963- Label and catalog number
- London Records LL 3338
- Format
- LP, Mono
US
1963- Label and catalog number
- London Records PS 338
- Format
- LP, Stereo
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 17 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1960s8 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Canada | London Records PS. 338LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | London Records PS 338First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | London Records LL 3338First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | London Records PS 338First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1963 | UK | Decca LK 4557 / Decca LK.4557First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | UK | Decca SKL 4557 / Decca SKL.4557First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | London Records PS 338LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | London Records PS 338LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
1970s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | UK | Decca DGS 8LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
1980s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | UK | Contour CN 2040LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
Year unknown7 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Decca SKLA 4557LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Decca SKL-4557LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Decca DGSI 8LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Decca 6408 008LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Taiwan | Yung Feng LF-180LP, Album, Stereo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Stereo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4557LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | London Records 820 341-1 R-1 / London American Recordings 422 820 341-1 Q-1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
Tracklist
- A1Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly
- A2Once In Royal David’s City
- A3Jingle Bells
- A4Toy Waltz
- A5The Holly And The Ivy
- A6O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
- B1It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
- B2The Twelve Days Of Christmas
- B3While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
- B4Christmas Bells
- B5Mary’s Boy Child
- B6I Saw Three Ships
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of A Song For Christmas are there?
17 vinyl pressings of A Song For Christmas are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1963 and 1981.
When was A Song For Christmas first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1963, in UK, US. One of them is Decca LK 4557, released December 1963.
How do I tell if my copy of A Song For Christmas is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LK 4557, SKL 4557, PS 338, LL 3338) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARL.6041 and ARL.6042. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is A Song For Christmas 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.
