Vinyl pressings
by Mantovani And His Orchestra · 1953
Christmas Carols was first pressed on vinyl in 1953. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
2 pressings came out in 1953, 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.
ARL-1856-1D R NC IG CASide A runout (Variant 1
ARL-1857-1D R A1 A1 CASide B runout (Variant 1
ARL-1856-2DR AD 1D 2Side A runout (Variant 2
ARL-1857-1D R AA 1D T1 CASide B runout (Variant 2
LL. 913 ARL-1856-1 ARC 198P.AA side
LL-913 ARL-1857-1 ARCB side
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | US | London Records LL 913 / London Records LL.913First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1953 | US | London Records LL 913First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | Canada | London Records LL 913LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | Canada | London Records LL 913 / London Records LL.913LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | London Records LL 913LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | London Records LL 913LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | London Records LL 913 / London Records LL.913LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | London Records LL 913LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | London Records LL 913 / London Records LL.913LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | London Records LL 913 / London Records LL.913LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1954 | US | London Records LL 913LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1957 | UK | Decca LK 4235LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1958 | UK | Decca SKL 4022LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | Australia | Decca SKLA 4022LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | New Zealand | Decca LKM 4235 / Decca LKM. 4235LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Spain | Decca SKL 4022LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1960 | Spain | Decca SLK 4022LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1964 | Japan | London Records SLC 83LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1965 | Japan | London Records SLC 153LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Taiwan | Lyou Feng Record Publishing Co. CA-1091LP | LP |
| 1967 | Australia | World Record Club ST-4267 / World Record Club S/T 4267LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1967 | Australia | World Record Club T-4267 / World Record Club S/T 4267LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1968 | Japan | London Records SLC 213LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Netherlands | Decca 862 020 DQYLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Decca SKL 4022LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | The Telegraph Record Club S/T 4267 / World Record Club S-4267LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1971 | Australia | World Record Club S-4267 / World Record Club S/T 4267LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1972 | Italy | Decca MS 103LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1972 | Italy | Decca MS 103LP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1972 | Australia | World Record Club S-4267 / World Record Club S/T 4267LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1973 | Australia | World Record Club S-4267 / World Record Club S/T 4267LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1974 | Australia | World Record Club S-4267 / World Record Club S/T 4267LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1977 | Australia | World Record Club R-00263 / World Record Club S/T 4267LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Spain | Decca SKL 4022 / Decca 63 99 258LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | London Records LL 913 / London Records PS 142LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Decca LKA 4235LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | London Records PS 142 / London Records PS.142LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | London Records LL 913 / London Records LL.913LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Italy | Decca MS 103LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Decca 6408007LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Decca 820 456-1LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4022LP, Album, Misprint, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca LK 4235LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4022LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4022LP, Album, Misprint, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | London Records PS 142 / London Records PS.142LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | London Records LL 913LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | London Records 820 339-1 R-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | London Records PS 142 / London Records PS.142LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
60 vinyl pressings of Christmas Carols are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1953 and 1981.
The earliest pressings are from 1953, in US. One of them is London Records LL 913, released November 1953.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LL 913) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARL-1856-1D R NC IG CA and ARL-1857-1D R A1 A1 CA. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
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.
