Vinyl pressings
by Nelson Riddle · 1965
"NAT" An Orchestral Portrait Of Nat King Cole 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.
7 pressings came out in 1965, the album's first year, in 4 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.
30427-RS6162A-1E1 [Etched] ∆ [Stamped] 1 S [Etched]Side A, variant 1
30428:RS-6162-B-1C [Etched] ∆ [Stamped] S [Etched]Side B, variant 1
o 30427-RS6162A-1E1 ∆ B1Side A etched, B1 stamped, variant 2
S 30428:RS-6162-B-1CSide B etched, variant 2
30,427Label side A
30,428Label side B
T 30427 RS-6162-A-1B AIIII
30428:RS-6162-B-1B AIIII T
[small 0] 10427 1A [small J 2?] R-6162 A A 3Side A
[small 2 0] 10428 1A [small 3?] R-6162-B A 1Side B
10,427Label side A
10,428Label side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Canada | Reprise Records RS-6162 / Reprise Records RS 6162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | Italy | Reprise Records RI 6162First yearLP | LP |
| 1965 | UK | Reprise Records R-6162First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1965 | US | Reprise Records RS-6162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1965 | US | Reprise Records R-6162 / Reprise Records R 6162First yearLP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Album, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1965 | US | Reprise Records R-6162 / Reprise Records 6162First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Reprise Records RS-6162 / Reprise Records RS 6162First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | UK | Valiant Records VS 106LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Reprise Records RS-6162LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Venezuela | Reprise Records RS 6162LP, Album | LP, Album |
10 vinyl pressings of "NAT" An Orchestral Portrait Of Nat King Cole are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1965 and 1970.
The earliest pressings are from 1965, in US, UK, Canada, Italy. One of them is Reprise Records RS-6162.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RS-6162, R-6162, RI 6162) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 30427-RS6162A-1E1 [Etched] ∆ [Stamped] 1 S [Etched] and 30428:RS-6162-B-1C [Etched] ∆ [Stamped] S [Etched]. 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.
