Vinyl pressings
by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov · 1961
Scheherazade / Polovtsian Dances 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.
11 pressings came out in 1961, the album's first year, in 7 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.
ZAL-5039-1D B II ET 71 SMRunout side A - stamped
ZAL-5040-1D I ET 1Runout side B - stamped
ETUK purchase tax code
ZAL.5039Label side A - in parentheses
ARL.5039 - 1ASide A, variant 1
ARL.5040 - 5ASide B, variant 1
ARL.5039 - 2ASide A, variant 2
ARL.5040 - 5ASide B, variant 2
ZAL-5039Printed matrix side A upside down
ZAL-5040Printed matrix side B upside down
ZAL-5039-1D CA ET 21Stamped runout Side A, variant #1
ZAL-5040-1D 1 ET NStamped runout Side B, variant #1
ARL-5039-2ASide A
ARL-5040-5ASide B
ZAL-5039-ID
ZAL-5940-ID
ZAL-5039-IDRunout Side A
ZAL-5940-IDRunout Side B
ZAL5039Label Side A
ZAL5040Label 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Australia | Decca SXLA 2268First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | Australia | Decca SXLA 2268 / Decca SXLA-2268First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1961 | France | Decca SXL 2268 / Decca SXL.2268First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1961 | France | Decca SXL 2268 / Decca SXL.2268First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1961 | Germany | Decca LXT 5628First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Japan | London Records SLC 1064First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1961 | Spain | Decca SXL 2268First yearLP | LP |
| 1961 | UK | Decca LXT 5628 / Decca LXT.5628First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | US | London Records CS 6212LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | London Records CM 9281First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | UK | Decca SXL 2268 / Decca SXL.2268First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | London Records CS 6212 / London Records CS.6212First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | France | Decca SXL 2268LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | Japan | London Records SLX 3-18-1 / London Records SLX 3-18LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1963 | Japan | London Records SLC 1213LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | France | Decca 7.028 (SXL 2268)LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Japan | London Records SLC-6016LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1976 | UK | Decca SDD.496LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | London Records SLC 8018 / London Records SLC-8018LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | Decca RDS 9598 / Reader's Digest GHIL-7A/S8LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | US | London Records STS 15570LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | London Records CS 6212LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Decca 7.028 (SXL 2268)LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Decca 7.028 (SXL 2268)LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SMD 1191LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2268LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2268LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SMD 1191 / Decca 6.41550LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.41550 ANLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2268LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2268LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2268LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2268LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Japan | London Records SLC-1701LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca SXL 2268LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca SXL 2268 / Decca SXL.2268LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
52 vinyl pressings of Scheherazade / Polovtsian Dances are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1961 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in UK, US, Australia, France and more. One of them is Decca SXL 2268, released April 1961.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SXL 2268, LXT 5628, CS 6212, CM 9281) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZAL-5039-1D B II ET 71 SM and ZAL-5040-1D I ET 1. 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.
