Vinyl pressings
by Ottorino Respighi · 1959
The Birds / Brazilian Impressions was first pressed on vinyl in 1959. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1959, 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.
SR 90153A FR1 P17 I A1 [P17 is hand-etched]Runout side A - stamped
SR 90153B FR1 P17 I A2 [P17 is hand-etched]Runout side B - stamped
MG 50153A FR2 I A2Side A stamped
MG 50153B FR2 I A2Side B stamped
MG 50153A FR1 I A1Label Variation, Side A stamped
MG 50153A FR6 I A1Label Variation, Side B stamped
SR-90153A - RFR-1 F P17Runout side A - etched
SR-90153-B1 RFR FRunout side B - etched
MG 50153A RFR-1 F JJSide A Runout, stamped
MG 50153B RFR-1 JJ FSide B Runout, stamped
SR 90153A FR1 P17 I A1 [P17 is hand-etched]Runout side A - stamped
SR 90153B FR1 P17 I A2 [P17 is hand-etched]Runout side B - stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | US | Mercury MG 50153First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153 / Mercury SR90153First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | Mercury MG 50153 / Mercury Living Presence MG 50153First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153 / Mercury SR90153First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153 / Mercury SR90153First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1959 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153 / Mercury SR90153First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | UK | Mercury AMS 16036 / Mercury Living Presence AMS 16036LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | US | Mercury SRI 75023LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Germany | Mercury SR90153 / Mercury Living Presence SR90153LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2004 | Germany | Mercury SR 90153 / Mercury Living Presence SR 90153LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Mercury MG 50153 / Esquire Mercury MG-50153LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SRI 75023LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Mercury 131.012 MSYLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Mercury 131.012 MSYLP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | France | Mercury 131.012 MSYLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Italy | Fontana 6547 043LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Mercury MG 50153 / Mercury MMA 11053LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153 / Mercury SR90153LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153 / Mercury SR90153LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury SRI 75023LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153 / Mercury SR90153LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Mercury Living Presence SR90153 / Mercury SR90153LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Venezuela | Circulo Musical 260LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
24 vinyl pressings of The Birds / Brazilian Impressions are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1959 and 2004.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in US. One of them is Mercury Living Presence SR90153, released December 1959.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SR90153, MG 50153) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SR 90153A FR1 P17 I A1 [P17 is hand-etched] and SR 90153B FR1 P17 I A2 [P17 is hand-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.
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