Vinyl pressings
by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky · 1962
The Nutcracker Ballet was first pressed on vinyl in 1962. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1962, the album's first year, in 3 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.
SR-90306A - RFR-2 PKSide A etched, variant 1
SR-90307A - RFR-2 PKSide B etched, variant 1
SR- 90307B - RFR-1 P17 FFSide C etched, variant 1
SR- 90306B - RFR-2 P17 FFSide D etched, variant 1
o MG 50306 A CTFR-3 ||||| C TRunout etched side 1 [the last "C" & "T" are upside down]
o MG50307 A CTFR-3 |||| D IRunout etched side 2 [the "D" is backward]
o MG50307 B CTFR-3 T || CC B BRunout etched side 3 [the "CC B" are reversed & the last "B is rotated 90˚]
o MG 50306 B CTFR-3 | ||| || BRunout etched side 4 [the last "B" is backwards]
SR-90306A - CPFR-2 P17 O P [O and P might be stamped]Runout side A - hand etched
SR-90307A - CPFR-2 P17 v I P O [P and O might be stamped]Runout side B - hand etched
SR- 90307B - CPFR- 2 P17 P O [O might be stamped]Runout side C - hand etched
SR- 90306 B - CPFR-2 P O [P and O might be stamped]Runout side D - hand etched
º SR-90306A-CTFR-7 T C D1Side A etched, exc. "º", "T" and "C D" stamped
º SR-90307B̶̷A-CTFR-9 T B111Side B etched, exc. "º", "T" and "B" stamped
º SR-90307B-CTFR-9 C11Side C etched, exc. "º" and "C" stamped
º SR-90306B-CTFR-5 A11 TSide D etched, exc. "º", "A" and "T" stamped
SR-90306A - CCFR-1Runout side A - hand etched
SR-90307A - CCFR-1Runout side B - hand etched
SR- 90307B - CCFR-1Runout side C - hand etched
SR- 90306 B - CCFR-2Runout side D - hand etched
SR - 90306A -RFR-1 P17 FFRunout side A - hand etched
SR- 90307 A - RFR-1 FF P17 I 1BRunout side B - hand etched
SR-90307B - RFR-1 P17 FF IRunout side C - hand etched
SR90306B - RFR-1 FF P17 1SRunout side D - hand etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Australia | Philips GLS-145/6First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | France | Philips 82 002/003First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR 2-9013 / Mercury Living Presence SR2-9013First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Mercury SR 2-9013 / Mercury OL2-113First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR 2-9013 / Mercury Living Presence SR2-9013First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Mercury SR 2-9013 / Mercury SR2-9013First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR 2-9013 / Mercury Living Presence SR2-9013First yearLP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1962 | US | Mercury Living Presence SR 2-9013 / Mercury Living Presence SR2-9013First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1963 | UK | Mercury AMS 16143 / Mercury AMS 16144LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Mercury cm-S-062LP, 10", Album | LP, 10", Album |
| ? | Unknown | Mercury CM-M-062 / Circulo Musical CM-M-062LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Australia | Philips MSM 19/20LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Chile | Mercury 130161/2LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | Philips 6780 250LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Philips 6780 250LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 6755 002LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 6768 222LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| ? | France | Philips 6755 002LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Fontana 6768 605LP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| ? | Japan | Mercury SM 7556 / Mercury Living Presence SM 7566LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | New Zealand | Mercury Living Presence OL2-113LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | UK | Philips 6599 230/1LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Philips 6780 250LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Mercury MG 50306 & mg 50307 / Mercury MMA. 11194 & MMA. 11193LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
26 vinyl pressings of The Nutcracker Ballet are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1962 and 1963.
The earliest pressings are from 1962, in US, Australia, France. One of them is Mercury Living Presence SR 2-9013.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SR 2-9013, GLS-145/6, 82 002/003) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SR-90306A - RFR-2 PK and SR-90307A - RFR-2 PK. 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.
Concerto No. 1
1958 · 122 pressings
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor, Op. 74 (Pathétique)
1961 · 116 pressings
5-я Симфония
1961 · 89 pressings
The Swan Lake (Ballet In 4 Acts) = Лебединое Озеро (Балет В 4 Действиях)
1968 · 78 pressings
Балет «Щелкунчик»
1961 · 74 pressings
Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor For Piano And Orchestra
1954 · 70 pressings
