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Ray CharlesPorgy & Bess

Vinyl pressings

Porgy & Bess

by Ray Charles · 1976

16 pressings10 countriesMusicalStage & Screen

Porgy & Bess was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.

How to spot a first pressing of Porgy & Bess

13 pressings came out in 1976, the album's first year, in 10 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.

US

1976
Label and catalog number
RCA CPL 2-1831RCA Victor CPL2-1831
Format
LP, Stereo, Box Set, Album · RCA Indianapolis Pressing
Runout / matrix

Λ4G CPL2 1831A 10S ISide A Stamped [G Stamped], runout, variant 1

K Λ4 CPL2 1831B 1S ISide B Stamped [K Etched, runout, variant 1

Λ2OO CPL2 1831C 1S ISide C Stamped [OO Etched], runout, variant 1

CPL2 1831P 10S I ΛI HSide D Stamped [P Stamped Upside-down] [H Etched], runout, variant 1

Full details of this pressing

UK

October 1976
Label and catalog number
London Records D31D2Crossover Records D31D2
Format
LP, Box Set
Runout / matrix

ACRZ-3694-2K G 1Runout Side A

ACRZ-3695-1K BC 1Runout Side B

ACRZ-3696-1K BK 1Runout Side C

ACRZ-3697-1K BI 1Runout Side D

Full details of this pressing

Australia

1976
Label and catalog number
London Crossover D.31-1/2
Format
LP, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ACRZ 3694Side A runout

ACRZ3695Side B runout

ACRZ 3696Side C runout

ACRZ 3697Side D runout

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 16 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1970s13 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1976AustraliaLondon Crossover D.31-1/2First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1976BrazilLondon Records XLLC 5323/4-SFirst yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1976CanadaRCA Victor CPL2-1831 / RCA Victor CPL2-1831First yearLP, Box Set, AlbumLP, Box Set, Album
1976FranceLondon Records 278.133 / Crossover Records 278.133First yearLP, Box SetLP, Box Set
1976IsraelPAX ISK1152-3First yearLP, StereoLP, Stereo
1976ItalyLondon Records D31D / 1 2 / Crossover Records D31D / 1 2First yearLP, Album, Box SetLP, Album, Box Set
1976JapanLondon Records GXH-1041/2 / Crossover Records GXH-1041/2First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1976NetherlandsLondon Records D31D2First yearLPLP
1976NetherlandsLondon Records 6645 201First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1976USRCA CPL 2-1831 / RCA Victor CPL2-1831First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set, AlbumLP, Stereo, Box Set, Album
1976USRCA DJL1-2163First yearLP, Stereo, Promo · PromoLP, Stereo, Promo · Promo
1976NetherlandsLondon Records D31D2 / Crossover Records D31D2First yearLP, Box SetLP, Box Set
1976UKLondon Records D31D2 / Crossover Records D31D2First yearLP, Box SetLP, Box Set
2000s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2005USClassic Records JP 1831-200GLPLP
Year unknown2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?BrazilLondon Records 31C 166 60926/7 / London Records XLLC 5323/4-SLP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?USClassic Records JP-1831LP, Test Pressing · Test pressingLP, Test Pressing · Test pressing

Tracklist

  1. A1Summertime (Instrumental)1:26
  2. A2Summertime6:12
  3. A3My Man's Gone Now4:40
  4. A4A Woman Is A Sometime Thing2:42
  5. A5They Pass By Singin'3:01
  6. B1What You Want Wid Bess?2:20
  7. B2I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (Instrumental)5:25
  8. B3I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'3:47
  9. B4Buzzard Song3:21
  10. B5Bess, You Is My Woman5:25
  11. B6Oh, Doctor Jesus2:10
  12. C1Crab Man1:45
  13. C2Here Come De Honey Man1:24
  14. C3Strawberry Woman (Instrumental)0:56
  15. C4Strawberry Woman1:21
  16. C5It Ain't Necessarily So (Instrumental)4:34
  17. C6It Ain't Necessarily So4:13
  18. C7There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York3:20
  19. C8There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York (Instrumental)4:50
  20. D1I Loves You, Porgy (Instrumental)4:21
  21. D2I Loves You, Porgy5:00
  22. D3Oh, Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (Instrumental)3:22
  23. D4Oh, Bess, Oh Where's My Bess3:33
  24. D5Oh Lord, I'm On My Way3:15

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Porgy & Bess are there?

16 vinyl pressings of Porgy & Bess are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1976 and 2005.

When was Porgy & Bess first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1976, in US, UK, Netherlands, Australia and more. One of them is RCA CPL 2-1831.

How do I tell if my copy of Porgy & Bess is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CPL 2-1831, DJL1-2163, D31D2, D.31-1/2) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Λ4G CPL2 1831A 10S I and K Λ4 CPL2 1831B 1S I. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Porgy & Bess on vinyl worth?

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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