US
1961- Label and catalog number
- Columbia Masterworks MS 6249
- Format
- LP, Stereo
- Runout / matrix
Side A: XXSM52921-1AStamped
Side B: XXSM52922-1BStamped
Label A: XSM 52921
Label B: XSM 52922
Richard StraussA Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben)
Vinyl pressings
A Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben)
by Richard Strauss · 1961
10 pressings4 countriesModernClassical
A Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben) 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.
How to spot a first pressing of A Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben)
2 pressings came out in 1961, 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.
US
1961- Label and catalog number
- Columbia Masterworks ML 5649
- Format
- LP, Album, Mono
- Runout / matrix
XXLP52919-1F P 1 1 XSide A runout
XXLP52920-1B P 1 1 1 1 1Side B runout
x"Lp" 52919Side A label
x"Lp" 52920Side B label
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 10 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1960s4 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 6249First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1961 | US | Columbia Masterworks ML 5649First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1962 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 6249LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| 1962 | US | Columbia Masterworks MS 6249LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
1970s3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | CBS Odyssey ODA 5016 / CBS Odyssey ODA-5016LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Odyssey Y 31922LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1976 | Japan | CBS 13AC 131LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
Year unknown3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Japan | CBS OS-790-CLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | UK | CBS SBRG 72030LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | UK | CBS BRG 72030 / CBS ML 5649LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
Tracklist
- Ein Heldenleben Op. 40
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of A Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben) are there?
10 vinyl pressings of A Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben) are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1961 and 1976.
When was A Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben) first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US. One of them is Columbia Masterworks MS 6249.
How do I tell if my copy of A Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben) is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MS 6249, ML 5649) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Side A: XXSM52921-1A and Side B: XXSM52922-1B. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is A Hero's Life (Ein Heldenleben) 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.
