Vinyl pressings
by Richard Strauss · 1959
Also Sprach Zarathustra 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.
7 pressings came out in 1959, 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.
ZAL-4449-3E BI ET C 1 CARunout side A - stamped
ZAL-4450-2E BU ET 2 1 SMRunout side B - stamped
ZAL.4449Matrix on label - side A
ZAL.4450Matrix on label - side B
ARL-4449-IARunout side A
ARL-4450-IARunout side B
ARL.4449Matrix, label side A
ARL.4450Matrix, label side B
ZAL.4449Matrix, Side A Label
ZAL.4450Matrix, Side B Label
ARL.4449Matrix on A-side label, inverted within parentheses
ARL.4450Matrix on B-side label, inverted within parentheses
ZAL-4449--3E U C U 1Runout side A
ZAL-4450--2E 1 BRunout side B
ZAL.4449Matrix, A-side label
ZAL.4450Matrix, B-side label
ZAL-4449-8E M KT IVariant 1 - Runout side A
ZAL-4450-5E C KT IVariant 1 - Runout side B
ZAL 4449-7DVariant 2 - Runout side A
ZAL 4450-4DVariant 1 - Runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Germany | Decca LXT 5524First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | UK | Decca LXT 5524 / Decca LXT.5524First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | UK | Decca SXL 2154 / Decca SXL.2154First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | London Records LL 3130 / London Records LL.3130First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1959 | US | London Records CS 6129 / London Records CS.6129First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1959 | US | London Records CS 6129 / London Records CS.6129First yearLP, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 1959 | UK | Decca SXL 2154 / Decca SXL.2154First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Spain | Decca LXT-5524LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Australia | World Record Club T/4180 / World Record Club T-4180LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1966 | Australia | World Record Club ST-4180 / World Record Club T/4180LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1967 | Canada | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 2102LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1967 | Germany | Decca SXL 2154LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1968 | Canada | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 2102 / Ace Of Diamonds SDD.2102LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1968 | France | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 175LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Ace Of Diamonds ADD 175LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1968 | UK | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 175LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1968 | UK | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 175LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | London Records STS 15083 / London Records STS.15083LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | London Records STS 15083 / London Records STS.15083LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1969 | Argentina | Deram 8007/S8007 / Deram 8007/S-8007LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Argentina | Deram 8007LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Spain | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 175LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | Australia | World Record Club S/4180 / World Record Club W.R.C. – S/4180LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1971 | France | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 175LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | London Records STS 15083LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1972 | Brazil | London Records LLC 5274 S / London Records LLC 5274-SLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | New Zealand | World Record Club STZ 922 / World Record Club STZ.922LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1972 | Australia | World Record Club S/4180 / World Record Club W.R.C. - S/4180LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1973 | Japan | London Records GT 9001 / London Records GT-9001LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Mexico | Richmond B-19212LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Australia | World Record Club S/4180 / World Record Club S-4180LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1973 | France | Decca 116.175 / Decca 116.175 BLP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | London Records SLC 6060LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1975 | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSDC 70686 / Decca LSDC 70686LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | Japan | King Records GT 9121 / King Records GT-9121LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | London Records STS 15083 / London Records STS.15083LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | London Records K15C 8026 / London Records K15C-8026LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | London Records STS 15083LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1982 | US | London Records STS 15083LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1986 | Germany | Decca 6.41808 AHLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Europe | Vinyl Passion Classical VPC 85005LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2014 | Italy | Decca SXL 2154 / Decca SXL.2154LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Decca 116.175 / Ace Of Diamonds SDD 175LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | France | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 175LP, Repress, Stereo | LP, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.41808 / Decca 6.41808 AHLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.41808 / Decca SX 21 235-MLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.41808 / Decca SX-21 235-MLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.41808LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.41808 / Decca SX 21235-MLP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2154LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SX 21 235-M / Decca 6.41808LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca SX 21 235-M / Decca 6.41808LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.41808LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca LXT 5524LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Germany | Decca SXL 2154LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Ace Of Diamonds SDD 175LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Ace Of Diamonds ADD 175LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
66 vinyl pressings of Also Sprach Zarathustra are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1959 and 2014.
The earliest pressings are from 1959, in UK, US, Germany. One of them is Decca SXL 2154, released July 1959.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SXL 2154, LXT 5524, LL 3130, CS 6129) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ZAL-4449-3E BI ET C 1 CA and ZAL-4450-2E BU ET 2 1 SM. 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.
Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
1958 · 52 pressings
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1957 · 46 pressings
Also Sprach Zarathustra
1974 · 45 pressings
Four Last Songs And Five Other Songs With Orchestra
1966 · 41 pressings
Ein Heldenleben Op. 40
1959 · 40 pressings
Till Eulenspiegel / Death And Transfiguration
1957 · 35 pressings
