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Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Das Rheingold

by Richard Wagner · 1959

45 pressings11 countriesOperaRomanticClassical

Das Rheingold 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.

How to spot a first pressing of Das Rheingold

10 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.

UK

March 1959
Label and catalog number
Decca LXT 5495-6-7Decca LXT 5495-7
Format
LP, Album, Mono, Box Set
Runout / matrix

ARL-4260-1ASide A runout

ARL-4265-1ASide B runout

ARL-4261-1ASide C runout

ARL-4264-1ASide D runout

Full details of this pressing

UK

March 1959
Label and catalog number
Decca SXL 2101/2/3
Format
LP, Stereo, Box Set · Ed 1
Runout / matrix

ZAL-4260-1E BG RT 1Variant 1 Side A runout, stamped

ZAL-4261-1E BI RT 32B CAVariant 1 Side B runout, stamped

ZAL-4262-1E B 1Variant 1 Side C runout, stamped

ZAL-4263-1E B 1Variant 1 Side D runout, stamped

Full details of this pressing

UK

1959
Label and catalog number
Decca LXT 5495-6-7Decca LXT 5495-7
Format
LP, Album, Mono, Box Set
Runout / matrix

ARL-4260-1ARunout side A

ARL-4261-1ARunout side B

ARL-4262-1ARunout side C

ARL-4263-1ARunout side D

Full details of this pressing

US

June 1959
Label and catalog number
London Records OSA 1309
Format
LP, Stereo, Box Set
Runout / matrix

ZAL-4260-2ESide A runout stamped

ZAL-4261-2ESide B runout stamped

ZAL-4262-2ESide C runout stamped

ZAL-4263-2ESide D runout stamped

Full details of this pressing

US

1959
Label and catalog number
London Records A 4340
Format
LP, Mono, Box Set
Runout / matrix

ARL-4260-1ASide A runout, stamped

ARL-4261-1ASide B runout, stamped

ARL-4262-1ASide C runout, stamped

ARL-4263-1ASide D runout, stamped

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 45 vinyl pressings

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

1950s12 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1959JapanLondon Records L69C-1501/3First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set, StereoLP, Stereo, Box Set, Stereo
1959UKDecca LXT 5495-6-7 / Decca LXT 5495-7First yearLP, Album, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1959UKDecca SXL 2101-2-3LP, Repress, Stereo, Box SetLP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set
1959USLondon Records A 4340First yearLP, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1959USLondon Records OSA 1309First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1959USLondon Records OSA 1309First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1959USLondon Records OSA 1309First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1959UKDecca LXT 5495-6-7 / Decca LXT 5495-7First yearLP, Album, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Album, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1959UKDecca SXL 2101/2/3First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1959USLondon Records OSA 1309First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1959USLondon Records OSA 1309First yearLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1959UKDecca SXL 2101 - 3 / Decca SXL.2101LP, Repress, Stereo, Box SetLP, Repress, Stereo, Box Set
1960s6 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1962UKDecca LXT 5495-6-7LP, Reissue, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Reissue, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1968German Democratic Republic (GDR)ETERNA 8 20 696-698LP, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1968German Democratic Republic (GDR)ETERNA 8 25 696-698LP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
1968SpainDecca SXL 2101-03LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box SetLP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set
1968UKDecca SET 382-4Box Set, Reissue, LP, StereoBox Set, Reissue, LP, Stereo
1968UKDecca MET 382-4LP, Reissue, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Reissue, Mono, Box Set · Mono
1970s6 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1970JapanLondon Records SLC 7085/7LP, Reissue, StereoLP, Reissue, Stereo
1970USSRМелодия СМ 01955/01960LP, Reissue, Box SetLP, Reissue, Box Set
1971AustraliaWorld Record Club S-4951 / World Record Club S-4952LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition
1974SpainDecca ESTEREO SET 382/4LP, Reissue, Box SetLP, Reissue, Box Set
1974AustraliaWorld Record Club S-4951 / World Record Club S-4952LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition
1977AustraliaWorld Record Club R-00657 / World Record Club R-00658LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition
1980s3 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1983GermanyDecca 6.35250 DYLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box SetLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box Set
1984UKDecca 414 101-1LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box SetLP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box Set
1988South KoreaDecca 414 101-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Box SetLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set
2020s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2022EuropeDecca 00028948526314LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box Set, ReissueLP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, Box Set, Reissue
Year unknown17 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?ArgentinaLondon Records LLC 17931/33LP, Mono, Box Set · MonoLP, Mono, Box Set · Mono
?GermanyDecca SXL 2101/03-BBox Set, LP, StereoBox Set, LP, Stereo
?GermanyDecca 6.35250 EKLP, Reissue, Box SetLP, Reissue, Box Set
?GermanyDecca SXL 2101/03-BLP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
?GermanyDecca LXT 5495/97Box Set, LP, Mono · MonoBox Set, LP, Mono · Mono
?JapanLondon Records KIJC 9152/4LP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
?JapanLondon Records L00C - 1150 / 2LP, Promo, Box Set · PromoLP, Promo, Box Set · Promo
?UKDecca SET 382-4LP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
?UKDecca ZAL-8308-13LP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressingLP, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing
?UKDecca SXL 2101/2/3LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box SetLP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set
?UKDecca SXL 2101 - 3 / Decca SXL.2101LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box SetLP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set
?UKDecca SET 382/4Box Set, Reissue, LP, StereoBox Set, Reissue, LP, Stereo
?UKDecca SXL 2101/2/3 / Decca SXL 2101-3LP, Reissue, Stereo, Box SetLP, Reissue, Stereo, Box Set
?USLondon Records OSA 1309LP, Stereo, Box SetLP, Stereo, Box Set
?USLondon Records 414 101-1LP, Reissue, Remastered, Box SetLP, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set
All 17 pressings from unknown years

Tracklist

  1. Das Rheingold
  2. A1Weia! Waga! Woge! Du Wellen
  3. A2Hehe Ihr Nicker
  4. A3Lugt Schwestern!
  5. A4Interlude
  6. B1Geheimnisshehr Hallt Mir Dein Wort
  7. B2Heda! Heda! Hedo!
  8. B3Abendlich Strahlt Der Sonne Auge (Entry Of The Gods Into Valhalla)
  9. C1Wotan, Gemahl! Erwache!
  10. C2Hilf Mir Schwester!
  11. C3Sanft Schloss Schlaf Dein Aug'
  12. C4Endlich Loge!
  13. D1Gezahlt Hab'ich
  14. D2Bin Ich Nun Frei? (Alberich's Curse)
  15. D3Fasolt Und Fafner Nahem Von Fern
  16. D4Weiche, Wotan! Weiche! (Erda's Warning)
  17. E1Umsonst Sucht Ich (Loge's Narration)
  18. E2Interlude (Wotan And Loge Descend To Nibelheim)
  19. E3Hehe! Hieher! Tuckischer Zwerg
  20. F1Wer Hilfe Mir!
  21. F2Gehorchen Muss Ich Den Leibichen Bruder
  22. F3Was Wollt Ihr Hier? Interlude (Wotan And Loge Return From Nibelheim)
  23. F4Da, Vetter, Sitze Du Fest!

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Das Rheingold are there?

45 vinyl pressings of Das Rheingold are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1959 and 2022.

When was Das Rheingold first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1959, in UK, US, Japan. One of them is Decca LXT 5495-6-7, released March 1959.

How do I tell if my copy of Das Rheingold is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LXT 5495-6-7, SXL 2101/2/3, OSA 1309, A 4340) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARL-4260-1A and ARL-4265-1A. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Das Rheingold 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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