Vinyl pressings
by Sam Cooke · 1960
Hits Of The 50's was first pressed on vinyl in 1960. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
11 pressings came out in 1960, the album's first year, in 4 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.
L5 PP1485- 1S I A2Runout A stamped, variant 1
L5 PP1486- 1S I A2Runout B stamped, variant 1
L5 PP1485- 5S I D1Runout A stamped, variant 2
L5 PP1486- 1S C2 IRunout B stamped, variant 2
L5PY1487-5SSide A
L5PY1488-7SSide B
L5 PY1487-1S A1Var 1, Side A
L5 PY1488-1S A1Var 1, Side B
L5 PP1485- 3S HSide A runout, stamped ["H" is sideways]
L5 PP1486- 3S HSide B runout, stamped ["H" is sideways]
L5PP-1485Side A label
L5PP-1486Side B label
L5 PP1485- 2S B1 RSide 1 runout, stamped
L5 PP1486- 2S A1 RSide 2 runout, stamped
L5PP-1485Side 1 label
L5PP-1486Side 1 label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-2236First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1960 | Canada | RCA Victor LPM-2236First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-2236First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1960 | Canada | RCA Victor LSP-2236First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1960 | Japan | Victor SHP-5522First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1960 | UK | RCA SF-5098First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1960 | US | RCA Victor LPM-2236First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | RCA Victor LSP-2236First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1960 | US | RCA Victor LPM-2236First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1960 | US | RCA Victor LSP-2236First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1960 | US | RCA Victor LPM-2236First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | Italy | RCA Italiana LPM-2236LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1961 | New Zealand | RCA RPL 3181LP, Mono, Album · Mono | LP, Mono, Album · Mono |
| 1961 | UK | RCA RD 27215LP, Mono, Album · Mono | LP, Mono, Album · Mono |
| 1963 | US | RCA Victor LPM-2236LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Mono · Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | UK & Europe | WaxTime 772086LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | Europe | Vinyl Passion VP 90135LP, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono | LP, Unofficial Release, Mono · Unofficial, Mono |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor LPM-2236LP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| ? | Taiwan | First Record ⓈFL-1059LP, Album, Stereo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Stereo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Colored vinyl |
20 vinyl pressings of Hits Of The 50's are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1960 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1960, in US, UK, Canada, Japan. One of them is RCA Victor LPM-2236.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LPM-2236, LSP-2236, SF-5098, SHP-5522) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, L5 PP1485- 1S I A2 and L5 PP1486- 1S I A2. 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.
