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Let There Be Drums by Sandy Nelson, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Let There Be Drums

by Sandy Nelson · 1961

41 pressings10 countriesRock & RollRock

Let There Be Drums 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 Let There Be Drums

10 pressings came out in 1961, 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.

US

1961
Label and catalog number
Imperial LP-9159
Format
LP, Album, Mono · RCA Hollywood Pressing
Runout / matrix

IX-319 HSide A runout, stamped

IX-320 HSide B runout, stamped

Full details of this pressing

US

1961
Label and catalog number
Imperial LP-9159Imperial LP 9159
Format
LP, Album, Mono · RCA Hollywood Pressing
Runout / matrix

IX-319 HSide A runout, stamped

IX-320 HSide B runout, stamped

IX-319A-Side Label

IX-320B-Side Label

Full details of this pressing

UK

1961
Label and catalog number
London Records HA-P 2425London Records HA-P.2425
Format
LP, Album, Mono
Runout / matrix

ALL-2078-1B 1 CRunout side A

ALL-2079-1B 1 GRunout side B

ALL.2078Label side A

ALL.2079Label side B

Full details of this pressing

Australia

1961
Label and catalog number
Imperial SIRL-932,514Imperial SIRL-932514
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

6 SMX24991 XRS.159Side A runout etched; XRS.159 stamped

14 SMX24992 XRS.160Side B runout etched; XRS.160 stamped

SMX24991Side A label

SMX24992Side B label

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 41 vinyl pressings

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

1960s21 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1961AustraliaImperial SIRL-932,514 / Imperial SIRL-932514First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1961AustraliaImperial IRL-32,514First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1961AustraliaLiberty LRP 9159First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1961CanadaImperial LP-9159First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1961CanadaImperial LP 9159First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1961UKLondon Records SAH-P.6221First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1961UKLondon Records HA-P 2425 / London Records HA-P.2425First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1961USImperial LP-9159First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1961USImperial LP-9159First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1961USImperial LP-9159 / Imperial LP 9159First yearLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962New ZealandLondon Records HAM.P 6212LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
1962USImperial LP-12080LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1962USImperial LP-12080LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1962USImperial LP-12080LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1967CanadaImperial LP 12080LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
All 21 pressings from the 1960s
1970s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1977USUnited Artists Records LP-12080 / United Artists Records XRS-159LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1977USUnited Artists Records LP-12080 / United Artists Records XRS-159LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
2010s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2013EuropeDOL DOL1033HGLP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
Year unknown17 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?ArgentinaColeccion Musical 2342LP, Album, Promo · PromoLP, Album, Promo · Promo
?AustraliaLondon Records HAA 7684LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?AustraliaUnited Artists Records L-32514LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?AustraliaUnited Artists Records L 32514 / United Artists Records L-32,514LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?AustraliaUnited Artists Records SUAL-932514 / United Artists Records SUAL-932,514LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?BrazilPolydor FLPG 20.6056LP, Album, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Mono · Mono
?CanadaImperial LP. 9159LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
?New ZealandImperial SIRL - 932514LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
?New ZealandLiberty LYL32514 / Imperial IRL-32514LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
?New ZealandLiberty LBY 3013 / Liberty LBY.3013MLP, AlbumLP, Album
?Singapore, Malaysia & Hong KongImperial LP 12080 / Liberty LP 12080LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
?South AfricaRenown NLP 201LP, AlbumLP, Album
?USImperial LP-9159LP, Album, Mono, Repress · MonoLP, Album, Mono, Repress · Mono
?USImperial LP-9159LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · MonoLP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono
?USImperial LP-12080 / Imperial LP 12080LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
All 17 pressings from unknown years

Tracklist

  1. A1Slippin' And Slidin'2:05
  2. A2Tequila2:49
  3. A3My Girl Josephine2:26
  4. A4Big Noise From Winnetka2:11
  5. A5Let There Be Drums2:14
  6. A6Bouncy1:50
  7. B1The Birth Of The Beat10:00
  8. B2Quite A Beat1:52
  9. B3Get With It2:05

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Let There Be Drums are there?

41 vinyl pressings of Let There Be Drums are listed here, from 10 countries, released between 1961 and 2013.

When was Let There Be Drums first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1961, in US, UK, Australia, Canada. One of them is Imperial LP-9159.

How do I tell if my copy of Let There Be Drums is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LP-9159, SAH-P.6221, HA-P 2425, SIRL-932,514) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Let There Be Drums 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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