Vinyl pressings
by Serge Gainsbourg · 1971
Histoire De Melody Nelson was first pressed on vinyl in 1971. 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 1971, 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.
6397020 1 + 380 A22Side A runout, variant 1
6397020 2 + 380 A10Side B runout, variant 1
6397020 1 + 380 A1Side A runout, variant 2
6397020 2 + 380 A1Side B runout, variant 2
6397020 1 +380 A24Side A runout, variant 1
6397020 2 +380 A21Side B runout, variant 1
6397020 1 +380 A25 + (Greek Cross Symbol)Side A runout, variant 2
6397020 2 +380 A22Side B runout, variant 2
(Side A) 6397020 1 +380 A22Runout, Etched
(Side B) 6397020 2 +380 A10Runout, Etched
(Side A) 6322
(Side B) 6323
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Canada | Philips 6397 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | Philips SFX-7350First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | Japan | Philips SFX-7350First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1971 | Philippines | Philips 6397 020First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1971 | Canada | Philips 6397 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Philips 6397 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1971 | France | Philips 6397 020First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | Philips 6397 020 / Philips 6 325 071LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1975 | France | Philips 6 325 071LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1976 | Japan | Philips FDX-193LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | France | Philips 6 325 071LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | France | Philips 838 688-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | France | Philips 838 688-1LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 1998 | France | Philips 532 073 2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1998 | Germany | Philips 532 073-2 / Mercury 6-534 028LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1998 | Japan | Philips PHJR-20015LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | France | Philips 548 429-1 / Mercury 548 429-1LP, Reissue, Album, Numbered · Numbered | LP, Reissue, Album, Numbered · Numbered |
| 2001 | France | Philips 548 429-1 / Mercury 548 429-1LP, Album, Misprint, Numbered, Reissue · Numbered | LP, Album, Misprint, Numbered, Reissue · Numbered |
| 2008 | France | Philips 530 854-5 / Mercury 530 854-5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | France | Philips 6325 071LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2008 | France | Universal 5308545/HLP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2008 | France | Philips 530 854-5 / Mercury 530 854-5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2008 | France | Mercury 530 854-5 / Universal Music France 530 854-5LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2009 | US | Light In The Attic LITA 040 / Light In The Attic B0011401-01LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2009 | US | Light In The Attic LITA 040LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Mercury 278 371 4LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2011 | France | Mercury 277 825 2Box Set, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, Remastered, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Remastered, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered | Box Set, Limited Edition, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, CD, Remastered, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Remastered, DVD, DVD-Video, Multichannel, All Media, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2016 | France | Mercury 537 184-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Reissue, Remastered, All Media, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, LP, Reissue, Remastered, All Media, Special Edition |
| 2016 | France | Mercury 537 183-7 / Mercury Music Group 537 183-7LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2016 | France | Mercury Music Group 537 183-7 / Mercury 537 183-7LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2016 | France | Mercury 537 184-1 / Mercury Music Group 537 184-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2016 | France | Mercury 537 183-7 / Universal Music France 537 183-7LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2018 | Europe | Mercury 537 183-7 / Universal Music France 537 183-7LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | US | Light In The Attic LITA 040LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | France | Wrasse Records 537 184-1 / Mercury Music Group 537 184-1LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2024 | US | Light In The Attic LITA 040-1-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2024 | US | Light In The Attic LITA 040-1-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Philips 6325 071 / Philips 6 325 071LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | France | Philips 6325 071 / Philips 6 325 071LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 6 325 071 / Philips 6325 071LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Philips 6325 071LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | France | Mercury 537 183-7 / Universal Music France 537 183-7LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 6325 071 / Philips 6 325 071LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 6 325 071 / Philips 6325 071LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | France | Philips 6 325 071LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Philips 6 325 071LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Mercury 537 183-7 / Mercury Music Group 537 183-7LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
47 vinyl pressings of Histoire De Melody Nelson are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1971 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1971, in France, Canada, Japan, Philippines. One of them is Philips 6397 020, released March 24, 1971.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 6397 020, SFX-7350) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 6397020 1 + 380 A22 and 6397020 2 + 380 A10. 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.
