Vinyl pressings
by Spike Jones And His City Slickers · 1945
Holiday For Strings was first pressed on vinyl in 1945. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
6 pressings came out in 1945, 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.
20-1733A 1SSide A runout, variant 1
20-1733B 6SSide B runout, variant 1
20-1733ASide A runout, variant 2
20-1733BSide B runout, variant 2
20-1733 A 5S 1Side A runout
20-1733 B 2S 1Side B runout
D4-AB-1057-◊ C DA side runout
D5-VB-1012 ◊ PB side runout
D4-AB-1057A side label
D5-VB-1012B side label
D4-AB-1057◊ LRunout side A
D5-VB-1012◊ CRunout side B
D4-AB-1057Label side A
D5-VB-1012Label side B
20-1733A 1DSide A runout, var 1
20-1733B 1DSide B runout, var 1
20-1733ASide A runout, var 2
20-1733BSide B runout, var 2
20-1733 A 20-1733-A-1DSide A runout, stamped & etched
20-1733 B 20-1733-B-1DSide B runout, stamped & etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Canada | Victor 20-1733First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1945 | Canada | Victor 20-1733First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1945 | UK | His Master's Voice B.D.1115First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM, Misprint | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Misprint |
| 1945 | UK | His Master's Voice B.D.1115First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM, Misprint | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Misprint |
| 1945 | US | Victor 20-1733First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1945 | US | Victor 20-1733First yearShellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1946 | Australia | His Master's Voice E.A.3342Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| 1946 | UK | His Master's Voice B.D.1115Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1946 | UK | His Master's Voice B.D.1115Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1946 | UK | His Master's Voice B.D.1115Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1946 | US | RCA Victor 20-1733Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1947 | UK | His Master's Voice B.D.1115Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| 1948 | UK | His Master's Voice B.D.1115Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Argentina | RCA Victor 20-1733Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Misprint | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Misprint |
| ? | Argentina | RCA Victor 63-0362Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | Canada | RCA Victor 20-1733Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM, Repress |
| ? | Netherlands | His Master's Voice B.D. 1115Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
| ? | New Zealand | His Master's Voice E.A.3342Shellac, 10", 78 RPM | Shellac, 10", 78 RPM |
18 vinyl pressings of Holiday For Strings are listed here, from 7 countries, released between 1945 and 1948.
The earliest pressings are from 1945, in US, UK, Canada. One of them is Victor 20-1733, released October 1945.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 20-1733, B.D.1115) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 20-1733A 1S and 20-1733B 6S. 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.
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