Vinyl pressings
by The George Shearing Quintet · 1963
Touch Me Softly was first pressed on vinyl in 1963. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
9 pressings came out in 1963, 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.
ST-1-1874-D3Side A, variant 1
ST-2-1874-D3Side B, variant 1
ST1-1874-D1 3 [IAM Triangle] &Side A, variant 2
ST2-1874-D2 [IAM Triangle] &Side B, variant 2
T1 1874-1Runout Side A
T2 1874-1Runout Side B
T1-1874-D1 [⟁ with IAM]Side A runout; stamped
T2-1874-D2 [⟁ with IAM] &Side B runout; stamped
ST-1-1874-D3Side A, variant 1
ST-2-1874-D3Side B, variant 1
T1 1874-1
T2 1874-1
ST1 1874-A5
ST2 1874-A5
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Canada | Capitol Records ST 1874First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | Canada | Capitol Records T 1874First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | Germany | Capitol Records STK 83599First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1963 | UK | Capitol Records T 1874First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | UK | Capitol Records ST 1874First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Capitol Records ST 1874 / Capitol Records ST-1874First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1963 | US | Capitol Records T 1874First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Capitol Records T 1874 / Capitol Records T-1874First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Capitol Records ST 1874 / Capitol Records ST-1874First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | Australia | World Record Club 4438 / World Record Club S/4438LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Mono · Mono, Club edition |
| 1968 | Australia | World Record Club S/4438 / World Record Club S-4438LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | World Record Club ST 1019LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
12 vinyl pressings of Touch Me Softly are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1963 and 1968.
The earliest pressings are from 1963, in US, UK, Canada, Germany. One of them is Capitol Records ST 1874.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ST 1874, T 1874, STK 83599) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ST-1-1874-D3 and ST-2-1874-D3. 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.
