Vinyl pressings
by Thelonious Monk · 1969
Monk's Blues was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. 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 1969, the album's first year, in 7 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.
XSM139677-1A 1 P A1 0Side A runout - variant 1
XSM139678-1A 5 P A4 0Side B runout - variant 1
XSM139677-1BSide A runout - variant 2
XSM139678-1DSide B runout - variant 2
o XSM139677-1C | TRunout stamp side A
o XSM139678-1C | TRunout stamp side B
XSM139677-1BSide A runout - variant 1 stamped, etched: " | A2 o"
XSM139678-1DSide B runout - variant 1 stamped, etched: " / 2 A1 o "
XSM 139677Side A label
XSM 139678Side B label
XSM139677-1ASide 1
XSM139678-1ASide 2
MX159531Side 1 label
MX159532Side 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Unknown | CBS ASF 1400First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Australia | CBS SBP 233686First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Canada | Columbia CS 9806First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Germany | CBS S 63609First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1969 | Italy | CBS S 63609 / CBS 63609First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP-50101First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1969 | Japan | CBS/Sony SONP-50101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | UK | CBS 63609First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9806First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9806First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1969 | US | Columbia CS 9806First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | US | Columbia CS 9806LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 20AP 1432LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | US | Columbia PC 9806 / Columbia 9806LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1991 | US | Columbia PC 9806 / Columbia 9806LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP3509 / Columbia CS 9806LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | CBS S 63609LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 9806LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9806 / CBS CS 9806LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia CS 9806LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 9806 / Columbia CS 9806LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 9806LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
22 vinyl pressings of Monk's Blues are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1969 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia CS 9806.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CS 9806, ASF 1400, 63609, SBP 233686) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, XSM139677-1A 1 P A1 0 and XSM139678-1A 5 P A4 0. 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.
