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Data as of Oct 18, 2026
Randall Thompson – The Testament of Freedom / Symphony No.1 (1930)
1978 · US · Angel Records · Vinyl LP Stereo
Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Oct 18, 2026
- MMint
- $10.93
- NMNear Mint
- $9.78
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $7.48
- VGVery Good
- $5.18
- G+Good Plus
- $2.88
- GGood
- $1.73
- FFair
- $1.15
- PPoor
- $0.58
11 copies listed on Discogs from $3.12.
These are reference estimates from Discogs sold/asking data for this exact pressing, not offers and not a guaranteed price. Actual value depends on condition, completeness and current demand. Any active seller offers on this page are listed separately above.
Offers · 1
- $12ref VA-7EVD9Media NM · Near MintSleeve NM🇺🇸 Ships from United States
The Discogs price estimate is a separate reference; offer prices above are sellers’ own.
New to condition grades like NM or VG? Read our vinyl grading guide →
Pressing identification
Match these against your copy to confirm the exact pressing.
- Runout — side A
- S-1-37315#1 S-1-37315 F5 M33901 RE-1 MO#4
- Runout — side B
- S-2-37315#1 [tulip]33901 RE-1 S2-37315-F6 MO#2
- Matrix / runout
- MASTERED BY CAPITOL
- Recorded At
- Mormon Tabernacle
Specifications
- Artist
- Randall Thompson
- Genre
- Classical
- Style
- Modern, Orchestra, Choral, Symphony
- Year
- 1978
- Label
- Angel Records
- Catalog number
- S-37315
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- The Testament of Freedom
- Symphony No.1 (1930)
- Chorus Master
- Newell Weight
- Composed By
- Randall Thompson
- Conductor
- Maurice Abravanel
About this record
The dead wax on this 1978 Angel Records pressing carries illegible signatures on both sides—Side A differs from Side B—a marking quirk that distinguishes this Utah Symphony Orchestra recording from other issues. Recorded in the Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City in May 1978, the sessions produced Side 1 at 25:38 and Side 2 at 30:05, both conducted by Maurice Abravanel.
Catalogue S-37315 shows matrix runouts #1 S-1-37315 F5 M33901 RE-1 MO#4 and #1 [tulip]33901 RE-1 S2-37315-F6 MO#2, confirming the Angel pressing plant assignment. With 43 collectors owning copies against 6 who want one, supply outpaces active demand.
What drives its value
A Mint copy of S-37315 commands 10.93 USD, while NM drops to 9.78 USD and VG+ settles at 7.48 USD—the 3.45 USD gap between Mint and VG+ reflects how condition sorting drives the market here. The lowest asking price across 11 active listings sits at 3.12 USD, indicating floor-level stock.
VG copies trade at 5.18 USD, and G+ at 2.88 USD, showing steep depreciation below VG+. This 1978 Angel stereo pressing of Randall Thompson's The Testament of Freedom and Symphony No.1 (1930) occupies a narrow niche: classical orchestral reissue material with modest collector depth (43 have, 6 want).
The original 1930 Thompson works hold musicological weight, but this particular pressing—neither a first issue nor a rare mono variant—trades on condition and the specific dead-wax signature detail rather than scarcity.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the Angel Records label, catalogue number S-37315, and the stereo format designation. The dead-wax matrix strings are the primary verification: Side 1 reads #1 S-1-37315 F5 M33901 RE-1 MO#4, and Side 2 reads #1 [tulip]33901 RE-1 S2-37315-F6 MO#2.
The tulip logo on Side 2 and the RE-1 suffix on both sides mark this as a reissue pressing from Angel's mid-1970s catalogue refresh. The illegible signatures present on both sides—differing between them—are a known characteristic of this particular pressing run and should be visible under magnification in the dead wax.
No barcode appears on the jacket or label. Grade by surface cleanliness: Mint (10.93 USD) means unplayed condition with no audible surface noise; NM (9.78 USD) allows minimal handling marks; VG+ (7.48 USD) shows light play with occasional faint crackle; VG (5.18 USD) exhibits moderate surface noise during quiet passages.
The 1978 pressing date and Angel's manufacturing codes confirm this is not an earlier first pressing.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Release notes
Side 1 (25:38) Side 2 (30:05)
Recorded in the Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, May 1978
Note -- each side of the album features an illegible signature in the dead wax runout. Side A appears to be different from Side B.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Frequently asked
What is the catalogue number for this pressing?
Angel Records S-37315, a 1978 stereo LP reissue of Randall Thompson's The Testament of Freedom and Symphony No.1 (1930).
How much is a VG+ copy worth?
According to the price guide, a VG+ graded copy is valued at 7.48 USD. This represents the midpoint between NM (9.78 USD) and VG (5.18 USD), and reflects light play with minimal surface disturbance.
What makes the dead wax on this pressing unusual?
Each side features an illegible signature in the runout groove. Side 1 shows #1 S-1-37315 F5 M33901 RE-1 MO#4, while Side 2 reads #1 [tulip]33901 RE-1 S2-37315-F6 MO#2—the signatures differ between sides, a distinguishing trait of this pressing run.
How many copies are currently for sale, and what is the lowest price?
11 copies are listed for sale across the market, with the lowest asking price at 3.12 USD. This floor price suggests heavily played or damaged stock; most collectors grade-conscious buyers target VG+ (7.48 USD) or better.
Is this a first pressing or a reissue?
This is a 1978 Angel Records reissue, confirmed by the RE-1 suffix on both matrix runouts and the tulip logo on Side 2. The original Thompson works date to 1930, but this particular pressing is a mid-catalog Angel reissue from the stereo era.