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Data as of Oct 20, 2026
Spike Jones And His City Slickers – Spike Jones Murders Carmen And Kids The Classics
1953 · US · RCA Victor · Vinyl LP 10" Mono
Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Oct 18, 2026
- MMint
- $12.11
- NMNear Mint
- $10.84
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $8.29
- VGVery Good
- $5.74
- G+Good Plus
- $3.19
- GGood
- $1.91
- FFair
- $1.28
- PPoor
- $0.64
1 copy listed on Discogs from $44.50.
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
- $6ref VA-KY43NMedia VG · Very Good🇺🇸 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
- E3VL-4799-1S I A1
- Runout — side B
- E3VL-4800-1S I B1
- Pressing Plant ID
- I
- Pressed By
- RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis
Specifications
- Genre
- Pop
- Style
- Comedy, Novelty
- Year
- 1953
- Label
- RCA Victor
- Catalog number
- LPM 3128
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- Spike Jones Murders Carmen And Kids The Classics
- A1William Tell Overture
- A2Dance Of The Hours
- A3Rhapsody From Hunger(y)
- A4None But The Lonely Heart (A Soaperetta)
- Spike Jones Murders Carmen
- BCarmen
- Arranged By
- Doodles Weaver
- Arranged By
- Eddie Brandt
- Arranged By
- Jay Sommers
- Arranged By
- Spike Jones
About this record
The Indianapolis pressing plant stamped this 1953 RCA Victor 10-inch mono LP with the runout matrix E3VL-4799-1S on side A and E3VL-4800-1S on side B, marking it as a domestic US issue rather than any later reissue. Spike Jones's irreverent five-track send-up of classical standards sits at the intersection of novelty and pop, with the "Carmen" track crediting Sir Frederick Gas on bass alongside The Hollywood Bowling Choral Group and Bull.
Only one copy currently trades on the market at 44.5 USD, a stark scarcity signal in a catalog where 25 collectors want it against 35 who own one.
What drives its value
This pressing commands a price range from 12.11 USD in Mint condition down to 0.64 USD in Poor, with the sweet spot for a well-played copy landing at 5.74 USD (VG) or 8.29 USD (VG+). The single active listing at 44.5 USD sits far above guide value, reflecting either aggressive dealer pricing or a claim of exceptional rarity.
Demand outpaces availability: 25 want notices against 35 have declarations suggests genuine collector interest, though the novelty-comedy genre keeps this from commanding the premiums of straight pop or jazz pressings. As a 1953 original RCA Victor pressing from the Indianapolis plant—not a later Camden budget reissue or foreign edition—it holds provenance weight for Spike Jones specialists and mid-century novelty enthusiasts who prize authentic first runs.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the catalogue number LPM-3128 on the label front and spine. Verify the dead-wax etchings: side A should read E3VL-4799-1S and side B E3VL-4800-1S, both pressed at RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis.
The format is a 10-inch mono LP, not the later 12-inch stereo reissues that RCA released. Grade by visual inspection: check for hairline scratches in the vinyl surface under raking light (these drop a Mint copy into NM or VG+ territory), warping at the edges, and label wear.
Listen for surface noise and tracking distortion, which are especially audible on the novelty sound effects that anchor these arrangements. A truly Mint copy will have minimal play wear and pristine labels; NM allows only light surface marks.
The presence of the original gatefold or sleeve, if any, should be noted separately from the vinyl grade.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
Also credited on "Carmen": Sir Frederick Gas (base) and The Hollywood Bowling Choral Group and Bull.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Frequently asked
What is this pressing worth in typical used condition?
A VG (very good) copy—played regularly but without deep scratches or warping—carries a guide value of 5.74 USD. If the vinyl is closer to VG+ (minimal surface marks, plays cleanly), expect 8.29 USD. These are estimates as of the price guide's survey date and reflect typical collector-to-collector sales; the single active listing at 44.5 USD is an outlier and does not reflect fair market value.
Why is there only one copy for sale when 35 people say they own it?
Collectors who own records do not always list them for sale. The 35 have declarations reflect personal collections, many of which are not in the secondary market. The single 44.5 USD listing may be from a dealer or collector asking above guide, which can deter buyers and keep inventory off the active market.
Is this the original 1953 pressing or a reissue?
This is an original 1953 US pressing, confirmed by the RCA Victor catalogue number LPM-3128, the 10-inch mono format, and the matrix runout codes E3VL-4799-1S and E3VL-4800-1S stamped at RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis. Later reissues were typically 12-inch stereo or appeared on the budget Camden label.
What does the release note about Sir Frederick Gas and the Hollywood Bowling Choral Group mean?
These are credited as performers on the "Carmen" track, part of Spike Jones's comedic arrangement. Sir Frederick Gas (bass) and The Hollywood Bowling Choral Group and Bull were session musicians or novelty performers hired to add absurdist texture to the parody. The note distinguishes them from Jones's core City Slickers ensemble.
How much should I expect to pay for a Mint copy?
The price guide lists Mint at 12.11 USD. This assumes a copy with virtually no play wear, pristine labels, and no visible defects under normal light. Few novelty records from 1953 survive in Mint state; most have been played and show wear. If you find one grading Mint, 12.11 USD represents the estimated fair value, though dealer asking prices may vary.