VinylAI 
Data as of Oct 3, 2026
Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band – A Fifth Of Beethoven
1976 · US · Private Stock · Vinyl LP Album
Price guide
Estimated market value via Discogs · as of Oct 3, 2026
- MMint
- $8.71
- NMNear Mint
- $7.79
- VG+Very Good Plus
- $5.96
- VGVery Good
- $4.12
- G+Good Plus
- $2.29
- GGood
- $1.37
- FFair
- $0.92
- PPoor
- $0.46
103 copies listed on Discogs from $0.88.
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
- $6.15ref VA-82KESMedia VG+ · Very Good PlusSleeve VG+🇺🇸 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
- PS 2015-A STERLINGPS∙2015-A STERLING
- Runout — side B
- PS 2015B STERLINGPS-2015-B-RE BEST STERLING
- Pressing Plant ID
- BW(Labels)
- Recorded At
- Sound Ideas Studios
- Mixed At
- Sound Ideas Studios
- Mastered At
- Sterling Sound
- Pressed By
- Bestway Products Inc.
Specifications
- Genre
- Funk / Soul
- Style
- Disco
- Year
- 1976
- Label
- Private Stock
- Catalog number
- PS 2015
- Country
- US
Tracklist
- A1Flight '763:29
- A2(You've Got To) Be Your Own Best Friend3:25
- A3California Strut3:33
- A4A Fifth Of Beethoven3:01
- A5Night Fall4:40
- B1Russian Dressing3:25
- B2Suite Love Symphony2:51
- B3Midnight Express3:05
- B4Get A Little Lovin'3:57
- B5Just A Love Song4:22
- Producer
- Thomas J. Valentino
- Mastered By
- George Marino
- Engineer
- Ron Johnsen
- Engineer [Assistant]
- Jay Borden
- Composed By, Arranged By, Conductor
- Walter Murphy
- Written-By
- Walter Murphy
About this record
Bestway Products Inc. stamped this 1976 Private Stock pressing with multiple matrix variants—PS 2015-A STERLING and PS∙2015-A STERLING among them—reflecting the high-volume disco run that made A Fifth Of Beethoven a staple of mid-seventies record bins. The runout codes reveal repress activity (PS-2015-B-RE BEST STERLING), indicating this title cycled through multiple manufacturing sessions to meet demand.
Despite 2569 collectors owning a copy, the 103 currently listed for sale and a lowest asking price of 0.88 USD show how thoroughly the market has been saturated.
What drives its value
Condition drives the entire market here. A Mint copy commands 8.71 USD, while a Near Mint sits at 7.79 USD—a narrow margin reflecting the record's common status.
The VG+ tier drops to 5.96 USD, and VG copies fall to 4.12 USD, where the real volume trades occur. Below that, prices collapse: G+ at 2.29 USD, Good at 1.37 USD.
With 103 copies actively for sale and a lowest price of 0.88 USD, supply vastly outpaces the 215 collectors still seeking one. The original 1976 Private Stock pressing on Bestway carries no scarcity premium; reissues and multiple pressings have flooded the secondary market.
Grading accuracy is essential—even one step down the condition ladder cuts value in half.
How to appraise this pressing
Confirm this pressing by the catalogue number PS 2015 on the Private Stock label. The dead-wax matrix string will read PS 2015-A STERLING or PS∙2015-A STERLING (A-side) and PS 2015B STERLING or PS-2015-B-RE BEST STERLING (B-side), all struck at Bestway Products Inc. The absence of a barcode is correct for this 1976 US pressing.
Grade by examining the vinyl surface under strong light: a Mint copy shows no visible wear, plays silent, and retains original gloss. NM copies show minimal signs of play.
VG+ records display light surface marks and faint background noise but no audible pops. VG copies show moderate wear, visible groove dust, and occasional clicks.
Below VG, deterioration accelerates. The ten-track layout (including Flight '76 based on Rimsky-Korsakov and Night Fall from Chopin) is standard across pressings; variations appear only in matrix codes and plant stamps.
Further reading: grading a record, how to sell vinyl.
Listen
Hear the album before you buy.
Official videos via YouTube.
Release notes
Another label layout variant can be found here.
Flight '76 based on Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of The Bumble Bee. A Fifth Of Beethoven based on Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Night Fall based on Chopin's Prelude No 4 In E Minor. Russian Dressing based on Tchaïkovsky's Piano Concerto No 1 In B Flat Minor.
Notes sourced from the Discogs database.
Frequently asked
What is the market value of a VG+ copy?
According to the price guide, a VG+ copy is valued at 5.96 USD. This represents the mid-tier of the market; most copies in circulation fall between VG and VG+ condition after nearly five decades of handling.
How do I know which pressing plant made my copy?
Check the dead-wax runout area on both sides of the record. If you see STERLING stamped alongside the matrix code, it was pressed at Bestway Products Inc. The matrix variants PS 2015-A STERLING, PS∙2015-A STERLING, PS 2015B STERLING, and PS-2015-B-RE BEST STERLING all originate from Bestway; the -RE designation indicates a repress run.
Why is there such a big price gap between Mint and Good?
A Mint copy is worth 8.71 USD, while a Good copy drops to 1.37 USD. This steep cliff reflects buyer behavior: most purchasers of this common disco title want playable condition without paying for preservation. Once a record shows moderate wear, it enters the bargain bin where 103 copies currently sit. Collectors of Walter Murphy are typically not investing in archive-quality copies.
Is this the original 1976 pressing or a reissue?
This is the original 1976 Private Stock US pressing. However, the matrix runout PS-2015-B-RE BEST STERLING indicates Bestway ran represses during the original release window to keep up with demand. All variants listed here originate from the same label and year; later reissues on different labels or in different countries would carry distinct catalogue numbers or label variations.
How many collectors actually want this record?
The community data shows 215 collectors have marked it as wanted against 2569 who already own a copy. This 1-to-12 ratio reveals saturation: the record is readily available but generates minimal active demand. At a lowest asking price of 0.88 USD with 103 copies for sale, buyers can cherry-pick condition without negotiating.