The August 1958 release of Elvis Presley’s King Creole was in monaural only with catalog number LPM-1884. The stereo release did not come to light until February 1962 as LSP-1884. Various guides have depicted the use of the same front cover from 1962 to as late as 1971. The back had a couple of changes, throughout the years. I have researched this cover in depth for only a short period of time and have uncovered as many as six distinctively unique back covers and two covers throughout this same period. There is even variations from transition to the new 1971 front cover used through to 1977. This transition uses the new front cover, however, with older back covers. For what can be certain is that not all cover variations have been accounted. As I continue to monitor this record, updates will be available as often as needed. Since collecting Elvis records can get expensive at times, I may resort to current and past sales of King Creole for images to fill in the blanks until I can upgrade the images.
This pictorial guide illustrates the differences between each release.
Mfg: RCA Victor Records
Catalog: LSP-1884
Title: King Creole
Artist: Elvis Presley
Release: 2/1962
Book Value: $ n/a
Note: The cover images are mock ups of those as referenced from eBay auction 350019766032. The “(e)” was removed from both sides of the cover.
COVER: Front: Nipper logo at top right, number at upper left without the “(e)”. Back: large RCA box upper left, number upper right without the “(e)”. After the third paragraph the copyright info is not bold as © by Radio Corporation of America, 1958 followed by an IMPORTANT! statement.
DISC: Black label, RCA logo in silver at top and “Stereo Electronically Reprocessed” at bottom.
Note: May be known as the staggered StErEo release.
Inner Sleeve: white no print.
Catalog: LSP-1884(e)
Title: King Creole
Release: 2/1962 through 1968
Book Value: $ varies
COVER: Front: Nipper logo at top right, number at upper left with the “(e)”.
Back: large RCA box upper left, number upper right with the “(e)”. After the third paragraph the copyright info is not bold as © by Radio Corporation of America, 1958 followed by an IMPORTANT! statement.
Back: large RCA box upper left, number upper right with the “(e)”. After the third paragraph the copyright info is in bold and reads © 1958, RCA, New York, N.Y. · Printed in U.S.A. followed by an IMPORTANT! statement. The number 2 lower left corner under the far left picture.
The combination of this front cover in combination with the back cover, has been seen with the following discs and inner sleeves.
DISC:
Black label, RCA logo in silver at top and “Stereo Electronically Reprocessed” at bottom. (2/1962)
Black label, RCA logo in logo in silver at top and “STEREO” at bottom. (1963)
Black label, RCA logo in white at top and “Stereo” at bottom. (10/1964)
INNER SLEEVE:
21-112-1 40A (10/1964)
21-112-1 40B (4/1965)
21-112-1 40C (3/1967)
Catalog: LSP-1884(e)
Title: King Creole
Release: 1971
Book Value: $ 40 est.
COVER: Front: Nipper logo at top right, number at upper left with the “(e)”. No number on spline.
Back: small RCA box upper left, number upper right with the “(e)” with Stereo effect reprocessed from monophonic line added. After the third paragraph, the copyright info has been relocated to bottom center and IMPORTANT! information has been removed. SER lower left corner and the number 3 lower left corner under left farthest picture.
The combination of this front cover in combination with the back cover, has been seen with the following discs and inner sleeves.
DISC:
Orange label. Rigid vinyl. (11/1968) verified
Orange label. Non flexible vinyl. (1969-1971)
Orange label. flexible vinyl. (1971)
INNER SLEEVE:
21-112-1 40D (6/1968)
21-112-1 pt 54 (8/1970) verified
21-112-1 pt 55 (8/1970)
21-112-1 pt 56 (8/1970)
21-112-1 pt 57 (8/1970)
Catalog: LSP-1884(e)
Title: King Creole
Release: 1971-1977
Book Value: $ varies
Back: small RCA box upper left, number upper right with the “(e)” with Stereo effect reprocessed from monophonic line added. After the third paragraph, the copyright info has been relocated to bottom center and IMPORTANT! information has been removed. SER lower left corner.
Back: small RCA box upper left, number upper right with the “(e)” with Stereo effect reprocessed from monophonic line added. After the third paragraph, the copyright info has been relocated to bottom center and IMPORTANT! information has been removed. SER lower left corner and the number 2 next to copyright information, bottom center.
The combination of this front cover in combination with the back cover, has been seen with the following discs and inner sleeves.
DISC:
Orange label. Rigid vinyl. (11/1968)
Orange label. Non flexible vinyl. (1969-1971)
Orange label. flexible vinyl. (1971)
Tan label. (1976)
Black label. Dog near top (1976)
INNER SLEEVE:
21-112-1 40D (6/1968)
Black and white. Pictures RCA Elvis catalog front and back. Any of several sleeves may be found on reissues.
Note: Some of the disc and cover combinations are speculative. For example, the 1970’s front cover with RCA in upper left and VICTOR in upper right contained an Orange label. Rigid vinyl record. With that being the oldest vinyl release seen in this cover, then the others may have followed suit.