Vinyl pressings
by Bar-Kays · 1978
Light Of Life was first pressed on vinyl in 1978. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 4 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.
D II T1 SRM-1-3732-A1 cT -L.NIX-Runout side A
D 4 -GIVE THANKS- T2 SRM-1-3732-B2 cT -L.NIX-Runout side B
SRM-1-3732-ALabel side A
SRM-1-3732-BLabel side B
SRM-1-3732-A-12 -L. Nix- smk [very faint]Side A Runout
SRM-1-3732-B-12 -L. Nix- smk [very faint] -GIVE THANKS-Side B Runout
SRM-1-3732-A-5 -L. Nix- (Backward S)2Side A
SRM-1-3732-B-6 -L. Nix- -Give Thanks- (Backward S)2Side B
SRM-1-3732-B-11 -L. Nix- -Give Thanks-Side B
SRM-1-3732-A-12 -L. Nix-Side A
SRM-1-3732-ASide A Label
SRM-1-3732-BSide B Label
T1 SRM-1-3732-A1 CT -L.NIX-Side A Runout
T2 SRM-1-3732-B2 CT -L.NIX- B -GIVE THANKS-Side B Runout
SRM-1-3732-ASide A Label
SRM-1-3732-BSide B Label
SRM-1-3732-A-15 PRCW-1 -L.NIX.Runout Etchings Side A
SRM-1-3732-B10 PRCW-1 -L.NIX- -GIVE THANKS-Runout Etchings Side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Germany | Mercury 9111 004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Mercury RJ-7568First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | Mercury RJ-7568First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | Mercury 9111 004First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732 / Mercury 9110.080First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732 / Mercury 9110.080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732 / Mercury 9110.080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732 / Mercury 9110.080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732 / Mercury 9110.080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Mercury 9110-080First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Mercury SRM-1-3732First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
16 vinyl pressings of Light Of Life are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1978 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands. One of them is Mercury SRM-1-3732.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SRM-1-3732, 9110-080, 9111 004, RJ-7568) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, D II T1 SRM-1-3732-A1 cT -L.NIX- and D 4 -GIVE THANKS- T2 SRM-1-3732-B2 cT -L.NIX-. 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.
