Vinyl pressings
by Barclay James Harvest · 1978
Live Tapes 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.
19 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 12 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.
2478 115 S1=3 320 1C BKRunout Side A [Stamped] - Variant 1
2478 115 S2 320 A0 1DRunout Side B [Stamped] - Variant 1
2478 116 S3=2 B 320 AW 1BRunout Side C [Stamped] - Variant 1
2478 116 S4=2 320 AV 4BRunout Side D [Stamped] - Variant 1
2478115Label Side A + B
2478116Label Side C + D
2478 115 = 2 s 1 320 BT 1ARunout side A variant 1
2478 115 = s 2 320 BG 1ARunout side B variant 1
2478 116 = s 3 320 2A CTRunout side C variant 1
2478 116 = s 4 320 BW 1ARunout side D variant 1
1 D D F 2478 115 S 1 = 3 320Runout side A
5 C B Y 2478 115 S 2 320Runout side B
B S 1 B 2478 116 S 3 = 2 3 2 0Runout side C
B M 1 B 2478 116 S 4 = 2 3 20Runout side D
2478115 A//1 UT ƱA-side runout, variant 1
2478115 B//1 UT ƱB-side runout, variant 1
2478116 A//1 UT ƱC-side runout, variant 1
2478116 B//1 UT ƱD-side runout, variant 1
2478115 A//2 ▽ 240 W 1 1 1Side A, variant 1
2478115 B//1 UT [Utopia lyre symbol] 1 1 3Side B, variant 1
2478116 A//1 UT 1 6 1 4 [Utopia lyre symbol]Side C, variant 1
2478116 B//1 UT 11 9 [Utopia lyre symbol] 4Side D, variant 1
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 | Austria | Polydor 2478 115First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Europe | Polydor 2669 041First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Polydor 27299-7LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1978 | Germany | Polydor 2679 054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | Polydor 27 299 7LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1978 | Germany | Polydor 2679 054First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | Polydor 2679 054First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | Polydor 2669 041First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Greece | Polydor 2669 041LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1978 | Ireland | Polydor PODV 2001 / Polydor 2679 054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Israel | Polydor 2679 054First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Italy | Polydor 2669 041First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Polydor MIE 0002 / Polydor MIE 0003First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | Polydor MPZ-8121/2First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | Polydor MPZ-8121/2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | South Korea | Polydor 2679 054 / SEL-RG 623LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Polydor 2669 041LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Polydor 2669 041LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Polydor 2669 041LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Taiwan | 雅音 AR-5047 / 雅音 AR-5048LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
28 vinyl pressings of Live Tapes are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1978 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in Germany, UK, France, Japan and more. One of them is Polydor 2679 054, released June 9, 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2679 054, PODV 2001, 2669 041, MPZ 8121/2) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 2478 115 S1=3 320 1C BK and 2478 115 S2 320 A0 1D. 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.
