Vinyl pressings
by Daryl Hall & John Oates · 1978
Along The Red Ledge 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.
18 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 10 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.
AFL-1-2804-A 2 X ƚ A5 STERLINGVariant 1, Side A
AFL-1-2804-B 1 X ƚ DJ STERLINGVariant 1, Side B
AFL-1-2804-A 2 X ƚ A B1 STERLINGVariant 2, Side A
AFL-1-2804-B 1 X ƚ B2 STERLINGVariant 2, Side B
AFL•1•2804-A 1 I STERLING A 4PRunout A etch; I STERLING, A stamp - variant 1
AFL•1•2804-B 1 A2 Y I STERLING A 4PRunout B etch; A2, I STERLING stamp - variant 1
AFL•1•2804-A 1 I STERLING A 2XRunout A etch; I STERLING, A stamp - variant 2
AFL•1•2804-B 1 A2 Y I STERLING A 2TRunout B etch; A2, I STERLING stamp - variant 2
AFL-1-2804 - A STERLINGRunout side A
AFL·1·2804 · B STERLINGRunout side B
AFL1-2804ALabel side A
AFL1-2804BLabel side B
AFL-1-2804-A I A2 I STERLING JA side runout, variant 1
AFL-1-2804-B I A2 I STERLING HB side runout, variant 1
AFL-1-2804-A 1 I A5 H STERLINGA side runout, variant 2
AFL-1-2804-B 1 I STERLING A5 HB side runout, variant 2
AFL1-2804ASide A matrix
AFL1-2804BSide B matrix
AFL•1•2804-A 2X [Anvil symbol] ɪ̶̷ 11 STERLING A2Side A etched, except everything after "2X" stamped
AFL•1•2804-B 1 11 [Anvil symbol] ɪ̶̷ STERLING A7Side B etched, except everything after "B" stamped
PL 12804 - A - IE AID I W IRunout side A, variant 1, etched
PL 12804 - B - IE AID I W IRunout side B, variant 1, etched
PL 12804 - A - IE AIR I W jRunout side A, variant 2, etched
PL 12804 - B - IE AIR I W jRunout side B, variant 2, etched
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 | Canada | RCA AFL1-2804First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | RCA PL 12 804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | RCA NL 84 231First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Germany | RCA PL 12 804LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1978 | Italy | RCA PL 12804 / RCA Victor PL12804First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | RCA PL 12804 / RCA Victor PL 12804First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | RCA RVP-6318First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | RCA RVP-6318First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | RCA PL-12804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | South Africa | RCA AFL1-2804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Spain | RCA PL 12804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Spain | RCA PL 12804First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | UK | RCA Victor PL 12804 / RCA Victor PL12804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | RCA AFL1-2804First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | RCA AFL-1-2804 / RCA AFL1-2804LP, Album, Promo, White Label, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo | LP, Album, Promo, White Label, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | US | RCA Victor AYL1-4231LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1982 | Japan | RCA RPL-2111LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Ireland | RCA International INTS 5258LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Spain | RCA NL-14231LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | UK | RCA International INTS 5258 / RCA International PL 12804LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA AYL1-4231LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA NL84231LP, Reissue, Repress | LP, Reissue, Repress |
28 vinyl pressings of Along The Red Ledge are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1978 and 1983.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is RCA AFL1-2804.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AFL1-2804, PL 12804, APL1-2804, PL 12 804) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AFL-1-2804-A 2 X ƚ A5 STERLING and AFL-1-2804-B 1 X ƚ DJ STERLING. 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.
