Vinyl pressings
by Doc & Merle Watson · 1977
Lonesome Road was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 5 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.
UALA-725-1-RE-1Side A runout, variant 1
UALA-725-2-RE-1 MasterphonicsSide B runout, variant 1
UALA-725-1-RE-1 Masterphonics ASide A runout, variant 2
UALA-725-2-RE-1 MasterphonicsSide B runout, variant 2
T I UALA-725-1- 3 MasterfoNics ΛSide A runout
TI UALA-725-2 -1 MasterfonicsSide B runout
33 UALA-725-1 MasterfonicsSide A runout
33 UALA-3̶2̶5̶-725-2Side B runout
UAS 30135 A-10
UAS 30135 B-1U
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Canada | Liberty LN-10027LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1977 | Canada | United Artists Records UA LA 725 GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | France | United Artists Records UA LA 725First yearLP | LP |
| 1977 | Japan | United Artists Records GP-531First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Japan | United Artists Records GP-531First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1977 | UK | United Artists Records UAS 30135First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA725-GFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA725-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | US | United Artists Records UA-LA725-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | United Artists Records UA LA 725 G / United Artists Records UA-LA725-GLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | US | Liberty LN-10027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Liberty LN-10027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
12 vinyl pressings of Lonesome Road are listed here, from 5 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Canada, France and more. One of them is United Artists Records UA-LA725-G.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UA-LA725-G, UAS 30135, UA LA 725 G, UA LA 725) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UALA-725-1-RE-1 and UALA-725-2-RE-1 Masterphonics. 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.
