Vinyl pressings
by Frank Marino · 1978
Live 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.
9 pressings came out in 1978, 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.
AL-35257-1A-2HD:Side A runout, variant 1
BL-35257-1A-2GD ② B̶L̶-̶3̶5̶2̶4̶7̶-̶1̶A̶-̶2̶G̶D̶:̶ ㅇSide B runout, variant 1
AL-35257-119-2 HD: 2Side A runout, variant 2
BL 35257-1A-2GDSide B runout, variant 2
P PAL-35257- 1D 5 C STERLINGRunout side A
P PBL-35257- 1D 1 A STERLINGRunout side B
AL 35257Label side A
BL 35257Label side B
CBS-S-82621-A-1 2 ꓥRunout side A
CBS-S-82621-B-1 3 ꓥRunout side B
CBS-S-82621-A-1A-side, etched
CBS-S-82621-B-1B-side, etched
CBS 82621 A*A-side, center label
CBS 82621 B*B-side, center label
T1 PAL-35257-1E 2A STERLINGSide A, etched/stamped, Variant 1
T1 PBL-35257-1E STERLINGSide B, etched/stamped, Variant 1
o T1 PAL-35257-1E A11 STERLINGSide A, etched/stamped, Variant 2
o T1 PBL-35257-1B STERLING C6Side B, etched/stamped, Variant 2
S PAL-35257-1C A XS P 2Side A etched, variant 1
S PBL-35257-1C A ST 2Side B etched, variant 1
S PAL-35257-1F A STERLINGSide A etched, STERLING stamped, variant 2
S PBL-35257-1C C STERLINGSide B etched, STERLING stamped, variant 2
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 | Europe | CBS CBS 82621 / Silver Cloud CBS 82621First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | CBS/Sony 25AP 892First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | CBS S CBS 82621 / Silver Cloud S CBS 82621First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | UK | CBS CBS 82621 / CBS 82621First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35257First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35257First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35257First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Canada | Columbia PC 35257First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | US | Columbia JC 35257First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1462LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 82621LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 82621 / CBS 82621LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 35257LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 35257LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
14 vinyl pressings of Live are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1978 and 2015.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in Canada, US, UK, Europe and more. One of them is Columbia PC 35257, released February 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use PC 35257, JC 35257, S CBS 82621, CBS 82621) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AL-35257-1A-2HD: and BL-35257-1A-2GD ② B̶L̶-̶3̶5̶2̶4̶7̶-̶1̶A̶-̶2̶G̶D̶:̶ ㅇ. 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.
