Vinyl pressings
by Gordon Lightfoot · 1966
Lightfoot was first pressed on vinyl in 1966. 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 1966, the album's first year, in 2 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.
UAL 3487 A 1a [over] ... sƒRunout side A, etched, variant 1
UAL 3487 B 1b [over] ... 𝑠𝑓Runout side B, etched, variant 1
UAL 3487 A 1b [over] ... 𝑠𝑓Runout side A, etched, variant 2
UAL 3487 B 1b [over] ... 𝑠𝑓Runout side B, etched, variant 2
UAS 6487A .1CSide A runout, variant 1
UAS 6487B.1BSide B variant, variant 1
o UAS•6487A• C-B•1Side A runout, variant 2
o UAS 6487B-1B 2Side B runout, variant 2
UAL 3487 A lbSide A, etched
UAL 3487 B lbSide B, etched
UAL 3487 A lb Bell Sound sfSide A, etched
UAL 3487 B lb Bell Sound sfSide B, etched
UAS 6487 A-2ASide A, etched
UAS 6487 B-1ASide B, etched
UAS 6487 A 1BSide A stamped
UAS 6487 B 1CSide B etched
T UAL 3487 A12Runout Side A, Etched
UAL 3487 B16Runout Side B, Etched
Bell Sound sfRunout Both Sides, Stamped
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Canada | United Artists Records UAL 3487First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Canada | United Artists Records UAS 6487First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | Canada | United Artists Records UAL 3487First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | Canada | United Artists Records UAL 3487First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | United Artists Records UAL 3487First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1966 | US | United Artists Records UAL 3487First yearLP, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono | LP, Promo, Mono · Promo, Mono |
| 1966 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1966 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1968 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1968 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1968 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1969 | UK | United Artists Records UAS 29012LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487 / United Artists Records UAS-6487LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue | LP, Album, Stereo, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1970 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | United Artists Records UAS 29012LP, Repress | LP, Repress |
| 1972 | Japan | United Artists Records SR 782vSR 782LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1977 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1978 | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Liberty LN-10044LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
| 1980 | US | Liberty LN-10044LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | United Artists Records UAS 6487 / United Artists Records UAS-6487LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
29 vinyl pressings of Lightfoot are listed here, from 4 countries, released between 1966 and 1980.
The earliest pressings are from 1966, in Canada, US. One of them is United Artists Records UAL 3487.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use UAL 3487, UAS 6487) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, UAL 3487 A 1a [over] ... sƒ and UAL 3487 B 1b [over] ... 𝑠𝑓. 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.
