Vinyl pressings
by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers · 1967
A Hard Road was first pressed on vinyl in 1967. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
25 pressings came out in 1967, the album's first year, in 8 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.
ARL-7652-2A H KT 1Side A runout variant 1
ARL-7653-2A H KT 1Side B runout variant 1
ARL-7652-2A A KT 1Side A runout variant 2
ARL-7653-2A CC KT 1Side B runout variant 2
ZAL-7652-1WSide A
ZAL-7653-1WSide B
ARL-7652-2AA Side runout stamped
ARL-7653-2AB side runout stamped
ARL-7652-2A KTA side runout stamped
ARL-7653-2A KTB side runout stamped
ZAL-7652-1W C KT 2BSide A runout
ZAL-7653-1W 0 KT ISide B runout
ZAL 7552Side A label upside down (right above cat.#)
ZAL 7653Side B label upside down (right above cat.#)
ZAL 7652 - 2A runout stamped, variant 1
ZAL 7653 - 2B runout stamped, variant 1
ZAL 7652 - 2 (MR)A runout stamped, variant 2
ZAL 7653 - 2 (MR)B runout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Australia | Decca SKLA 4853First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Australia | Decca LKA 4853First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Australia | Decca SKLA 4853First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1967 | Canada | London Records PS 502First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | Canada | London Records LL 3502First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Germany | Decca SLK 16490-PFirst yearLP, Stereo, Album | LP, Stereo, Album |
| 1967 | Germany | Decca SLK 16490-PFirst yearLP, Stereo, Album | LP, Stereo, Album |
| 1967 | Netherlands | Decca LK 4853First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | Netherlands | Decca SKL 4853First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | New Zealand | Decca SKLM 4853First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | South Africa | Decca SKL.4853First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1967 | UK | Decca LK 4853First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | UK | Decca LK 4853 / Decca LK.4853First yearLP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1967 | UK | Decca SKL 4853First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1967 | UK | Decca SKL 4853First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | UK | Decca SKL 4853LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | UK | Decca SKL 4853LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | US | London Records PS 502LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Decca 115.129 BLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Decca 115.129 BLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Decca 115.129 BLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1972 | France | Decca 115.129 BLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1973 | Germany | DeccaLP, Single Sided, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1974 | Japan | London Records SLC 530LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Mexico | Richmond B-20258LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Mexico | Richmond B-20258LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1976 | Netherlands | Decca SKL 4853LP, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1976 | US | London Records PS 502LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | London Records LAX-126LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Japan | London Records K16P-9069LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Stereo · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Greece | Decca 45113 / Decca 54113LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | UK | Decca SKL 4853LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Greece | Decca 820 474-1 / Decca 820474-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1995 | Greece | Decca 820 474-1 / Decca 820474-1LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Europe | Vinyl Lovers 900174LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Europe | Vinyl Lovers 990175LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2011 | US | Sundazed LP 5372 / London Records LP 5372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 2015 | Italy | DeccaLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2015 | Italy | DeccaLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | Italy | DeccaLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2018 | US | Sundazed LP 5372 / London Records LP 5372LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Spain | DeccaLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2023 | Europe | DeccaLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2023 | Worldwide | Decca UMCLP036 / Universal Music Recordings UMCLP036LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Decca SKL 4853LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Decca SKL 4853LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.30122-03LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Decca 6.30122-03LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Decca SKLI 4853LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Netherlands | Decca 6835 922LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Norway | Decca SKL 4853LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4853LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4853LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4853LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | Deram 820 474-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Decca SKL 4853LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue | LP, Stereo, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | London Records PS 502LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
79 vinyl pressings of A Hard Road are listed here, from 17 countries, released between 1967 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1967, in UK, US, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Decca LK 4853, released February 1967.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LK 4853, SKL 4853, PS 502, LL 3502) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ARL-7652-2A H KT 1 and ARL-7653-2A H KT 1. 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.
