Vinyl pressings
by Leonard Cohen · 1973
Live Songs was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1973, the album's first year, in 12 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.
o P P AL 31724-1GRunout side A, variant 1
o P P BL 31724-1FRunout side B, variant 1
P o P AL 31724-1GRunout side A, variant 2
P o P BL 31724-1DRunout side B, variant 2
P AL 31724-1G T 3Runout, A-side
P BL 31724 1 ERunout, B-side
AL 31724on label A side
BL 31724on label B side
1 S PAL- 31724- 1E o A 2Runout side A, etched [o" stamped]
ᴘ o P BL 31724-1 ̷E̷ F 1 S C 1Runout side B, stamped [F 1 S" & "1" etched]
AL 31724Label side A
BL 31724Label side B
P AL 1724-1GRunout side A, stamped
o P BL 31724-1 ̷E̷ FRunout side B, stamped
AL 31724Label side A, var 1
BL 31724Label side B, var 1
o P AL 31724-̶1̶D̶ 1E TSide A runout, stamped, 1E etched, var 1
o P BL 31724-1̶E̶ F TSide B runout, stamped, F etched, var 1
o P AL 31724-̶1̶G TSide A runout, stamped, var 2
o T1 PBL-31724-1DSide B runout, etched, o stamped, var 2
P AL 31724-1GRunout Side A, Stamped
o P BL 31724-1DRunout Side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | CBS SBP 234320 / CBS KC 31724First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia KC 31724First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Columbia C 31724First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Greece | CBS S 65224 / CBS 65224LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1973 | Greece | CBS S 65224 / CBS 65224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Israel | Columbia KC 65324First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Italy | CBS 65224 / CBS S 65224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | CBS/Sony SOPL 199First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | CBS S 65224 / CBS KC 31724First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Netherlands | CBS S 62328 / CBS KC 31724LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo · Club edition |
| 1973 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 474 110 / CBS KC 31724First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | CBS ASF 1759 / CBS ASF.1759First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Korea | Taedo EU 3003 / Taedo SX68 SoundLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1973 | Spain | CBS S 65224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | CBS CBS 65224First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Spain | CBS CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Greece | CBS CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | US | Columbia KC 31724LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2009 | Unknown | Columbia LP 5285LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2009 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5285 / Columbia LP 5285LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2009 | US | Sundazed Music LP 5285 / Columbia LP 5285LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Unknown | Music On Vinyl MOVLP327LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2011 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP327 / Columbia MOVLP327LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2015 | US | Columbia LP 5285LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2016 | Unknown | Columbia LP 5285LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2017 | Europe | Columbia 88985435341 / Sony Music 88985435341LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | CBS SBP 234320LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | CBS KC 31724LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Columbia WC 31724LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32272 / CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | CBS CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | CBS CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | CBS 65224 / CBS S 65224LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS S 65224LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS S 65224LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Netherlands | CBS S 65224LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | CBS CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | CBS CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | CBS 65224 / CBS S 65224LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | CBS CBS 32272LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
52 vinyl pressings of Live Songs are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1973 and 2017.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Columbia KC 31724.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use KC 31724, C 31724, CBS 65224, 65224) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, o P P AL 31724-1G and o P P BL 31724-1F. 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.
