Vinyl pressings
by Lou Reed · 1975
Lou Reed Live was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
24 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 15 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.
APL-1-0959-A-10s STERLING RL I A2Side A runout, variant 1
APL1-0959-B-10s A2Side B runout, variant 1
APL-1-0959-A-10s STERLING RL I A3Side A runout, variant 2
APL1-0959-B-10s A3Side B runout, variant 2
APL-1-0959-A-12s STERLING HVariant 1, Side A
APL1-0959-B-12s HVariant 1, Side B
APL-1-0959-A 13S STERLING HVariant 2, Side A
APL-1-0959-B 13S HVariant 2, Side B
RS-1007-A-1E A1M PNRunout side A etched, variant 1
RS-1007-B-1E A2JRunout side B etched, variant 1
RS-1007-A-1E A2B PNRunout side A etched, variant 2
RS-1007-B-1E A2BRunout side B etched, variant 2
RS-1007-A-1E A1L PNRunout Side A [Etched], variant 1
RS-1007-B-1E A1FRunout Side B [Etched], variant 1
RS 1007 ALabel Side A
RS 1007 BLabel Side B
RS-1007-A-1E A1H PNRunout Side A [Etched]
RS-1007-B-1E A1DRunout Side B [Etched]
APL1 0959 A A1A8Side 1 runout, stamped
APL1 0959 B A1A7Side 1 runout, stamped
APL1 0959 B A1A1Variant Side 1 runout, stamped
APL1 0959 B A1A3Variant Side 1 runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104 4064First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | RCA Victor APL1-0959First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | RCA APL1-0959 / RCA Victor APL1 0959First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | RCA APL1-0959 / RCA Victor APL1 0959First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-0959First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-0959First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1975 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20006 / RCA Victor RCLP 20006First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20006 / RCA Victor RCLP 20006LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1975 | Japan | RCA RCA-6292First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | RCA RCA-6292First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Netherlands | RCA Victor APL 10959First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Portugal | RCA Victor APL1-0959First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | South Africa | RCA Victor APL1-0959 / RCA Victor APL1-0959First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Spain | RCA Victor APL1-0959First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Spain | RCA Victor APL1-0959First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | RCA International AYL1 3752LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1981 | Europe | RCA CL 13752LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | RCA CL 13752 / RCA Victor CL 13752LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Italy | RCA YL 13752LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Italy | RCA YL 13752LP, Album, Promo, Remastered, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Remastered, Stereo · Promo |
| 1981 | Portugal | RCA PL 13752 / PolyGram PL 13752LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | UK | RCA International INTS 5071 / RCA International NL 10959LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | UK | RCA International INTS 5071 / RCA International NL 10959LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | Europe | RCA International NL 83752LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | Europe | RCA International NL 83752 / RCA NL 83752LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK & Europe | RCA International NL 83752LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | Brazil | RCA Victor 104422LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1988 | Spain | RCA NL 83752 / RCA APL1-0959LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0099-1 311 / BMG 21 0099-1 311LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0099-1 311 / BMG 21 0099-1 311LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0099-1 311 / BMG 21 0099-1 311LP, Album, Reissue, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Reissue, Promo · Promo |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0099-1 311 / BMG 21 0099-1 311LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 21 0099-1 311LP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | RCA AYL1-3752LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | RCA International NL 83752LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | RCA NL 13752LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | RCA Victor APL1 0959LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | RCA Victor APL1-0959LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor CL 13752 / RCA Victor APL 1-0959-ALP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-0959LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-0959 / RCA Victor 26.21 486 AOLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| ? | Italy | RCA APL1-0959 / RCA Victor APL1 0959LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | RCA APL1-0959 / RCA Victor APL1 0959LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | RCA Victor APL1-0959LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Spain | RCA APL1-0959LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | UK | RCA RS 1007LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor AYL1-3752 / RCA AYL1-3752LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
65 vinyl pressings of Lou Reed Live are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1975 and 1991.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Australia, Italy and more. One of them is RCA Victor APL1-0959, released March 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use APL1-0959, RS 1007, 104 4064, APL 1-0959) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APL-1-0959-A-10s STERLING RL I A2 and APL1-0959-B-10s A2. 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.
