Vinyl pressings
by Lou Reed · 1978
Lou Reed Live - Take No Prisoners 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.
20 pressings came out in 1978, the album's first year, in 11 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.
T1 AL 8502 SA CT2 A STERLINGSide A runout, variant 1
T1 AL 8502 SC CT2 A STERLINGSide B runout, variant 1
T2 AL 8502 SD CT1 A3 STERLINGSide C runout, variant 1
T1 AL 8502 SB CT2 B2 STERLINGSide D runout, variant 1
T1 AL 8502 SA CT1 ASide A runout etched
T1 AL 8502 SB CT2 BSide B runout etched
T1 AL 8502 SC CT2 ASide C runout etched
T1 AL 8502 SD CT2 ABSide D runout etched
AL 8502 SA CS1 A 1S STERLINGSide A etched, STERLING stamped
AL 8502 SC CS1 A5 1S STERLINGSide B etched, STERLING stamped
AL 8502 SD SM2 C3 1S STERLINGSide C etched, STERLING stamped
AL 8502 SB CS1 A7 1S STERLINGSide D etched, STERLING stamped
P AL 8502 SA CP1 STERLINGVariant 1, Side A runout
P AL 8502 SC CP1 STERLINGVariant 1, Side B runout
P AL 8502 SD CP1 STERLINGVariant 1, Side C runout
P AL 8502 SB CP2 STERLINGVariant 1, Side D runout
AL 8502 SA H1 HUB STERLINGRunout side A
AL 8502 SC 1H HUB STERLINGRunout side B
AL 8502 SD H1 HUB STERLINGRunout side C
AL 8502 SB H2 HUB STERLINGRunout side D
AL 8502 SA A1Record 1 Side 1
AL 8502 SC A1Record 2 Side 2
AL 8502 SD A1Record 2 Side 3
AL 8502 SB A1Record 1 Side 4
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 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor DXL2 3066First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Canada | Arista AL 8502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | RCA XL 03066First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | France | RCA Victor XL 03066LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | RCA Victor XL 03066 / RCA Victor AL 8502First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Germany | RCA Victor XL 03066First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Greece | RCA Victor RCLP 20129, RCLP 20130 / RCA XL 03066 (2)First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | RCA XL 03066(2) / RCA Victor XL 03066(2)First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Italy | RCA XL 03066(2) / RCA Victor XL 03066(2)First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1978 | Japan | RCA RCA-9155~6 / RCA DXL2-3065First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | Japan | RCA RCA-9155~6 / RCA DXL2-3065First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1978 | Netherlands | RCA XL 3066First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1978 | Netherlands | RCA XL-3066 / RCA Victor XL-3066First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1978 | Portugal | RCA Victor XL-03066(2) / RCA XL 03066(2)First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1978 | UK | RCA XL 03066 2First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | RCA PL89356(2)LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Europe | RCA PL89356(2) / Arista AL 8502LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Spain | RCA XL 03066 2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | RCA XL 03066(2)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Arista AL 8502LP, Album | LP, Album |
30 vinyl pressings of Lou Reed Live - Take No Prisoners are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1978 and 1979.
The earliest pressings are from 1978, in US, UK, Australia & New Zealand, Canada and more. One of them is Arista AL 8502, released November 1978.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AL 8502, XL 03066 2, DXL2 3066, XL 03066) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 AL 8502 SA CT2 A STERLING and T1 AL 8502 SC CT2 A STERLING. 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.
