Vinyl pressings
by Rod Stewart · 1982
Absolutely Live was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
46 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 28 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.
RVLP 17 A ROD -A FI 1-23743-1-ENG-SET-1 W-L PRECISION D.L. W-11KDSide A runout, etched
RVLP 17 B ROD B1 SET 3 F/I 1-23743-2-ENG-SET-3 W-L W-3 PRECISION D.L.Side B runout, etched
RVLP 17 C ROD -C FI 1-23743-3-ENG-SET-1 W-L W23 PRECISION D.L.Side C runout, etched
RVLP 17 D ROD -D F/I 1-23743-ENG-SET-1 W-L W-24 PRECISION D.L.Side D runout, etched
1-23743-A-SH3 △2676 Precision SM + SLM SP 0-1 SM1-2Side 1 etched, variant 1
1-23743-B-SH-4 △2676-X Precision D.L. SP 0-1 + SLMSide 2 etched, variant 1
1-23743-C SH-3 △2677 Precision D.L. + SLM 0-1 SM2-1Side 3 etched, variant 1
1-23743-D SH-3 △2677-X Precision D.L. SP 0-1 SM1-1Side 4 etched, variant 1
1-23743-A-SH2 [Allied stamp] B-17247- SH2 #1 Precision SM △2676 + SLM 0Run out, side A / etched [except Allied stamp], variant 1
1-23743-B-SH-3 #2 Precision D.L. B △2676-X + SLM 0Run out, side B / etched, variant 1
1-23743-C SH-3 #1 △2677 Precision D.L. + SLM 0Run out, side C / etched, variant 1
1-23743-D SH-3 #1 △2677-X Precision D.L. 0 +Run out, side D / etched, variant 1
1-23743-A-SH21 ɑ B-17247- SH1 Precision SM ̶̷△̶̷2̶̷6̶̷7̶̷6̶̷ ─◁ + SLMSide A etched, exc.ɑ stamped
1-23743-B-SH-2 ɑ̶̷ ̶̷B̶̷-̶̷1̶̷7̶̷2̶̷4̶̷8̶̷- SH2 Precision SM SM1 △̶̷2̶̷6̶̷7̶̷6̶̷-̶̷X̶̷ ─ + SLMSide B etched
1-23743-C SH-4 △̶̷2̶̷6̶̷7̶̷7̶̷ ─◁ Precision D.L. + SLMSide C etched
1-23743-D SH-4 △̶̷2̶̷6̶̷7̶̷7̶̷-̶̷X̶̷ Precision D.L. ─◁ + SLMSide D etched
1-23743-A-SH3 △2676 Precision SM + SLM SP 0-1 SM1-3Side A Etched Runout, Variant 1
1-23743-B-SH-3 0 - / SM3-3 Precision D.L. M B △2676-X + SLM SPSide B Etched Runout, Variant 1
1-23743-C SH3 △2677 Precision D.L. + SLM 0-1 SM 2-1Side C Etched Runout, Variant 1
1-23743-D SH-2 [Allied 'ɑ' logo] B-17250 - SH2 Precision D.L. + SLM 0-1 △2676-X SPSide D Etched Runout, Variant 1
1-23743-A-SH3 △2676 Precision SM. + SLM 40909 A SM#2 #4Side 1 etched
1-23743-B-SH-3 40909 SM#2 Precision D.L. B △2676-X + SLM #2Side 2 etched
1-23743-C SH-2 (balloon logo)B-17249-SH2 Precision D.L. #4 40910 C SM#1 + SLM △2677Side 3 etched/stamped logo
1-23743-D SH-3 △2677-X Precision D.L. #4 40910 D SM#2Side 4 etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Argentina | Warner Bros. Records 83954/55 / Warner Bros. Records 83954First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records 23743-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 26084/85First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 37431First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 37431First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 92 37431First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Colombia | Warner Bros. Records 23(1071)00344 / Warner Bros. Records 6016/17/18First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Ecuador | Warner Bros. Records LP-80051First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 92.3743-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | France | Warner Bros. Records 92.3743-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 92.3743-1 / Warner Bros. Records 92. 3743-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 92.3743-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 92.3743-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 923743-1First yearLP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 923743-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Warner Bros. Records 611.7008 / Warner Bros. Records 26084/85LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 923 743-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 92.3743-1 / Warner Bros. Records 923 743-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 92.3743-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 92.3743-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
58 vinyl pressings of Absolutely Live are listed here, from 29 countries, released between 1982 and 1988.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in UK, US, Mexico, Argentina and more. One of them is Riva RVLP 17.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use RVLP 17, 1-23743, 9 23743-1 G, L2WB-6150) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, RVLP 17 A ROD -A FI 1-23743-1-ENG-SET-1 W-L PRECISION D.L. W-11KD and RVLP 17 B ROD B1 SET 3 F/I 1-23743-2-ENG-SET-3 W-L W-3 PRECISION D.L.. 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.
