Vinyl pressings
by Sam Cooke · 1985
Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963 was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
8 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 7 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.
AFL1 5181A 10 I A1BRunout A, variant 1
AFL1 5181B 10 I A1Runout B, variant 1
AFL1 5181A 10 I A3DRunout A, variant 2
AFL1 5181B 10 I A1 URunout B, variant 2
AFL1-5181 A G•Side A runout
AFL1-5181 B G•Side B runout
AFL1-5181-ASide A label
AFL1-5181-BSide B label
PL K 85181 A 1A 22 15 Piero 2 - 4 - 85Side A runout etched, variant 1
PL K 85181 B 1A 15 5 PIERO 2 - 5 - 85Side B runout etched, variant 1
PL K 85181 A 1B 5 Piero 2 - 4 - 85Side A runout etched, variant 2
PL K 85181 B 1A 8 PIERO 2 - 5 - 85Side B runout etched, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Canada | RCA AFL1-5181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | RCA PL 85181 / RCA PL85181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Greece | RCA RCLP 20339First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Japan | RCA RPL-8299First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Spain | RCA NL-45981First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Spain | RCA NL-45981First yearLP, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1985 | US | RCA AFL1-5181 / RCA Victor AFL1-5181First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1 5181First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Australasia | RCA Victor SPLP 1035LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | Brazil | RCA 150.4007LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Spain | RCA NL-45981LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | Spain | RCA NL-45981LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Europe | RCA NL90454LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1990 | Spain | RCA NL90454LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | US | RCA Victor 88697337901 / RCA 88697337901LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP071 / RCA Victor 88697686251LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2014 | Europe | Mr. Suit Records SUITABLE1328LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2015 | Europe | Bad Joker BOSS5-1993LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 2016 | US | RCA 88875109141 / Sony Music 88875109141LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2017 | Europe | Wax Love WLV82037LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP071 / RCA Victor 8719262041196LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia & New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1 5181 / RCA APL1 5181LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
22 vinyl pressings of Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963 are listed here, from 9 countries, released between 1985 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is RCA AFL1-5181, released May 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use AFL1-5181, APL1 5181, PL 85181, RCLP 20339) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, AFL1 5181A 10 I A1B and AFL1 5181B 10 I A1. 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.
