Vinyl pressings
by The Doors · 1970
Absolutely Live was first pressed on vinyl in 1970. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
29 pressings came out in 1970, the album's first year, in 13 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.
EKS-9002-A-1-MON T △14978 ①Side One Variant 1
EKS-9002-B-MON T △14978-X ③Side Two Variant 1
EKS-9002-C-MON T △14979 ①Side Three Variant 1
EKS-9002-D-1-MON T △14978-X ②Side Four Variant 1
EKS-9002-A-2-CTHEtched, Side A (Variant 1)
EKS-9002-B-1-CTHEtched, Side B (Variant 1)
EKS-9002-C-CTHEtched, Side C (Variant 1)
EKS-9002-D-1-CTHEtched, Side D (Variant 1)
EKS-9002-A-1-CP PRunout side A - Variant 1
EKS-9002-B-2-CP PRunout side B - Variant 1
EKS-9002-C-2-CP PRunout side C - Variant 1
EKS-9002-D-1-CP PRunout side D - Variant 1
EKS-9002-A AL ARC 7-16-70Variant 1, Runout etching side A
EKS-9002-B-AL ARC 7-16-70Variant 1, Runout etching side B
EKS-9002-C-AL ARC 7-16-70Variant 1, Runout etching side C
EKS-9002-D-AL ARC 7-16-70Variant 1, Runout etching side D
EKS-9002-A-1-WADA Side Etch, Variant 1
EKS-9002-B-1-WADB Side Etch, Variant 1
EKS-9002-C-WADC Side Etch, Variant 1
EKS-9002-D-WADD Side Etch, Variant 1
EKS-9002-A-1-CPRunout etching side A
EKS-9002-B-CPRunout etching side B
EKS-9002-C-1-CPRunout etching side C
EKS-9002-D-CPRunout etching side D
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Argentina | Elektra 210.404First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Argentina | Epic 10.404First yearLP, Mono · Mono | LP, Mono · Mono |
| 1970 | Australia | Elektra EKS-9002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Elektra EKS-9002 / Elektra EKS 9002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Elektra EKS-9002 / Elektra EKS 9002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Elektra EKS-9002 / Elektra EKS 9002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Elektra EKS-9002 / Elektra EKS 9002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Canada | Elektra EKS-9002First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Canada | Elektra EKS-9002 / Elektra EKS 9002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Italy | Vedette Records L2S 124First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Japan | Elektra SJET-9503~4LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1970 | Japan | Elektra SJET-8274~5 / Elektra EKS-9002First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1970 | Japan | Elektra SJET-9503~4LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo · Promo |
| 1970 | Japan | Elektra SJET-8274~5 / Elektra EKS-9002First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1970 | Mexico | Gamma GX 01-440/41 / Elektra GX 01-440, GX 01-441First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Canada | Elektra 2EKS-9002LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Elektra 62005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Greece | Elektra 62005LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1980 | Japan | Elektra P-6348~9ELP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1980 | Japan | Elektra P-4648~9E / Elektra P-4648ELP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Limited |
| 1980 | Portugal | Elektra ELE 62005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1980 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ELK 62005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Mexico | Elektra L2WE-5045LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Mexico | Elektra L2WE-5045LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ELK 62005 / Elektra ELK 62005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ELK 62005 / Elektra ELK 62005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ELK 62005 / Elektra ELK 62005LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ELK 62005 / Elektra ELK 62005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ELK 62005 / Elektra ELK 62005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | Yugoslavia | Suzy ELK 62005 / Elektra ELK 62005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | US | Elektra R1-9002 / Rhino Vinyl R1-9002LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Elektra R1 9002 / Rhino Vinyl R1 9002LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2010 | Europe | Elektra 8122798168 / Rhino Vinyl 8122798168LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2017 | Europe | Elektra RCV1-9002 / Elektra RCV1 9002LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| 2017 | US | Elektra RCV1-9002 / Elektra RCV1 9002LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Repress · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Argentina | Elektra EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Elektra EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Argentina | Elektra 8122798168 / Rhino Vinyl 8122798168LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| ? | Australia | Elektra EKS 9002 / Elektra EKS-9002LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Austria | Elektra 62 005 / Elektra EKS 9002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Austria | Elektra 62 005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Austria | Elektra 62 005 / Elektra EKS 9002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 2EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 2EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 2EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 2EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Elektra EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Elektra EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 2EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Elektra 2EKS-9002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Elektra 62 005 / Elektra K62005LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
172 vinyl pressings of Absolutely Live are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1970 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1970, in US, UK, France, Mexico and more. One of them is Elektra EKS-9002, released July 1970.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use EKS-9002, 2665 002, GWEA-5046, EKS-9002/1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, EKS-9002-A-1-MON T △14978 ① and EKS-9002-B-MON T △14978-X ③. 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.
