Vinyl pressings
by The Grateful Dead · 1975
Blues For Allah 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.
29 pressings came out in 1975, the album's first year, in 20 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.
1 S GD-LA-494-A-1A [Artisan logo] c3Var. 1 - Side A etched; [Artisan logo] stamped
1 S GD-LA-494-B-1A [Artisan logo] B5Var. 1 - Side B etched; [Artisan logo] stamped
1 S GD-LA-494-A-1A [Artisan logo] C1Var. 2 - Side A etched; [Artisan logo] stamped
1 S GD-LA-494-B-1A [Artisan logo] B3Var. 2 - Side B etched; [Artisan logo] stamped
GD-LA 494-1 [ Artisan logo ] 0Side A etched runout [Artisan logo & 0, stamped]
GD-LA 494-2 [ Artisan logo ] 0Side B etched runout [Artisan logo & 0, stamped]
GD-LA 494-A - /ASide A etched runout
GD-LA 494-B - /ASide B etched runout
Artisan Sound Recorders LogoSide A & B stamped runout
GD-LA 494-G-1 (SET 4) AR D[Artisan Sound logo]Side A etched; Artisan Sound logo stamped
GD-LA 494-G-2 (SET 3) [Artisan Sound logo]DSide B etched; Artisan Sound logo stamped
GD-LA-494-1 (2) [Artisan Sound logo] 22Side A Etched; Artisan Sound logo stamped
GD-LA-494-2 -3 [Artisan Sound logo] 22Side B etched; Artisan Sound logo stamped
P GD-LA-494-1 [Artisan Sound logo]Side A runout, variant 1
P GD-LA-494-2 [Artisan Sound logo]Side B runout, variant 1
GD-LA 494- 1 P [Artisan Sound logo] 2Side A runout, variant 2
P GD-LA 494- 2 [Artisan Sound logo] 1FSide B runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | United Artists Records L 35697First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | United Artists Records GD-LA494-G / United Artists Records GDLA 494GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Denmark | United Artists Records UAS 29 895 XOFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | United Artists Records UAS 29895 / Grateful Dead Records UAS 29.895First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Germany | United Artists Records UAS 29 895 XOFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Germany | United Artists Records UAS 29 895 XOFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Greece | United Artists Records UA 44524First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Greece | United Artists Records UA 44524LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1975 | Guatemala | Dideca GD-LA494-GFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Israel | United Artists Records GDLA 494-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Italy | United Artists Records UAS 29895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Italy | United Artists Records UAL 24040First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Netherlands | United Artists Records UAS 29895First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | New Zealand | United Artists Records L-35697 / Grateful Dead Records GD-LA494-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | South Africa | Grateful Dead Records GD-LA494-GFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Italy | Liberty 3C 054-64228LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | Australia | Grateful Dead Records L 30165LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | Germany | Grateful Dead Records GDLP 4.00650 JLP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1989 | Spain | Nuevos Medios 23 426 LELP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Grateful Dead Records GDV 4001LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Audio Fidelity AFZLP 121LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2017 | US | Rhino Records R1-516249LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2018 | Europe | Rhino Records 081227932091 / Grateful Dead Productions, Inc. 081227932091LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2018 | US | Rhino Records R1-516249LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2019 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-48312", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | 12", 45 RPM, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | US | Rhino Records R1 727446 / Rhino Records 603497816286LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2025 | Europe | Rhino Records R1 727446 / Rhino Records 603497816286LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2025 | Germany | Rhino Records R1 727446 / Rhino Records 603497816286LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Rhino Records R1 727451 / Rhino Records 081227812072LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | US | Rhino Records R1 727451 / Rhino Records 081227812089LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Worldwide | Rhino Records RPD1 727448 / Rhino Records 603497816293LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | Grateful Dead Records GDV 4001LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| ? | Italy | United Artists Records UAL 24040LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | South Korea | Echoes AS 114LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
58 vinyl pressings of Blues For Allah are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1975 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, UK, Argentina, Philippines and more. One of them is Grateful Dead Records GD-LA494-G, released September 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use GD-LA494-G, UAS 29895, 8354, UALP 12023) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 1 S GD-LA-494-A-1A [Artisan logo] c3 and 1 S GD-LA-494-B-1A [Artisan logo] B5. 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.
