Vinyl pressings
by The Grateful Dead · 1969
Live/Dead was first pressed on vinyl in 1969. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1969, 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.
39602 2WS 1831-1DRecord 1, Side 1, etched, var 1
39603 2WS 1831-1ARecord 2, Side 2, etched, var 1
39604 2WS 1831-1ARecord 2, Side 3, etched, var 1
39605 2WS 1831-1DRecord 1, Side 4, etched, var 1
S 39602 2S IVariant 1, Runout A [etched]
S 39603 2S IVariant 1, Runout B [etched]
S 39604 2S IVariant 1, Runout C [etched]
S 39605 1S IVariant 1, Runout D [etched]
39602 2WS 1831-1D A(stamp) T1Side 1 runout etching (stamp where noted)
39603 2WS 1831-1A A9 T1Side 2 runout etching (all etched)
39604 2WS 1831-1A B2 T1Side 3 runout etching (all etched)
39605 2WS 1831-1H B3 T1Side 4 runout etching (all etched)
39602 2WS 1830 - 1G C 5 PSide A runout, var. 1
39603 2WS 1830 - 1C C 7 PSide B runout, var. 1
39604 2WS 1830 - 1C C 5 PSide C runout, var. 1
39605 2WS 1830 - 1J D PSide D runout, var. 1
39602 2WS 1830A-1BStamped
39603 2WS 1830B-1BStamped
39604 2WS 1830C-1BStamped
39605 2WS 1830D-1BStamped
WS-1830A-2 ✳T STEREOSide A runout stamped
WS-1830D-1 ✳T STEREOSide D runout stamped
WS-1830B-1 ✳T STEREOSide B runout stamped
WS-1830C-2 ✳T STEREOSide C runout stamped
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 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2WS-1830LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Italy | Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 2WLS 1830LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1970 | Taiwan | Taiwan Nova Records GTN 019~20LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1830LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS-1830LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1830LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1830LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1970 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1830LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1971 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records 66 002 / Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records WD 1830/1-2LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66002 / Warner Bros. Records (1830)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | UK | Warner Bros. Records WS 1830 / Warner Bros. Records K 66002LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1971 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 66002 / Warner Bros. Records (1830)LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1971 | UK | Warner Bros. Records WS.1830LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1971 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5014/5WLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1972 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-5014/5WLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 002 / Warner Bros. Records WD 1830/1-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1830LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Europe | Warner Bros. Records R1 74395LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2003 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 74395 / Rhino Records R1 74395LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2003 | US | Warner Bros. Records R1 74395 / Rhino Records R1 74395LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-365LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 2011 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 2-365LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered |
| 2019 | Worldwide | Warner Records R1 74395 / Warner Records R1 73680LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2WS-1830LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1830LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records 2WS 1830LP, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records 7599-27181-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 002 / Warner Bros. Records WD 1830/1-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 002LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 002 / Warner Bros. Records WD 1830/1-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66 002LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66002 / Warner Bros. Records 66002-1/2LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 002 / Warner Bros. Records WD 1830/1-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66002 (2 WS 1830)LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records WB 66 002 / Warner Bros. Records WD 1830/1-2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66002 1/2LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66002 (2 WS 1830)LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records 66 002-1/2 / Warner Bros. Records 66 002LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
95 vinyl pressings of Live/Dead are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1969 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1969, in US, UK, Canada, Germany and more. One of them is Warner Bros. - Seven Arts Records 2WS-1830, released November 1969.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 2WS-1830, 1830, 2WS 1830, WS.1830) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 39602 2WS 1831-1D and 39603 2WS 1831-1A. 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.
