Vinyl pressings
by The Guess Who · 1974
Road Food was first pressed on vinyl in 1974. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
18 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 11 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.
APL 1-0405-A-15-S TML – IRunout Side A, variant 1: etched / TML, I stamped
APL11̶0405-B-15S TML – I A3Runout Side B, variant 1: etched / TML, I, A3 stamped
APL 1-0405-A-3S I A3Runout Side A, variant 2
APL 1-0405-B-3S A C1Runout Side B, variant 2
(H TML) APL-1-0405-A-2SRunout A etched/(stamped)
(H) APL1-0405-B-2SRunout A etched/(stamped)
APL1-0405-ASide A label
APL1-0405-BSide B label
APD1-0405A-1 QA Side stamped
APD1-0405B 1 QB Side stamped
APD1-0405-AA Side label
APD1-0405-BB Side label
APD1-0405A-1 Q I A2A Side stamped
APD1 0405B 1 Q I A1B Side stamped
APD1-0405-AA Side label
APD1-0405-BB Side label
APLI 0405-A-IE AIARunout side A
APLI 0405-B-IE KEV AIARunout side B
APL1 0405 1 1SRunout side A
APL1 0405 2 1SRunout side B
APL1-0405-ALabel side A
APL1-0405-BLabel side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Argentina | RCA AVS 4229First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Australia | RCA Victor APL1-0405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Nimbus 9 APL1-0405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Canada | Nimbus 9 APL1-0405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-0405First yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-0405First yearLP | LP |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA RCA-6227First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | RCA RCA-6227First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | New Zealand | RCA Victor APL1-0405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | South Africa | RCA Victor APL1-0405First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Spain | RCA Victor APL1-0405First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Spain | RCA Victor APL1-0405First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | UK | RCA Victor APL1-0405 / RCA APL1-0405First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | RCA Victor APL1-0405First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | RCA APD1-0405First yearLP, Album, Quadraphonic | LP, Album, Quadraphonic |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor APL 1-0405LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | US | RCA Victor APL1-0405LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | RCA Victor APL1-0405 / RCA Victor AP1-0405-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
23 vinyl pressings of Road Food are listed here, from 12 countries.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, UK, Argentina, Australia and more. One of them is RCA Victor APL1-0405.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use APL1-0405, APD1-0405, AVS 4229, APL 1-0405) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, APL 1-0405-A-15-S TML – I and APL11̶0405-B-15S TML – I A3. 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.
