Vinyl pressings
by The Sweet · 1974
Desolation Boulevard 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.
19 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 9 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.
LPL1-5080-A-1 A1XRunout side A, variant 1, etched
LPL1-5080-B-1 A5HRunout side B, variant 1, etched
LPL1-5080-A-1 A1ARunout side A, variant 2, etched
LPL1-5080-B-1 A1DRunout side B, variant 2, etched
LPL1-5080-A-1 SIDE 1 A2Side A, etched; Variant 1
LPL1-5080-B-1 SIDE 2 A2Side B, etched; Variant 1
LPL1-5080-A-1 SIDE 1 A3 1 c1Side A, etched ('1 c1' stamped); Variant 2, 3
LPL1-5080-B-1 SIDE 2 A4Side B, etched; Variant 2
LPL1-5080-A-1 A1AUVariant 1, side A, etched
LPL1-5080-B-1 B5XVariant 1, side B, etched
LPL1-5080-A-1 A6GVariant 2, side A, etched
LPL1-5080-B-1 A1APVariant 2, side B, etched
LPL1-5080-A-1 A6 bigMSide A variant 1
LPL1-5080-B-1 A5ABSide B variant 1
LPL1-5080-A-1 A6 GSide A runout etch variant 2
LPL1-5080-B-1 AIAMSide B runout etch variant 2
LPL1-5080-A-1 A/FRunout Side A, etched, variant 1
LPL1-5080-B-1 A/DRunout Side B, etched, variant 1
LPL1-5080-A-1 AIHRunout Side A, etched, variant 2
LPL1-5080-B-1 AIDRunout Side B, etched, variant 2
LPL1 5080 A P1 [AREACEM logo]Runout, side A, stamped
LPL1 5080 B P1 [AREACEM logo]Runout, side B, stamped
LPL1 5080-ALabel, side A
LPL1 5080-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 | France | RCA Victor LPL1 5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | RCA LPL1 5080 / RCA Victor LPL1 5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | RCA LPL1 5080 / RCA Victor LPL1 5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA LPL1 5080 / RCA 26.21430 ASFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA LPL 1-5080 / RCA LPL 1 5080First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA Victor LPL1 5080 / RCA Victor LPL 1-5080First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA Victor LPL1 5080First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | RCA Victor LPL1 5080 / RCA Victor LPL 1-5080First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Netherlands | RCA Victor LPL 15080 / RCA Victor LPL1 5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | RCA Victor LPL1-5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Peru | RCA Victor LPL1 5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Portugal | RCA LPL1 5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | South Africa | RCA Victor LPL-1-5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Turkey | RCA Victor LPL 1 5080 / RCA 577First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | UK | RCA Victor LPL1 5080First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Canada | Capitol Records SN-16287 / Capitol Records SN 16287LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Canada | Capitol Records SN-16287 / Capitol Records SN 16287LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1981 | Canada | Capitol Records SN-16287 / Capitol Records SN 16287LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Castle Classics CLALP 170LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П94 RAT 30797LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Europe | RCA 88985357621 / Sony Music 88985357621LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records ST 11395LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records ST 11395LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | El Salvador | RCA XYPL1-733 / RCA Victor XYPL1-733LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | RCA 88985357621 / Sony Music 88985357621LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor LPL1 5080 / RCA Victor LPL 1-5080LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | RCA Victor LPL1 5080 / RCA Victor LPL 1-5080LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | South Korea | High STEREO Light 115LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Capitol Records ST 11395LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSRCA 73013 / RCA Victor LPLI 5080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSRCA 73013 / RCA Victor LPLI 5080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LSRCA 73013 / RCA Victor LPLI 5080LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
72 vinyl pressings of Desolation Boulevard are listed here, from 24 countries, released between 1974 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in UK, France, Germany, Netherlands and more. One of them is RCA LPL1 5080, released November 1974.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use LPL1 5080, LPL 15080, LPL1-5080, LPL-1-5080) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, LPL1-5080-A-1 A1X and LPL1-5080-B-1 A5H. 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.
