Vinyl pressings
by The Velvet Underground · 1974
1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed 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.
13 pressings came out in 1974, the album's first year, in 6 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.
SRM-2-7504-A-CP4 MASTERDISK G.K.Runout side A, stamped, except "CP4" and "G.K." etched
SRM-2-7504-B-CP3 MASTERDISK G. K.Runout side B, etched, except "MASTERDISK" stamped
SRM-2-7504-C-CP4 MASTERDISK G.K.Runout side C, etched, except "MASTERDISK" stamped
SRM-2-7504-D-6P3 MASTERDISK G.K.Runout side D, stamped, except "CP3" and "G.K." etched
SRM-2-7504-A (Stamped) CT7 1T (Etched) MASTERDISK (Stamped) G.K. (etched)Side A
SRM-2-7504-B (Stamped) PR2 1T (Etched) MASTERDISK (Stamped) G.K. (etched)Side B
SRM-2-7504-C PR2 1T (Etched) MASTERDISK (Stamped) G.K. (etched)Side C
SRM-2-7504-D (Stamped) CT7 1T (Etched) MASTERDISK (Stamped) G.K. (etched)Side D
SRM-2-7504-A-CS5 MASTERDISK G.K.Side A runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7504-B-CS5 MASTERDISK G. K.Side B runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7504-C-CS5 MASTERDISK G.K.Side C runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7504-D-CS5 MASTERDISK G.K.Side D runout, variant 1
SRM-2-7504-A-CP3 MASTERDISK G.K.Runout side A, stamped, except "4-A-CP3" and "G.K." etched
SRM-2-7504-B-CP4 MASTERDISK G. K.Runout side B, stamped, except "4-B-CP4" and "G.K." etched
SRM-2-7504-C-CP4 MASTERDISK G.K.Runout side C, stamped, except "4-C-CP4" and "G.K." etched
SRM-2-7504-D-CP4 MASTERDISK G.K.Runout side D, stamped, except "4-D-CP3" and "G.K." etched
Side A: SRM-2 7504 A-K (etched) MASTERDISC (stamped) A- <-> (etched) with a right-angled triangle after <->
Sida B: SRM-2 7504 B-K (etched) A-I <-> (etched) with a right-angled triangle after <->
Side C: SRM-2 7504 C-K (etched) MASTERDISC (stamped) A- <-> (etched) with a right-angled triangle after <->
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 | Australia | Mercury 6643 017First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | France | Mercury 6643 017First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | Germany | Mercury 6643 017First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Germany | Mercury 6643 017First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | Japan | Mercury RJ-5148First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | New Zealand | Mercury 6643 017First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504First yearLP, Promo · Promo | LP, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1974 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1975 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Scandinavia | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1981 | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
| 1983 | US | Mercury 826 284-1 M-2LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1984 | UK | Mercury PRID 7 / Mercury 6641 900LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1986 | Europe | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | US | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Unknown | Mercury SRM-2-7504LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | France | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | New Zealand | Mercury 6643 017LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Mercury 6641 900 / Mercury 9198 030LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Mercury 9198 030LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| ? | UK | Mercury 6641 900LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Mercury 6643 017 / Mercury SRM-2-7504LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Mercury SRM-2-7504LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress, Stereo |
48 vinyl pressings of 1969 Velvet Underground Live With Lou Reed are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1974 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1974, in US, Australia, France, Germany and more. One of them is Mercury SRM-2-7504.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SRM-2-7504, 6643 017, RJ-5148) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SRM-2-7504-A-CP4 MASTERDISK G.K. and SRM-2-7504-B-CP3 MASTERDISK G. K.. 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.
