Vinyl pressings
by Van Morrison · 1973
Hard Nose The Highway was first pressed on vinyl in 1973. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
21 pressings came out in 1973, 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.
T1 BS-2712 40501-1Runout side A, etched variant 1
T1 BS-2712 40502-1Runout side B, etched variant 1
A 3 T1 BS-2712 40501-1Runout side A, etched variant 2
A 7 T1 BS-2712 40502-1Runout side B, etched variant 2
P BS-2712 40501-1Side A runout, variant 1
P BS-2712 40502-1Side B runout, variant 1
P BS-2712 40501-1 D1Side A runout, variant 2
P BS-2712 40502-1 A2Side B runout, variant 2
S1 BS-2712-40501-A 1A 1DRunout Etched Side A, variant 1
S1 BS-2712-40502-B 1A B 8Runout Etched Side B, variant 1
S1 BS-2712-40501-A 1A A4Runout Etched Side A, variant 2
S1 BS-2712-40502-B 1ARunout Etched Side B, variant 2
S l BS-2712 40501-A 1ASide A etched
S l BS-2712 40501-B 1ASide B etched
T1 BS-2712 40501-1Side 1
T1 BS-2712 40502-1Side 2
K46242 A1 KIP A CSide A runout, variant 1
K46242 B1 A CSide B runout, variant 1
K46242 A1 1 3 KIP ASide A runout, variant 2
K46242 B1 1 2 ASide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BS 2712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2712First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | France | Warner Bros. Records 46242 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2717First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2717First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8360WLP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8360WFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1973 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-8360WFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records WBS.2712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1217First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 46242 / Warner Bros. Records K46242First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1973 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 46242First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1973 | UK | Warner Bros. Records K 46242 / Warner Bros. Records K46242LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1973 | US | Warner Bros. Records BS 2712First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records LB 46242LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1989 | Germany | Polydor 839 163-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | Netherlands | Polydor 839 163-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1989 | UK | Polydor 839 163-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Warner BS 2712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BS 2712LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records K 46 242LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | France | Warner Bros. Records K46242 / Warner Bros. Records 46 242LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records K 46 242LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records BS 2712LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records K 46 242LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records K 46 242LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 46 242 / Warner Bros. Records K 46 242LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 46242LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Warner Bros. Records 46242LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| ? | Netherlands | Warner Bros. Records WB 46242LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
64 vinyl pressings of Hard Nose The Highway are listed here, from 15 countries, released between 1973 and 1989.
The earliest pressings are from 1973, in US, UK, Canada, Netherlands and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BS 2712.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BS 2712, K 46242, WB 46242, FL-2398) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, T1 BS-2712 40501-1 and T1 BS-2712 40502-1. 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.
