According to ELVIS: THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED RECORD by Roy Carr and Mick Farren, this album was first issued in March 1977 with catalogue number APL1-2274. APL1 was RCA's price code tor $6.98 retail at that point. Sometime in 1977, they upped their full-price to $7.98, with new prefix AFL1 (the MOODY BLUE album in July 1977 was originally issued with an AFL1 prefix). Looking in some old Schwanns, AQL1 signified $8.98 list, so the price must have been upped again. The "Best Buy" reissues were priced at $5.98 and were usually given yet another prefix, AYLI, but the latter appears to have not happened with this one for some reason.
I have this and mine says 1977. If you look close on label it says 77 on it too. Mine is unopened so I don't want to look at the label, but it seems like 77 to me unless the reissue is 79? got me!