Hi PhilMH - I noticed that you have referred to this type of date code before on Cat 45 e.g. kiss me quick
I hope that I've added the webpage link properly - never tried before.
Hi Jasper, I believe you might be right about the number on the back being a date reference, as I've just done a random check of a few Australian RCA-distributed issues, and they all have numbers that look like dates, e.g. a reissue of Nina Simone's TO LOVE SOMEBODY showing 1178; now, that one also has a letter B on the end, and Elvis' THE SUN SESSIONS shows A576N, so now we have to work out what those letters mean (possibly printers codes?). Though another Nina Simone, HERE COMES THE SUN, is A272 without a final letter, like this LP. The numbers seem to have disappeared by the 1980s, though, not appearing on a 1984 Motown LP (Thomas McClary) or a 1988 RCA (Pointer Sisters).
Added images - front/back cover and label images from original release. I hate when this happens i.e. I was just going to post a better front cover image (no laminate folds) then I noticed no laminate folds because my original issue was not laminated, then noted difference in the labels - not bold font and curved printing on the bottom of the label, then back cover no affiliation with Summit Records. Sorry Whassup looks like I'm going to come over the top of you again with an original issue.