UK
1984- Label and catalog number
- Vertigo VERY 11Vertigo 818 243-1
- Format
- LP, Album · Gatefold
- Runout / matrix
VERY 11 A-1Side 1 runout -etched
VERY 11 B-1Side 2 runout -etched
VERY 11 B-1Side 3 runout -etched
VERY 11 B-1Side 4 runout -etched

Vinyl pressings
by Dire Straits · 1984
Alchemy - Dire Straits Live was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
60 pressings came out in 1984, the album's first year, in 26 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.
VERY 11 A-1Side 1 runout -etched
VERY 11 B-1Side 2 runout -etched
VERY 11 B-1Side 3 runout -etched
VERY 11 B-1Side 4 runout -etched
VERY‧11-A1 ARunout side A
VERY‧11-B1 tone BRunout side B
VERY‧11‧C1 C tone ü ARunout side C
VERY‧11‧D1 CJ ARunout side D
818244 A // 4 ▽ 420 Z 1 4 1 0 SOUND CLINICSide A, variant 1
8̶1̶8̶2̶4̶4̶B̶ ̶3̶1̶ ̶▽̶ ̶4̶2̶0̶ 818244 B // 3 ▽ 420 W 1 2 1 4Side B, variant 1
818245 A // 1 ▽ 420 Z 1 5 SOUND CLINICSide C, variant 1
818245 B // 3 ▽ 420 Z 1 1 1 5 SOUND CLINICSide D, variant 1
818244 A // 4 ▽ 4 20 Z 11 2 4 SOUND CLINIC 11Side A runout, variant 1
818244 B // 3 ▽ 420 Z 14 14 Sound clinicSide B runout, variant 1
818245 A // 2 ▽ 420 Z 13 2 4 SOUND CLINICSide C runout, variant 1
818245 B // 3 ▽ 420 Z 16 1 6 Sound clinicSide D runout, variant 1
818244 A // 4 ▽ 420 Z 1 1 4 5 SOUND CLINICSide A runout, variant 1
818244 B // 3 ▽ 420 Z 1 1 4 1 SOUND CLINICSide B runout, variant 1
818245 A // 3 ▽ 420 Z 1 1 4 9 SOUND CLINICSide C runout, variant 1
818245 B // 3 ▽ 420 Z 1 6 1 1 SOUND CLINICSide D runout, variant 1
818244 A-3U-1-1- V̶E̶R̶Y̶1̶1̶ ̶A̶-̶3̶U̶-̶1̶-̶1̶ DBTAPEoneSide A runout
8̶1̶8̶2̶4̶-̶ 818244 B-2U-1-1-Side B runout
8 1 8 2 4 5 A//1 ▽ 420 Z SOUND CLINICSide C runout
818245-B-1U-1-2 DBTAPEoneSide D runout
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Argentina | Vertigo 818245-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australasia | Vertigo 818 243-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Australasia | Vertigo 818 243-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Brazil | Vertigo 8182431 / Vertigo 818 243-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Vertigo VOT-2-3335LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1984 | Canada | Vertigo VOD-2-3335First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Canada | Vertigo VOD-2-3335 / Vertigo VOT-2-3335First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Canada | Vertigo VOT-2-3335First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | France | Vertigo 818 243-1 / Vertigo 818243-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Vertigo 818 243-1QFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Vertigo 818 243-1QFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Vertigo 818 243-1QFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Germany | Vertigo 818 243-1QFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Greece | Vertigo 818 243-1 / Vertigo 818 243/1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | Ireland | Vertigo VERY 11 / Vertigo 818 243-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Colombia | Vertigo 818243-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 1991 | Spain | Vertigo 818 243-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Germany | Vertigo 818 243-1QLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Brazil | Vertigo 8182431 / Vertigo 818 243-1LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Canada | Vertigo VOT-2-3335LP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light B 075 / Warner Music International B 075LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | South Korea | High Stereo Light 643LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | Taiwan | New Jen Sheng JS-5595LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| ? | UK | Vertigo 818244LP, Single Sided, Advance | LP, Single Sided, Advance |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records W1-25085LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records 9 25085-1 G / Warner Bros. Records 1-25085LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
84 vinyl pressings of Alchemy - Dire Straits Live are listed here, from 27 countries, released between 1984 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, France, Yugoslavia and more. One of them is Vertigo VERY 11.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VERY 11, 9 25085-1 G, 1-25085, 818 243-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VERY 11 A-1 and VERY 11 B-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.