Skip to content
VinylLens
Alchemy - Dire Straits Live by Dire Straits, album cover

Vinyl pressings

Alchemy - Dire Straits Live

by Dire Straits · 1984

84 pressings27 countriesClassic RockRock

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.

How to spot a first pressing of Alchemy - Dire Straits Live

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.

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

Full details of this pressing

UK

1984
Label and catalog number
Vertigo VERY 11Vertigo 818 243-1
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Aston Clinton Pressing, Gatefold
Runout / matrix

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

Full details of this pressing

UK

1984
Label and catalog number
Vertigo VERY 11Vertigo 818 243-1
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Gatefold, CTS cut side 2
Runout / matrix

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

Full details of this pressing

UK

1984
Label and catalog number
Vertigo VERY 11Vertigo 818 243-1
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Gatefold
Runout / matrix

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

Full details of this pressing

UK

1984
Label and catalog number
Vertigo VERY 11Vertigo 818 243-1
Format
LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo · Gatefold
Runout / matrix

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

Full details of this pressing

UK

1984
Label and catalog number
Vertigo VERY 11Vertigo 818 243-1
Format
LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo · EMI Pressing, Gatefold
Runout / matrix

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

Full details of this pressing

Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.

All 84 vinyl pressings

By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.

1980s73 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1984ArgentinaVertigo 818245-1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1984AustralasiaVertigo 818 243-1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1984AustralasiaVertigo 818 243-1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1984BrazilVertigo 8182431 / Vertigo 818 243-1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1984CanadaVertigo VOT-2-3335LP, Album, Club Edition · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition
1984CanadaVertigo VOD-2-3335First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1984CanadaVertigo VOD-2-3335 / Vertigo VOT-2-3335First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1984CanadaVertigo VOT-2-3335First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1984FranceVertigo 818 243-1 / Vertigo 818243-1First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1984GermanyVertigo 818 243-1QFirst yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1984GermanyVertigo 818 243-1QFirst yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1984GermanyVertigo 818 243-1QFirst yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1984GermanyVertigo 818 243-1QFirst yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1984GreeceVertigo 818 243-1 / Vertigo 818 243/1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1984IrelandVertigo VERY 11 / Vertigo 818 243-1First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
All 73 pressings from the 1980s
1990s2 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1990ColombiaVertigo 818243-1LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
1991SpainVertigo 818 243-1LP, Album, ReissueLP, Album, Reissue
2020s1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
2025GermanyVertigo 818 243-1QLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
Year unknown8 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?BrazilVertigo 8182431 / Vertigo 818 243-1LP, Album, Reissue, RepressLP, Album, Reissue, Repress
?CanadaVertigo VOT-2-3335LP, Album, MispressLP, Album, Mispress
?South KoreaHigh Stereo Light B 075 / Warner Music International B 075LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?South KoreaHigh Stereo Light 643LP, Album, Unofficial Release · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial
?TaiwanNew Jen Sheng JS-5595LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · UnofficialLP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial
?UKVertigo 818244LP, Single Sided, AdvanceLP, Single Sided, Advance
?USWarner Bros. Records W1-25085LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club editionLP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue, Stereo · Club edition
?USWarner Bros. Records 9 25085-1 G / Warner Bros. Records 1-25085LP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo

Tracklist

  1. A1Once Upon A Time In The West
  2. A2Romeo And Juliet
  3. B1Expresso Love
  4. B2Private Investigations
  5. B3Sultans Of Swing
  6. C1Two Young Lovers
  7. C2-1Intro (The Carousel Waltz)
  8. C2-2Tunnel Of Love
  9. D1Telegraph Road
  10. D2Solid Rock
  11. D3Going Home - Theme From 'Local Hero'

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Alchemy - Dire Straits Live are there?

84 vinyl pressings of Alchemy - Dire Straits Live are listed here, from 27 countries, released between 1984 and 2025.

When was Alchemy - Dire Straits Live first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1984, in UK, US, France, Yugoslavia and more. One of them is Vertigo VERY 11.

How do I tell if my copy of Alchemy - Dire Straits Live is a first pressing?

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.

How much is Alchemy - Dire Straits Live on vinyl worth?

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.

More Dire Straits on vinyl

VinylLens app

What is your copy of Alchemy - Dire Straits Live worth?

Point your phone at the label. VinylLens finds the exact pressing in seconds and shows its value for every condition, from Mint to Poor, so you know what your record is really worth.

Scan your records free