Vinyl pressings
by Nazareth · 1977
Expect No Mercy was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
25 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 15 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.
TOPS115 A//2 0 1 2 3Side A runout, stamped, variant 1
TOPS115 B//2 0 1 1 3 NAZ-LP-2 B-Side B runout, stamped, NAZ-LP-2 B- etched, variant 1
TOPS115 A//2 0 1 1 2Side A runout, stamped , variant 2
TOPS115 B//1 0 1 1 1Side B runout, stamped, variant 2
TOPS115 A//2 0Side A runout
TOPS115 B//2 0 NAZ-LP-2 B-Side B runout
SP-5069-T-2 ATLANTIC STUDIOS G.P. D TIRunout side A, variant 1
SP-5070-T-2 ATLANTIC STUDIOS G.P. C TIRunout side B, variant 1
SP-5069-T-2 ATLANTIC STUDIOS G.P. C TIRunout side A, variant 2
SP-5070-T-2 ATLANTIC STUDIOS G.P. A TIRunout side B, variant 2
P SP 5069 P-1 @GPSide A runout, variant 1
P SP 5070 P-2 ATLANTIC STUDIOS G.P.Side B runout, variant 1
P SP 5069 P-2 D B ATLANTIC STUDIOS G.P.Side A runout, variant 2
P SP 5070 P-2 A B ATLANTIC STUDIOS G.P.Side B runout, variant 2
MRStamp, in runouts
SP-5069-M2 [MR stamp] AMP Δ 22769 (2)Etched Side 1, variant 1
SP-5070-M-3 [MR stamp] AMP Δ 22769-XEtched Side 2, variant 1
SP-5069-M-1 [MR stamp] Δ 22769 (1) ATLANTIC STUDIOS GPEtched Side 1, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | Vertigo 6370 424 / Mountain 6370 424First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Austria | Vertigo 6370 424 / Mountain 6370 424First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4666LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4666 / A&M Records SP 4666First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4666LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1977 | Canada | A&M Records SP 4666First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | Canada | A&M Records SP-4666LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1977 | France | Vertigo 9103 208First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Vertigo 6370 424First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Germany | Vertigo 6370 424First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1977 | Italy | Vertigo 6370 424First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Netherlands | Vertigo 6370 424First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Portugal | Vertigo 6370 424First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Scandinavia | Vertigo 6370 424First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1977 | Singapore, Malaysia & Hong Kong | Vertigo 6370 424 / Mountain 6370 424First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Netherlands | Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Castle Communications CLALP 187LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1994 | Russia | Santa Records П93 RAT 30783LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | UK | Back On Black RCV095LP / Rock Classics RCV095LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2013 | UK | Back On Black RCV095LP / Rock Classics RCV095LPLP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2018 | UK | BMG BMGCAT291LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Test Pressing, White Label, Stereo · Test pressing, Limited |
| 2019 | Europe | Salvo SALVO385LPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Europe | BMG BMGCAT198LPXLP, Album, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Remastered, Repress, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Europe | Salvo TOPS 115 / BMG 4050538801323LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2022 | Europe | Salvo SALVO385LP / BMG SALVO385LPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | A&M Records SP-4666LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | France | Vertigo 9103 208LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Greece | Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| ? | Netherlands | Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Netherlands | Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Peru | Mountain 6370424 1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Philippines | Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Spain | Vertigo 6370424LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | Sahara Records SAH 128LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB LP 5738 / Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB LP 5738 / Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB LP 5738 / Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB LP 5738 / Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Yugoslavia | PGP RTB LP 5738 / Vertigo 6370 424LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
66 vinyl pressings of Expect No Mercy are listed here, from 26 countries, released between 1977 and 2022.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in UK, US, Australia, Austria and more. One of them is Mountain TOPS 115, released November 1977.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TOPS 115, SP-4666, SP-4666-Special, 6370 424) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TOPS115 A//2 0 1 2 3 and TOPS115 B//2 0 1 1 3 NAZ-LP-2 B-. 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.
