Vinyl pressings
by Sinéad O'Connor · 1987
The Lion And The Cobra was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
31 pressings came out in 1987, 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.
CHEN.7 A4Runout side A, variant 1
CHEN-7-B-2Runout side B, variant 1
CHEN.7 A4Runout side A, variant 2
CHEN 7 B-5Runout side B, variant 2
CHEN.7 A4Side A
CHEN.7 B[scratched out 1]5Side B
CHEN 7-1Label - Side A
CHEN 7-2Label - Side B
BFV-41612-A-1A G1 MASTERDISK A22Variant 1 Side A etched
BFV-41612-B 1B G3 MASTERDISK B1Variant 1 Side B etched
BFV-41612-A-1A G1 MASTERDISK C7 (unreadable scratch over)Variant 2 Side A etched
BFV-41612-B (unreadable scratch over) 1B G3 MASTERDISK DMM C25B1 [unreadable scratch of]Variant 2 Side B etched
OV 41612 (OV 41612 AS)Side A Matrix
OV 41612 (OV 41612 BS)Side B Matrix
OV B̷F̷V̷-41612A5̷-1A A G1 C4Side A Runout, Variant 1
OV-41612B G1B G1 C MP A6Side B runout, Variant 1
OV 41612 (OV 41612 AS)Side A Matrix
OV 41612 (OV 41612 BS)Side B Matrix
OV B̷F̷V̷-41612-A-1A G1 MASTERDISK D1& [unreadable scratch over]Side A Runout
OV B̷F̷V̷-41612BS-1B G1 A7Side B 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Argentina | Chrysalis 120-096First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1987 | Argentina | EMI 58.714First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Brazil | Chrysalis 231.092 / Chrysalis 231092First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Chrysalis CHS-41612 / Chrysalis CHS 41612First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Canada | Chrysalis CHS-41612 / Ensign CHS-41612LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1987 | Canada | Chrysalis CHS-41612 / Chrysalis CHS 41612First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Europe | Chrysalis 1C 064-3 21612 1 DMM / Ensign 1C 064-3 21612 1 DMMFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | Europe | Chrysalis 208 563 / Ensign 208 563First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Europe | Chrysalis 1C 064-3 21612 1 DMM / Ensign 1C 064-3 21612 1 DMMFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | France | Chrysalis 832 995-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | France | Chrysalis 832 995-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Greece | Ensign CHEN 7 / Polygram 832 996-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1987 | Greece | Chrysalis 75248First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Ireland | Ensign CHEN 7First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | Israel | Ensign CHEN 7-1 / Ensign chen 7-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Brazil | Chrysalis 066 321612 1 / Chrysalis 321612 1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | Portugal | Chrysalis 3216121LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | Spain | Chrysalis 066 32 1612 1LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1990 | Yugoslavia | Jugoton LP-7-1 2 02701 9 / Ensign LP-7-1 2 02701 9LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1992 | South Korea | Chrysalis CKPL-0032 / Ensign CHEN 7LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP1256LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UK & Europe | Ensign CHEN 7 / Chrysalis CHEN 7LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | Chrysalis OV 41612LP, Album | LP, Album |
54 vinyl pressings of The Lion And The Cobra are listed here, from 23 countries, released between 1987 and 2023.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, Argentina, Brazil and more. One of them is Ensign CHEN 7, released October 5, 1987.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CHEN 7, BFV 41612, F1 21612, OV 41612) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CHEN.7 A4 and CHEN-7-B-2. 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.
