Vinyl pressings
by Tangerine Dream · 1981
Thief was first pressed on vinyl in 1981. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
27 pressings came out in 1981, 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.
5E-521A-SP 1-2SMI-1Side A, Etched, variant 1
5E-521 13RE-SP 1-3Side B, Etched, variant 1
5E-521A-SP 1-1SMI-2Side A, Etched, variant 2
5E-521 13RE-SP 1-1Side B, Etched, variant 2
5E-521 A1-AR B-15491Side A Runout
5E 521 B1-RE AR B-15492-RESide B Runout
5E-521-A (AR)A Label
5E-521-B (AR)B Label
5E-521-A-AR atGP B-15491Side A etched
5E 521 B1-RE AR atGP B- 15492-RESide B etched
5E-521-A (AR)A Label
5E-521-B (AR)B Label
5E-521A-SP 1-2 [SRC logo]Runout side A
5E-521 BRE-SP 1-1 [SRC logo]Runout side B
5E-521-A SPLabel side A
5E-521-B SPLabel side B
C TOWNHOUSE V 2198 A4Side A run-out area
A V2198 B1 2Side B run-out area
(Variant ) V 2198 A12Side A engraved
(Variant) V 2198 B12Side B engraved
V 2198 A1 2 5 ASide A runout, etched - Variant 1
V 2198 B1 2 4 ASide B runout, etched - Variant 1
V 2198 A12 1 3 ΛSide A runout, etched - Variant 2
V 2198 B12 12 ΛSide B runout, etched - 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Australia | Virgin V 2198First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Australia | Virgin V 2198First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1981 | Canada | Virgin VL 2213First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Canada | Virgin VL 2213First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Finland | Virgin V 2198First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | France | Virgin 203472First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 472 / Virgin 203 472-320First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203472LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1981 | Germany | Virgin 203 472 / Virgin 203 472-320First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1981 | Greece | Virgin 2473816First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Greece | Virgin 2473816First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1981 | Israel | Virgin BAN V 2198First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Italy | Virgin VIL 12198First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6974First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | Japan | Virgin VIP-6974First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | US | Audio Fidelity AFZLP 221 / Elektra AFZLP 221LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Limited |
| 2015 | US | Audio Fidelity AFZLP 221 / Elektra AFZLP 221LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US | Mondo MOND-144LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2020 | US | Mondo MOND-144LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Virgin 70063LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | France | Virgin 70063LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Virgin 203 472 / Virgin 203 472-320LP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| ? | US | Elektra 5E-521LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
44 vinyl pressings of Thief are listed here, from 16 countries, released between 1981 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1981, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Elektra 5E-521.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 5E-521, V 2198, V2198, VL 2213) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, 5E-521A-SP 1-2SMI-1 and 5E-521 13RE-SP 1-3. 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.
