Vinyl pressings
by Thin Lizzy · 1983
Thunder And Lightning was first pressed on vinyl in 1983. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
29 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 17 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.
VERL 3 A//1▽420 H 1 1 1 2 TOWNHOUSE T.L. PHONE HOMESide A runout, variant 1
VERL 3 B//1▽420 H 1 1 1 0 TOWNHOUSESide B runout, variant 1
LIZLP 3 A//2▽420 H 1 1 1 TOWNHOUSESide C runout, variant 1
LIZLP 3 B//1▽420 H 1 1 9 TOWNHOUSESide D runout, variant 1
VERL 3 A//2 420 H TOWNHOUSE 11 T L P Phone HomeSide A runout
VERL 3 B//1 420H TOWNHOUSE 11Side B runout
LIZLP 3 A//1 420H TOWNHOUSE 11Side C runout
LIZLP 3 B//1 420 H TOWNHOUSE 11Side D runout
VERL 3 A // 1 ∇ 420 H TOWNHOUSE T.L. PHONE HOMEA side runout, stamped / etched, variant 1
VERL 3 B // 1 ∇ 420 H TOWNHOUSEB side runout, stamped, variant 1
VERL 3 A // 2 ∇ 420 H TOWNHOUSE 1 1 T.L. PHONE HOME 1 0A side runout, stamped / etched, variant 2
VERL 3 B // 2 ∇ 420 H TOWNHOUSE 11B side runout, stamped, variant 2
1-23831-1-RE1 JW2 #1Side A runout
1-23831-3-RE1 JW2 #1Side B runout
1-23831-A-RE1 WW2 —◁Side A runout, etched
1-23831-B-RE1 WW2 #2 —◁Side B runout, etched
1-23831-A-RE1 JW2 #1 0Runout Side 1 etched
1-23831-A-RE1 JW1 #2 0Runout Side 1 etched
1-23831-B-RE1 JW2 #/ 0Runout Side 2 etched
1-23831-B-RE1 JW2 #1 0Runout Side 2 etched
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Australia | Vertigo 810 490-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Canada | Vertigo VOG-1-3322First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Europe | Vertigo 810 490-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1983 | Europe | Vertigo 810 490-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | France | Vertigo 6359 127First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | France | Vertigo 6359 127First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Germany | Vertigo 810 490-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Greece | Vertigo 810 490-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Greece | Vertigo 810 490-1First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1983 | Ireland | Vertigo VERL 3 / Vertigo LIZLP 3First yearLP, Album, Limited Edition, 12" · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, 12" · Limited |
| 1983 | Ireland | Vertigo VERL 3 / Vertigo 810 490-4First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Italy | Vertigo 810 490-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1983 | Japan | Vertigo 25PP-83First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1983 | Netherlands | Vertigo 810 490-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1983 | Netherlands | Vertigo 810 490-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | UK | Back On Black RCV038LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2011 | UK | Back On Black RCV038LPLP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited |
| 2014 | UK & Europe | Vertigo 5354258LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2016 | US | Friday Music FRM-23831LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Album, Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2017 | US | Friday Music FRM-23831LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2019 | Europe | Vertigo 0802643LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Mexico | Vertigo lPR-23038LP, Album, Promo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Unofficial Release · Unofficial, Promo |
| 2020 | Europe | Vertigo 0802643 / Vertigo 00602508026430LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | US | Friday Music FRM-02383LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Vertigo 810 490-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
45 vinyl pressings of Thunder And Lightning are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1983 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1983, in UK, US, Germany, Taiwan and more. One of them is Vertigo VERL 3, released March 4, 1983.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use VERL 3, VERL3, 23831-1, 9 23831-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, VERL 3 A//1▽420 H 1 1 1 2 TOWNHOUSE T.L. PHONE HOME and VERL 3 B//1▽420 H 1 1 1 0 TOWNHOUSE. 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.
