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Adrian BelewTwang Bar King

Vinyl pressings

Twang Bar King

by Adrian Belew · 1983

13 pressings8 countriesPop RockAvantgardeSynth-popElectronic

Twang Bar King 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.

How to spot a first pressing of Twang Bar King

10 pressings came out in 1983, the album's first year, in 7 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.

US

1983
Label and catalog number
Island Records 7 90108-1Island Records 90108-1
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Specialty Barcode
Runout / matrix

Allied Record Company logoSides A & B runouts, stamped, all variants

STIL-8352¤¤3¤¤53-C B-¤¤18428-C¤¤ JG♡J.V.C. SLM Δ¤¤5045¤¤ 4746 1-1 B-18278Side A runout, etched (¤¤scratched out¤¤), Variant 1

STIL-835254-C ¤¤B-18429¤¤-C JG♡J.V.C. SLM Δ¤¤5045¤¤-X 4746-X 1-1 B-18279-CSide B runout, etched (¤¤scratched out¤¤), Variant 1

STIL-8352¤¤3¤¤53-C ¤¤B-18428-C¤¤ JG♡J.V.C. SLM Δ ¤¤5045¤¤ 4746 ¤¤1-2¤¤ 0-1 B-18278-CSide A runout, etched (¤¤scratched out¤¤), Variant 2

Full details of this pressing

US

1983
Label and catalog number
Island Records 90108-1Island Records ILPS 9768
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Specialty No Barcode
Runout / matrix

B-18278-C STIL-835253-C J.V.C SLM 4746A-side, Etching

B-18428-C △5045A-side, Etching, striked out

ST-IL-835253-SPCenter Label A-side

B-18279-C STIL-835254-C J.V.C SLM 4746-XB-side, Etching

Full details of this pressing

US

1983
Label and catalog number
Island Records 7 90108-1Island Records 90108-1
Format
LP, Album, Stereo · Allied Pressing
Runout / matrix

STIL-835253-C B-18428-C JG♡J.V.C. SLM Δ5045 4746 1-1 B-18278 [Allied 'ɑ' logo]Runout side A etched; variant 1

STIL-835254-C B-18429-C JG♡J.V.C. SLM Δ5045X 4746-X 1-1 B-18279-C [Allied 'ɑ' logo]Runout side B etched; variant 1

STIL-835253-D JG♡J.V.C. B-18278-D SLM Δ5̶0̶4̶5̶ 4746 1-1 B-̶1̶8̶4̶2̶8̶-D [Allied 'ɑ' logo]Runout side A etched; variant 2

STIL-835254-D JG♡J.V.C. B-18279-D Δ5̶0̶4̶5̶-X 4746-X 1-2 B-̶1̶8̶4̶2̶9̶-̶D̶ SLM [Allied 'ɑ' logo]Runout side B etched; variant 2

Full details of this pressing

UK

1983
Label and catalog number
Island Records ILPS 9768
Format
LP, Album, Stereo
Runout / matrix

ILPS-9768-A-1U-1-1-4 JG J.V.C.A-side runout variant 1, etched; "-1U-1-1-4" stamped

ILPS-9768-B-1U-1-2-4 JG♡ J.V.C.B-side runout variant 1, etched; "-1U-1-2-4" stamped

ILPS-9768-A-1U-1-1-3 JG J.V.C.A-side runout variant 2, etched; "-1U-1-1-3" stamped

ILPS-9768-B-1U-1-1-4 JG♡ J.V.C.B-side runout variant 2, etched; "-1U-1-1-4" stamped

Full details of this pressing

Canada

1983
Label and catalog number
Island Records 79 01081
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

79 - C1081 A .1610.Side A runout, variant 1

79 - C1081 B .1610.Side B runout, variant 1

79 - C1081 A .1610. G QuSide A runout, variant 2

79 - C1081 B .1610. G QuSide B runout, variant 2

Full details of this pressing

Europe

1983
Label and catalog number
Island Records 205 635
Format
LP, Album
Runout / matrix

205635 A-1/83 SVariant 1 A-Side

205635 B-1/83 SVariant 1 B-Side

205635 A-1/83 S II Made in GermanyVariant 2 A-Side

205635 B-1/83 S II Made in GermanyVariant 2 B-Side

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 13 vinyl pressings

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

1980s12 pressings
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
1983CanadaIsland Records 79 01081First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1983EuropeIsland Records 205 635First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1983ItalyIsland Records ILPS 19768First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1983JapanIsland Records 25S-179First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1983ScandinaviaIsland Records ILPS 9768First yearLP, AlbumLP, Album
1983UKIsland Records ILPS 9768First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1983USIsland Records 7 90108-1 / Island Records 90108-1First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1983USIsland Records 90108-1 / Island Records ILPS 9768First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1983USIsland Records 7 90108-1 / Island Records 90108-1First yearLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
1983JapanIsland Records 25S-179First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · PromoLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo
1984CanadaIsland Records ISL 108 / Island Records 79 01081LP, Album, Reissue, RepressLP, Album, Reissue, Repress
1984PortugalIsland Records ILPS 9768PLP, Album, StereoLP, Album, Stereo
Year unknown1 pressing
YearCountryLabel and catalog numberFormat
?USIsland Records 7 90108-1LP, Album, Reissue, StereoLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo

Tracklist

  1. A1I'm Down2:54
  2. A2I Wonder4:39
  3. A3Life Without A Cage3:20
  4. A4Sexy Rhino0:37
  5. A5Twang Bar King1:26
  6. A6Another Time3:02
  7. A7The Rail Song5:39
  8. B1Paint The Road3:19
  9. B2She Is Not Dead4:41
  10. B3Fish Head4:30
  11. B4The Ideal Woman4:08
  12. B5Ballet For A Blue Whale4:44

Questions

How many vinyl pressings of Twang Bar King are there?

13 vinyl pressings of Twang Bar King are listed here, from 8 countries, released between 1983 and 1984.

When was Twang Bar King first released on vinyl?

The earliest pressings are from 1983, in US, UK, Canada, Europe and more. One of them is Island Records 7 90108-1.

How do I tell if my copy of Twang Bar King is a first pressing?

Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use 7 90108-1, 90108-1, ILPS 9768, 79 01081) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, Allied Record Company logo and STIL-8352¤¤3¤¤53-C B-¤¤18428-C¤¤ JG♡J.V.C. SLM Δ¤¤5045¤¤ 4746 1-1 B-18278. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.

How much is Twang Bar King 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.

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