Vinyl pressings
by Frank Zappa · 1975
Bongo Fury was first pressed on vinyl in 1975. 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 1975, the album's first year, in 11 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.
DS 2234 - 31936-1B Ⓑ SX KENDUN B ARunout side A, variant 1
DS 2234 - 31937-1B Ⓑ SX KENDUN B DRunout side B, variant 1
DS 2234 - 31936-1A Ⓐ SX KENDUN B ARunout side A, variant 2
DS 2234 - 31937-1B Ⓑ SX KENDUN B BRunout side B, variant 2
31,936A Side Label
31,937B Side Label
DS-1-2234 JW2 #2 0A Side Etch exc "0" stamp, var. 1
DS-2234 (31937-1) #1 0 SIDE 2B Side Etch exc "0" stamp, var. 1
T DS 2234 31936-1-1 KENDUN A JGRunout side A, etched [Kendun A stamped]
T DS 2234 31937-B Ⓑ SXT T KENDUN BRunout side B, etched [Kendun B stamped]
31,936Side A label
31,937Side B label.
1 S DS 2234 - 31936-1B Ⓑ SXT KENDUN B D3Runout side A variant 1
2 S DS 2234 - 31937-1B Ⓑ SXT KENDUN B ARunout side B variant 1
1S DS 2234 31936-1BⒷ SXT KENDUN B B1Runout side A variant 2
2S DS 2234 31937-1AⒶ SXT KENDUN A ARunout side B variant 2
DS 2234 (31936-1) DS-1-2234-WBSide 1 run-out hand-etched, var. 1
DS 2234 (31937-1) DS-2-2234-WBSide 2 run-out hand-etched, var. 1
DS 2234 (31936-1) DS-1-2234-WB ·─◁Side 1 run-out hand-etched, var. 2
̶D̶S̶ ̶2̶2̶3̶4̶ ̶(̶3̶1̶9̶3̶7̶-̶1̶)̶ DS-2-2234-WB#2 ·─◁Side 2 run-out hand-etched, var. 2
DS 2234 (31936-1) 1-W-1.Side 1 run-out hand-etched
DS 2234 (31937-1) 2-W-1.Side 2 run-out hand-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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Australia | Discreet DS 2234First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Belgium | Discreet 59209 / Discreet 59.209First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Canada | Discreet DS 2234First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Canada | Discreet DS 2234First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | DiscReet 59 209 / DiscReet N° 59 209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | France | Discreet 59209 YFirst yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Germany | DiscReet DIS 59 209 / DiscReet DS 2234First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | Italy | Discreet W 59209First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Discreet P-10093DFirst yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Japan | Discreet P-10093DFirst yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1975 | Netherlands | DiscReet DIS 59209First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1975 | New Zealand | DiscReet DS 2234 / Reprise Records DS 2234First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Spain | Reprise Records HRES 291-74First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1975 | Spain | Reprise Records HRES 291-74 / Reprise Records HRES 291-74 (LS)LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1975 | UK | Discreet K 59209LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records BPR-9999-7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Europe | Zappa Records ZR20050-1 / UMe 00199957191944LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| 2026 | Europe | Zappa Records ZR20050-1BLP, Album, Reissue, LP, All Media, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, All Media, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2026 | Europe | Zappa Records ZR20050-1 / UMe 00602488048118LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2026 | US | Zappa Records ZR20050-1B / UMe 602488048132LP, Album, Reissue, LP, All Media, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, LP, All Media, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2026 | US | Zappa Records ZR20050-1 / UMe 00602488048118LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2026 | US | Zappa Records ZR20050-1 / UMe 199957191944LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Europe | Discreet DIS 59 209 / Discreet DIS 52 209-ZLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | DiscReet DIS 59 209 / DiscReet DS 2234LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | France | Discreet DIS 59209 / Discreet DS 2234LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | DiscReet DIS 59 209 / DiscReet DS 2234LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Discreet DIS 59 209 / Discreet DS 2234LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | DiscReet DIS 59 209 / DiscReet DS 2234LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Discreet DIS 59 209 / Discreet DIS 59 209-ZLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Discreet DIS 59 209 / Discreet DIS 59 209-ZLP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Italy | Discreet W 59209LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| ? | Netherlands | DiscReet DIS 59209LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | DiscReet DS 2234LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Discreet DS 2234LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
50 vinyl pressings of Bongo Fury are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1975 and 2026.
The earliest pressings are from 1975, in US, Australia, Belgium, Canada and more. One of them is DiscReet DS 2234, released October 2, 1975.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use DS 2234, DS-2234, 59209, 59 209) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, DS 2234 - 31936-1B Ⓑ SX KENDUN B A and DS 2234 - 31937-1B Ⓑ SX KENDUN B D. 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.
