Vinyl pressings
by Frank Zappa · 1988
Broadway The Hard Way was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
4 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 2 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.
D1-74218-A Z2 B33382-Z2 ∆22991Side A, etched, Variant 1
D1-74218-B Z1 B33386-Z1 ∆22991-XSide B, etched, Variant 1
"FZ HOTLINE 818-PUMPKIN"Both Sides, etched, Variant 1
D1-74218-B Z1 "F.Z. HOTLINE 818 - PUMPKIN" O B-33386-Z2 ∆ 22991 1-2 SPO-1 AL-SPSide A, etched, Variant 2
D1-1-74218- SH1- DMM AL-SP B33385-M1-DMM FZ HOTLINE 818-PUMPKIN ∆23011 Precision DMM SPO-1Side A runout, variant 1
D1-2-74218 - M1 - DMM B33386-M1-DMM FZ HOTLINE 818-PUMPKIN ∆23011-X Precision DMM SPC-2 AL-SPSide B runout, variant 1
D1-1-74218 M SH1 - DMM AL-SP B-33385-M1-DMM F.Z. Hotline 818-PUMPKIN ∆23011 Precision DMM 3̶-̶2̶ SPO-1Side A runout, variant 2
D1-2-74218-M1-DMM B-33386-M1-DMM F.Z. Hotline 818 PUMPKIN ∆23011-X Precision DMM 1̶-̶3̶ SPO-2 AL-SPSide B runout, variant 2
D1-1-74218-M1-Dmm B-33385-m1-Dmm F.Z. Hotline 818 - PUMPKIN Δ23011 Precision DMM 3-1Runout A
D1-2-74218-M1-Dmm B-33386-m1-Dmm F.Z. Hotline 818 PUMPKIN Δ23011-X Precision DMM 1-1Runout B
D1-1-74218Label A
D1-2-74218Label B
ZAPPA-14-A. * DMM TOWN HOUSE DMM. MAXRunout side A
ZAPPA-14-B. * DMM TOWN HOUSE DMM. MAXRunout side B
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | UK | Zappa Records ZAPPA 14First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records D1-74218First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records D1-74218First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records D1-74218First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1989 | France | Zappa Records 103431 / Accord 103431LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1989 | Germany | Zappa Records ZAPPA 14 / Zappa Records INT 148.511LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| 1989 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records D1-74218LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Barking Pumpkin Records 210075-1311 / Globus International 210075-1311LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue · Picture disc |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Barking Pumpkin Records 210075-1311 / Globus International 210075-1311LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Barking Pumpkin Records 210075-1311 / Barking Pumpkin Records 21 0075-1 311LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Barking Pumpkin Records 210075-1311 / Barking Pumpkin Records 21 0075-1 311LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1992 | Czechoslovakia | Barking Pumpkin Records 210075-1311 / Barking Pumpkin Records 21 0075-1 311LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Club edition, Colored vinyl |
12 vinyl pressings of Broadway The Hard Way are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1988 and 1992.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in US, UK. One of them is Barking Pumpkin Records D1-74218, released October 25, 1988.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use D1-74218, ZAPPA 14) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, D1-74218-A Z2 B33382-Z2 ∆22991 and D1-74218-B Z1 B33386-Z1 ∆22991-X. 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.
