Vinyl pressings
by Frank Zappa · 1979
Joe's Garage Act I was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
40 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 16 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.
A3 A6 SRZ-1-1603-K SR ZRunout side A, variant 1
B5 A.2 SRZ-1-1603-K SR/ZRunout side B, variant 1
A3 SRZ-1-1603-PRC-C1-11A SR/2Runout side A, variant 2
A̸4̸ B4-1-11 SR/2 SRZ-1-1-1603-PRC-CRunout side B, variant 2
T1 SRZ-1-1603-A-1CTHSIDE A
SRZ1-1603A-1BSIDE A (variant 1)
T1 SRZ-1-1603-B-1CTHSIDE B
T1 SRZ-1-1603-A ICTHRunout side A
T1 SRZ-11603-B-ICTHRunout side B
SRZ1-1603-1B PXTvariant 1: Runout side A
T1 SRZ1-11603-B-1CTH [stamped - MASTERDISK] HWvariant 1: Runout side B
T SRZ - 1603 - A - ICTH MASTERDISKRunout side A
1 TX3 [crossed] SRZ-1603-B ICTH [crossed] T SRZ 1603 [end crossed] B - ICTH. MASTERDISKRunout side B
SRZ [(crossed)1-1603-A-1E] T1 SRZ-11603 A1Runout side A variant 2
S [(crossed) 2]RZ [(crossed )1] 1 [(1)] 603-B-1A T1 B7Runout side B variant 2
A2 SRZ-1-1603-PRC-R SR 2-1-1Side A variant 1
B1 SRZ-1-1603-PRC-R -1-1-1 SR 2Side B variant 1
A1 SRZ-1-1603-PRC-R-1-1-11Side A variant 2
B2 SRZ-1-1603B-PRC-R 2-1-1Side B variant 2
A1 SRZ-1-1603-PRC-R-1-1Side A runout
B2 SRZ-1-1603B-PRC-R2-1-1Side B runout
SRZ-1-1603 ASide A label
SRZ-1-1603 BSide B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Argentina | Epic 47.231First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Argentina | Epic 47.231First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | Australia | CBS SBP 237366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | CBS SBP 237366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Australia | CBS SBP 237366First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Zappa Records SRZ-1-1603First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Zappa Records MIP-1-9363First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Colombia | CBS 14-1307First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86101 / CBS 86101First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86101 / CBS 86101First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86101First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86101 / CBS 86101First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 86101 / CBS 86101First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | CBS CBS 86101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | CBS CBS 86101First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | CBS S 86101LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Zappa Records SRZ-1-1603LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
| 1987 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records SWCL-74206LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Zappa Records zappa 20LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 210076-1311 / Art Production K 210076-1311LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc |
49 vinyl pressings of Joe's Garage Act I are listed here, from 18 countries, released between 1979 and 1991.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Costa Rica, Argentina and more. One of them is Zappa Records SRZ-1-1603, released September 17, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SRZ-1-1603, S CBS 86101, CBS 86101, 100504) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A3 A6 SRZ-1-1603-K SR Z and B5 A.2 SRZ-1-1603-K SR/Z. 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.
