Vinyl pressings
by Frank Zappa · 1979
Joe's Garage Acts II & III 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.
23 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 9 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.
B-1 SRZ-2 - 1502 - A-RE-1 ᐉ K-2Side A runout, variant 1
A-1 SRZ-1502-B ᐉ K-1Side B runout, variant 1
A-3 SRZ-1502-C ᐉ K-2Side C runout, variant 1
A-3 SRZ-1502-D ᐉ K-1Side D runout, variant 1
SRZ-2-1502 - A-RE-2 PC-1-1 J.H./2Var. 1, Side A
SRZ-2-1502-B PC3 J.H./2Var. 1, Side B
SRZ-1502-C PC-1-1Var. 1, Side C
SRZ-1502-D PC-1-1 J.H./2Var. 1, Side D
SRZ-2-1502 - A-RE-2 PC-1-1 J.H./2Var. 1, Side A
SRZ-2-1502-B PC-3 I-II J.H./2Var. 1, Side B
SRZ-1502-C PC-1-1 - 1Var. 1, Side C
SRZ-1502-D PC-1-1 J.H./2Var. 1, Side D
SRZ-2-1502-A-RE-1 PRC2 -1-1 J.H./2Runout side A
SRZ-2-1502-B PR2 -1-1 J.H./2 PRCRunout side B
SRZ-2-1502-C PR-1 -1-111 J.H./2Runout side C
SRZ-2-1502-C PR2 -1-11 J.H./2Runout side D
SRZ-2-1502-A-RE-1 PRC1 -1-11 J.H./2Runout side A variant 1, etched
SRZ-1502-B PR·1 -1-1 J.H./2 PRCRunout side B variant 1, etched
SRZ-1502-C PR-2 -11-1 J.H./2 PRCRunout side C variant 1, etched
SRZ-1502-D PR·1-1-1 J.H./2 PRCRunout side D variant 1, etched
SRZ-2 -1502 - A-RE-1 CP-1A side etched
T-1 SRZ-1502-B CT-1B side etched
SRZ-2-1502-C CP-1C side etched
SRZ-2-1502-D CP-1D side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | CBS S2BP 220222 / CBS SBP 237413First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Zappa Records SRZ-2-1502First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 88475 / CBS 88475First yearLP, Album, Misprint, Stereo | LP, Album, Misprint, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 88475 / CBS 88475First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 88475 / CBS 88475First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS CBS 88475 / CBS 88475First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Europe | CBS 88475First yearLP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1979 | Greece | CBS 88475 / CBS CBS 88475First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | CBS CBS 88475First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 40AP 1745~6First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | CBS/Sony 40AP 1745~6First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1979 | New Zealand | CBS S2BP 220222LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1979 | South Africa | CBS AGP 6364 / CBS AGP 63/64First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | CBS CBS 88475 / CBS S CBS 84019First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | UK | CBS CBS 88475 / CBS S CBS 84019First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Spain | CBS S 88475LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1981 | US | Zappa Records SRZ-2-1502LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | US | Barking Pumpkin Records SWCL-74206LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | UK | Zappa Records 20LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Unknown | Not On Label (Frank Zappa) 00123456LP, Special Cut, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Special Cut, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| ? | Canada | Zappa Records MIPD-2-9364 / Zappa Records SRZ-2-1502LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Zappa Records MIPD-2-9364LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Czechoslovakia | Globus International 210077/8-1312 / Art Production K 210077/8-1312LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc, Reissue, Remastered · Picture disc |
| ? | US | Zappa Records SRZ-2-1502LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
37 vinyl pressings of Joe's Garage Acts II & III are listed here, from 12 countries, released between 1979 and 1990.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Zappa Records SRZ-2-1502, released November 19, 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SRZ-2-1502, CBS 88475, S2BP 220222, 88475) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, B-1 SRZ-2 - 1502 - A-RE-1 ᐉ K-2 and A-1 SRZ-1502-B ᐉ K-1. 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.
