Vinyl pressings
by Frank Zappa · 1982
Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch was first pressed on vinyl in 1982. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
24 pressings came out in 1982, the album's first year, in 15 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.
FW-38066-A T.H. Z Dinkum C T1Variant 1 - side A runout
FW-38066-B DinkumVariant 1 - side B runout
o T1 FW-S̶W̶-38066-A T.H. Z Dinkum BVariant 2 - side A runout
o T1 FW-S̶W̶-38066-B T.H. Z C 16 DinkumVariant 2 - side B runout
T1 FW- ̶S̶W̶-38066-A TH 1 Dinkum BSide A runout, variant 1
P 0 FW- ̶S̶W̶-38066-B Pit 1 DinkumSide B runout, variant 1
T1 FW- ̶S̶W̶-38066-A TH z Dinkum CSide A runout, variant 2
P 0 FW- ̶S̶W̶-38066-B P:x.1 DinkumSide B runout, variant 2
FW 38066 ASSide A label
FW 38066 BSSide B label
CBS-85804-A1 Side 1 DinkumSide A etched runout
CBS-85804-B1 Side 2 DinkumSide B etched runout
XPS-147-A1Side C etched runout
XPS-147-B1Side D etched runout
CBS-85804-A1 Side 1 DinkumA-Side, hand-etched Variant 1
CBS-85804-B1 Side 2 DinkumB-Side, hand-etched Variant 1
CBS-85804-A2 Side 1 DinkumA-Side, hand-etched Variant 2
CBS-85804-B3B-Side, hand-etched Variant 2
CBS-85804-A1 Side 1 DinkumLP A-Side run-out, hand-etched
CBS-85804-B1 Side 2 DinkumLP B-Side run-out, hand-etched
XPS-147-A1EP Side 1
XPS-147-B1EP Side 2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Australia | CBS SBP 237809First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Australia | CBS SBP 237809First yearLP, Album, Promo · Promo | LP, Album, Promo · Promo |
| 1982 | Brazil | Discos CBS CBS 138550 / Discos CBS 138550First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Europe | CBS 85804 / CBS CBS 85804First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Greece | CBS 85804 / CBS CBS 85804First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1982 | Israel | CBS CBS 85804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | New Zealand | CBS SBP 237809First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Portugal | CBS CBS 85804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | South Africa | CBS ASF 2752First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | South Korea | High Stereo Light 339LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1982 | Spain | CBS S 85804First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1982 | Taiwan | 佳佳唱片 JKA-5060 / Best Fortune Records JKA-5060LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1982 | Taiwan | Best Fortune Records JKA-5060 / 佳佳唱片 JKA-5060LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo · Unofficial |
| 1982 | UK | EMI EMC 3501LP, Single Sided, White Label, LP, Single Sided, White Label, All Media, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Single Sided, White Label, LP, Single Sided, White Label, All Media, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1982 | Zimbabwe | CBS ASF 2752First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | UK & Europe | Zappa Records ZAPPA 42LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1991 | UK & Europe | Zappa Records ZAPPA 42LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 1991 | Unknown | Zappa Records ZAPPA 42LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Canada | Capitol Records ST 6533LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| ? | Europe | EMI 1C 064-26 0814 1LP, Album, Remastered | LP, Album, Remastered |
40 vinyl pressings of Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch are listed here, from 19 countries, released between 1982 and 1991.
The earliest pressings are from 1982, in US, UK, Italy, Canada and more. One of them is Barking Pumpkin Records FW 38066, released June 1982.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use FW 38066, 85804, CBS 85804, 25AP 2362) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, FW-38066-A T.H. Z Dinkum C T1 and FW-38066-B Dinkum. 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.
