Vinyl pressings
by Hüsker Dü · 1984
Zen Arcade was first pressed on vinyl in 1984. 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 1984, the album's first year, in 3 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.
SST-2-027-A L-17380 Kdisc FALLING, SHIRLEY - EVERYTIME I SQUARE OFF AGAINST SOMEONE'S GODSide A runout
SST-2-027-B I SPEND THE REST OF THE NIGHT (OR DAY) HALLUCINATING. L-17380Side B runout
SST-2-027-C AND NOW IT IS THE VISIONS OF A JOYOUS HELL... L-17380Side C runout
SST-2-027-D ....WITHIN THE CIRCUITS THAT MAKE PAC-MEN DIE AND VESSELS DISINTEGRATE... ☉ L-17380Side D runout
SST-2-027-A L-17380 Kdisc FALLING, SHIRLEY - EVERYTIME I SQUARE OFF AGAINST SOMEONE'S GODSide A runout
SST-2-027-B S-21567 I SPEND THE REST OF THE NIGHT (OR DAY) HALLUCINATING L-17380Side B runout
SST-2-027-C S-21568 AND NOW IT IS THE VISIONS OF A JOYOUS HELL... L-17380Side C runout
SST-2-027-D S-21569 ...WITHIN THE CIRCUITS THAT MAKE PAC-MEN DIE AND VESSELS DISINTEGRATE ☉ L-17380Side D runout
SST 027 A LYN-15370 tone üSide A runout - etched; variant 1
SST 027 B LYN-15371Side B runout - etched; variant 1
SST 027 CSide C runout - etched; variant 1
SST 027 DSide D runout - etched; variant 1
ST AG 0036-ASide A
ST AG 0036-BSide B
ST AG 0036-CSide C
ST AG 0036-DSide D
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Germany | Aggressive Rockproduktionen AG 0036 / Aggressive Rockproduktionen 80-1639First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | UK | SST Records SST 027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | SST Records SST 027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1984 | US | SST Records SST 027First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1989 | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | US | SST Records SST 027LP, LP, All Media, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, LP, All Media, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| 1990 | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| 1990 | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| 1990 | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| 1990 | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Repress · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | SST Records SST 027LP, Album, Repress | LP, Album, Repress |
14 vinyl pressings of Zen Arcade are listed here, from 3 countries, released between 1984 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1984, in US, UK, Germany. One of them is SST Records SST 027, released July 1984.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use SST 027, AG 0036) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, SST-2-027-A L-17380 Kdisc FALLING, SHIRLEY - EVERYTIME I SQUARE OFF AGAINST SOMEONE'S GOD and SST-2-027-B I SPEND THE REST OF THE NIGHT (OR DAY) HALLUCINATING. L-17380. 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.
