Vinyl pressings
by Joe Satriani · 1987
Surfing With The Alien was first pressed on vinyl in 1987. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
13 pressings came out in 1987, the album's first year, in 4 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.
GRUB 8 A1Side A runout etched
GRUB 8 B1Side B runout etched
GRUB 8 A1 (SATCH)Side A runout etched (Variant)
GRUB 8 B1 (SURF THE ALIEN)Side B runout etched (Variant)
GRUB 8 A1(Side A runout etched)
GRUB 8 B1(Side B runout etched)
GRUB 8 A'Side A runout etched
GRUB 8 B'Side B runout etched
GRUB 8 A'Side A, runout, stamped
GRUB 8 B'Side B, runout, stamped
88561-8193-1-A "JOE LOVES RUBINA" EmwSide A etched, variant 1
88561-8193-1-B "JOE LOVES RUBINA" EmwSide B etched, variant 1
88561-8193-1-A "JOE LOVES RUBINA" EmwSide A etched, variant 2
88561-8193-1-B "JOE LOVES RUBINA" ♡ EmwSide B etched, variant 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Canada | Relativity 61 81931First yearLP, Album · Colored vinyl | LP, Album · Colored vinyl |
| 1987 | Canada | Relativity 61 81931First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | N.E.W Musidisc 100161First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | Food For Thought Records GRUB 8 / N.E.W Musidisc 100161First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | France | Food For Thought Records GRUB 8 / N.E.W Musidisc 100161First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 8PFirst yearLP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc | LP, Album, Picture Disc · Picture disc |
| 1987 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 8First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 8 / Food For Thought Records MU 2212389First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1987 | US | Relativity 88561-8193-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | US | Relativity CRI-8193First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1987 | France | N.E.W Musidisc 100161 / Food For Thought Records Ltd. 100161First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Canada | Relativity R1-18193LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1988 | Canada | Relativity R1-18193LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Argentina | Relativity CDD 821LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1990 | South Korea | CBS CPL-1032 / CBS 462973LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1992 | Brazil | Metal In Heaven IL332LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | LP, Album, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| 1993 | Spain | Relativity REL 462973 1 / Sony Music Special Marketing REL 462973 1LP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Netherlands | Music On Vinyl MOVLP171LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2010 | US | Legacy 88697383491 / Epic 88697383491LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2019 | Europe | Epic 19075978611 / Legacy 19075978611LP, Album, LP, Album, Mixed, All Media, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, LP, Album, Mixed, All Media, Limited Edition, Reissue, Special Edition · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2019 | US | Epic 19075978611 / Legacy 19075978611LP, Album, LP, Album, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, LP, Album, All Media, Record Store Day, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Music On Vinyl MOVLP171 / Epic 8719262011809LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue · Limited, Numbered, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | UK | Food For Thought Records GRUB 8LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | US | Relativity 88561-8193-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Relativity 88561-8193-1LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
28 vinyl pressings of Surfing With The Alien are listed here, from 11 countries, released between 1987 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1987, in UK, US, France, Canada. One of them is Food For Thought Records GRUB 8.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use GRUB 8, GRUB 8P, 88561-8193-1, CRI-8193) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, GRUB 8 A1 and GRUB 8 B1. 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.
