Vinyl pressings
by Pere Ubu · 1985
Terminal Tower - An Archival Collection was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
3 pressings came out in 1985, 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.
TTR⸱8561⸱ A MASTERDISK HW S-15282 1-1 ((-Runout A, etched, exc. MASTERDISK, stamped
TTR-8561⸱ B MASTERDISK HW S-15283 1-1 ((-Runout B, etched, exc. MASTERDISK, stamped
ROUGH 83A - 1U - 1 - 1 BilBo Tape oneSide 1, stamped. "Bilbo Tape One" etched.
ROUGH 83B - 1U - 1 - 1 BilBo Tape oneSide 2, stamped. "Bilbo Tape One" 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Canada | Rough Trade RT 83First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | UK | Rough Trade ROUGH 83First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1985 | UK | Rough Trade ROUGH 83LP, Compilation, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing | LP, Compilation, Test Pressing, White Label · Test pressing |
| 1985 | US | Twin/Tone Records TTR 8561First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Poland | Tonpress SX-T 167LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Italy | Get Back get 73LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 2004 | Italy | Get Back GET 90073LP, Compilation, Reissue · Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | UK, Europe & US | Fire Records VOID001LPLP, Record Store Day, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited | LP, Record Store Day, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited |
| 2018 | US | Varèse Sarabande 302 067 492 1LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 2018 | US | Varèse Vintage 302 067 492 1LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Italy | Get Back get 73LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
11 vinyl pressings of Terminal Tower - An Archival Collection are listed here, from 6 countries, released between 1985 and 2018.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in US, UK, Canada. One of them is Twin/Tone Records TTR 8561.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use TTR 8561, ROUGH 83, RT 83) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, TTR⸱8561⸱ A MASTERDISK HW S-15282 1-1 ((- and TTR-8561⸱ B MASTERDISK HW S-15283 1-1 ((-. 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.
