Vinyl pressings
by Pixies · 1988
Surfer Rosa was first pressed on vinyl in 1988. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
14 pressings came out in 1988, the album's first year, in 8 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.
CAD 803 A1 MPO JA WITH AN 'F'Runout side A etched, variant 1
CAD 803 B1 MPO JA NUDISMRunout side B etched, variant 1
CAD 803 A1 MPO JA WITH AN 'F'Runout side A etched, variant 2
CAD 803 B1 JA NUDISM MPORunout side B etched, variant 2
CAD 803 A1 MPO JA WITH AN 'F'Runout Side A, Hand-etched
CAD 803 B1 MPO JA NUDISMRunout Side B, Hand-etched
CAD 803 A1 MPO JA WITH AN 'F'Runout side A etched
CAD 803 B1 MPO JA NUDISMRunout side B etched
CAD 803 A1 MPO JA WITH AN 'F'Runout side A etched, "0" in 803 overset over a "3"
CAD 803 B1 JA NUDISM MPORunout side B etched
CAD 803 A1 ROUGH US-38 A 25773∙∙∙ JA WiTH AN 'F' M̶P̶O̶Runout side A, etched
ROUGH-US38 CAD 803 B1 JA NUDiSM 25774 M̶P̶O̶Runout side B, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Benelux | 4AD MD 7917 / 4AD RTD 72First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | 4AD CAD 803 / Vertigo CAD 803First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Canada | 4AD CAD 803 / Vertigo CAD 803First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Europe | 4AD RTD 72 / 4AD MD 7917First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Germany, Austria, & Switzerland | 4AD RTD 72 / 4AD MD 7917First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Greece | Virgin VG 50372 / 4AD VG 50372First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1988 | Spain | Sanni Records CAD 803First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | Spain | Grabaciones Accidentales GA-232First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK | 4AD CAD 803First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1988 | UK | 4AD CAD 803First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | UK | 4AD CAD 803First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | 4AD CAD 803 / Rough Trade ROUGH US 38First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1988 | US | 4AD CAD 803 / Rough Trade ROUGH US 38First yearLP, Album, White Label | LP, Album, White Label |
| 1988 | UK | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 1988 | US | 4AD CAD 803 / Rough Trade ROUGH US 38LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Italy | Contempo Records CONTE 133LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | US | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2004 | US | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2004 | UK | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2004 | UK | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| 2004 | UK | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue, White Label | LP, Album, Reissue, White Label |
| 2006 | Europe | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 2006 | Europe | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| 2009 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MFSL 1-296 / 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Special Edition · Limited, Numbered |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 2025 | Japan | 4AD CAD 803 / 4AD GAD803LPJPLP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition | LP, Album, Reissue, Special Edition |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Australia | Remote Control Records Pty Ltd. CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue, Repress | LP, Album, Reissue, Repress |
| ? | Spain | Grabaciones Accidentales GA-232 / Grabaciones Accidentales 4G232LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | UK | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | 4AD CAD 803LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Worldwide | 4AD CAD 803LP, Stereo | LP, Stereo |
36 vinyl pressings of Surfer Rosa are listed here, from 14 countries, released between 1988 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1988, in UK, US, Benelux, Canada and more. One of them is 4AD CAD 803, released March 21, 1988.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use CAD 803, MD 7917, RTD 72, VG 50372) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, CAD 803 A1 MPO JA WITH AN 'F' and CAD 803 B1 MPO JA NUDISM. 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.
