Vinyl pressings
by Simon Jeffes · 1976
Music From The Penguin Café was first pressed on vinyl in 1976. 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 1976, the album's first year. 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.
A Porky Prime Cut I-7 OBS 7 A2 - - GLOAT! EGRunout A, hand-etched, variant 1
I-7 OBS 7 B2 - - EGRunout B, hand-etched, variant 1
A Porky Prime Cut I-6 OBS 7 A2 - - GLOAT! EGRunout A, hand-etched, variant 2
I-6 OBS 7 B2 - - EGRunout B, hand-etched, variant 2
I-3 OBS 7 A2 EG 1Side A runout
I-1 OBS 7 B2 3 EG MASTER ROOMSide B runout
OBSCURE 7-ASide A label
OBSCURE 7-BSide B label
I-1 OBS 7 A2 EG 1Side A runout
I-1 OBSCURE - 7B1 2 EGSide B runout
OBSCURE 7-ASide A label
OBSCURE 7-BSide B label
I - I OBS 7 A2 EG 1runout A, etched - first I roman number - last 1 is horizontal and also looks like an Ilike an I b
I - I OBSCURE 7 BI () EGrunout B, etched - first I roman number - () is a small etching I cannot detect
OBSCURE 7-ASide A label
OBSCURE 7-BSide B label
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | UK | Obscure obscure no. 7 / Island Records obscure no. 7First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Obscure obscure no. 7 / Island Records obscure no. 7First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Obscure obscure no. 7 / Island Records obscure no. 7First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1976 | UK | Obscure obscure no. 7 / Island Records obscure no. 7First yearLP, Album, Mispress | LP, Album, Mispress |
| 1978 | UK | Obscure OBS 7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1978 | UK | Obscure OBS 7 / Obscure obscure no. 7LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Germany | Editions EG 2311 041 / EG 2311 041LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | Editions EG 25MM 0138 / Polydor 25MM 0138LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | Japan | Editions EG 25MM 0138 / Polydor 25MM 0138LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo | LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| 1982 | UK | Editions EG EGED 27 / Polydor 2335 251LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1982 | UK | Editions EG EGED 27 / Polydor 2335 251LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | UK | Editions EG EGED 27 / Virgin EGED 27LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | US | Editions EG EGED 27LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1987 | US | Editions EG EGED 27LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing | LP, Album, Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UK | Integral INTGDS00013LP / Editions EG INTGDS00013LPLP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered · Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | France | Editions EG 2311 041LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Editions EG 2311 041LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | UK | Editions EG EGED 27 / Obscure EGED 27LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
18 vinyl pressings of Music From The Penguin Café are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1976 and 2024.
The earliest pressings are from 1976, in UK. One of them is Obscure obscure no. 7.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use obscure no. 7) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, A Porky Prime Cut I-7 OBS 7 A2 - - GLOAT! EG and I-7 OBS 7 B2 - - EG. 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.
