Vinyl pressings
by The Boomtown Rats · 1979
The Fine Art Of Surfacing was first pressed on vinyl in 1979. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
30 pressings came out in 1979, the album's first year, in 21 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.
ENROX 11 A//2▽E M 12 11 ARUNSide A runout, variant 1
ENROX 11 B//2▽E M 14 6 RON PETERS LIVESSide B runout, variant 1
ENROX 11 A//2▽E M 11 4 ARUNSide A runout, variant 2
ENROX 11 B//2▽E M 12 3 RON PETERS LIVESSide B runout, variant 2
AL 36248-1B[variation 1] Side A runout, stamped
BL 3̶6̶2̶7̶8̶-1B 36248[variation 1] Side B runout, stamped
AL 36248-1H[variation 2] Side A runout, stamped
BL-36248-1H[variation 2] Side B runout, stamped
P AL 36248-1BSide A runout, variant 1
P BL 3̶6̶2̶7̶8̶-1B 36248Side B runout, variant 1
AL 36248-1BSide A runout, variant 2
P BL 36248-1AASide B runout, variant 2
AL 36248-1G OSide A runout, stamped, variant 1
1T D6Side A runout, hand-etched, variant 1
BL 36248-1C OSide B runout, stamped, variant 1
1T C4Side B runout, hand-etched, variant 1
AL 36248-1F S 1Side A runout
BL 36248-1F S 1Side B runout
AL 36248Side A label
BL 36248Side 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Australia | Mercury 6310 960First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Austria | Mercury 6310 960First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-3810First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-3810First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-3810First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Mercury 6310 960First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Germany | Mercury 31 075 5LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition · Club edition |
| 1979 | Greece | Mercury 6310 960First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1979 | Greece | Mercury 6310 960First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Greece | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing | LP, Album, Test Pressing, Stereo · Test pressing |
| 1979 | Hong Kong | Mercury 6310 960First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | Mulligan LUN 038First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Ireland | WEA IR 58282First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Italy | Mercury 6310 960First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1979 | Japan | Mercury RJ-7636First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Argentina | Mercury 6310960LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Brazil | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1980 | Mexico | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1984 | Spain | Mercury 63 10 960 / Mercury 63 10960LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1984 | UK | Mercury PRICE 73LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| 1986 | US | Columbia PC 36248 / Columbia 36248LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Spain | Mercury 424 635-1 / Mercury 424 635.1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-3810LP, Album | LP, Album |
| ? | Canada | Mercury SRM-1-3810LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Repress, Stereo | LP, Album, Repress, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | Greece | Mercury 6310 960LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
| ? | US | Columbia PC 36248 / Columbia 36248LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
49 vinyl pressings of The Fine Art Of Surfacing are listed here, from 25 countries, released between 1979 and 1990.
The earliest pressings are from 1979, in UK, US, Israel, New Zealand and more. One of them is Ensign ENROX 11, released October 1979.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use ENROX 11, JC 36248, 6310 960, 90.016) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, ENROX 11 A//2▽E M 12 11 ARUN and ENROX 11 B//2▽E M 14 6 RON PETERS LIVES. 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.
