Vinyl pressings
by The Trashmen · 1963
Surfin' Bird was first pressed on vinyl in 1963. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
19 pressings came out in 1963, 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.
KB-3962-A:A-Side Runout Etching var. 1
KB-3962-B:B-Side Runout Etching var. 1
KB-3962-AA-Side Runout Etching var. 2
KB-3962-BB-Side Runout Etching var. 2
MR 45GA-4002-A...A-Side Runout Etching
MR 45GA-4002-B... Δ50227-XB-Side Runout Etching
GA-4002-AA-side label
GA-4002-BB-side label
KB-3962-ARunout Side A
KB-3962-BRunout Side B
KB-3962-ARunout Side A (Variant 1)
KB-3962-BRunout Side B (Variant 1)
ARP KB-3962-AA-Side Runout Etching (Variant 2)
ARP KB-3962-B-B-Side Runout Etching (Variant 2)
KB 3962ASide A
KB 3962BSide B
[Etched side A] -KB-3962-A-R- 10 2163
[Etched side B] KB-3962-B-
KB-3962-ASide A runout, etched
KB-3962-B-Side B runout, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Bolivia | Odeon Pops BO-1051First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1963 | France | Columbia SCRF 718First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1963 | France | Columbia SCRF 718First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1963 | Greece | Stateside GSS 139First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1963 | India | Stateside 45-ESS.20First year7", 45 RPM | 7", 45 RPM |
| 1963 | New Zealand | Stateside MSS.2047First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1963 | Peru | Odeon 45-8833First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1963 | Sweden | Stateside SS 255First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1963 | US | Garrett Records GA-4002First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1963 | US | Garrett Records 4002First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| 1963 | US | Garrett Records GA-4002First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono · Mono |
| 1963 | US | Garrett Records GA-4002First year7", Single, 45 RPM | 7", Single, 45 RPM |
| 1963 | US | Garrett Records GA-4002First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1963 | US | Garrett Records GA-4002First year7", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| 1963 | US | Garrett Records 4002First year7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Styrene |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Germany | Stateside 1C 006-94 034 / EMI Electrola 1C 006-94 0347", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1972 | Germany | EMI Electrola 1C 006-94 0347", 45 RPM, Promo, Reissue · Promo | 7", 45 RPM, Promo, Reissue · Promo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music S 2147", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music S 2147", Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Colored vinyl | 7", Reissue, Test Pressing · Test pressing, Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music S 2147", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music S 2147", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music S 2147", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music S 2147", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue · Colored vinyl |
| 2010 | US | Sundazed Music S 2147", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Unknown | Radiation Records RADRSD0087", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc | 7", 45 RPM, Record Store Day, Single, Limited Edition, Numbered, Picture Disc · Limited, Numbered, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Stateside OSS-1027", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | France | Columbia SCRF 7187" | 7" |
| ? | US | Oldies 45 OL 3017", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | US | Lana Records 1367", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | US | Soma 14697", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | US | ERA Records HTE-50437", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | US | Garrett Records GA-40027", 45 RPM, Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Unofficial Release · Unofficial |
| ? | US | Lana Records 1367", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | US | Lana Records 1367", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | US | ERA Records 50437", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | US | Oldies 45 OL 3017", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
| ? | US | Oldies 45 OL 3017", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Single, Reissue |
| ? | US | Garrett Records GA-40027", 45 RPM, Single | 7", 45 RPM, Single |
| ? | US | Lana Records 136 / Lana Records 1377", 45 RPM, Misprint, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Misprint, Reissue |
| ? | US | Lana Records 1367", 45 RPM, Reissue | 7", 45 RPM, Reissue |
70 vinyl pressings of Surfin' Bird are listed here, from 20 countries, released between 1963 and 2020.
The earliest pressings are from 1963, in US, Bolivia, France, Greece and more. One of them is Garrett Records GA-4002, released November 1963.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use GA-4002, 4002, BO-1051, SCRF 718) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, KB-3962-A: and KB-3962-B:. 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.
