Test pressings and sample discs

Test pressings are made to check that the stampers are free of errors and that the cut sounds as intended. Sample CDs are taken out of the production line before the labels are printed for checking. More information can be found in the Test pressings document. Please contact me if you own a test pressing, even if the release is already covered below. Most information on the test pressings is handwritten, so it would be nice to document all variants.

Bleach

Original pressing
LP
Sub Pop
SP34
1989
USA

Test pressing of the original US pressing of Bleach.

1992 pressing
LP
Sub Pop
SP34
1992
USA

Rejected test pressing of the 1992 reissue. Side B was re-cut and tested together with side B of another record.

Bleach + Bernstein
LP
Sub Pop
SP34/ SP101DJ
1992
USA

Combined test pressing of the recut B sides of Bleach and a Steven Jesse Bernstein promo sampler.

20th anniversary
2LP
Sub Pop
SP-834
2009.05.18
USA

Test pressing of the 20th anniversary reissue.

20th anniversary
2LP
Sub Pop
SP-834
2014.11.19
USA

Test pressing of the second batch of mother plates used to press the 20th anniversary reissue.

French pressing
LP
Tupelo
TUPLP6
1989.07.21
France

French test pressing on black vinyl.

UK pressing
LP
Tupelo
TUPLP6
1989
UK

UK test pressing on dirty white vinyl.

Australian pressing
LP
Waterfront
DAMP-114
1989
Australia

Australian test pressing.

Grain Of Sand/ Bleach
LP
Mushroom/ Waterfront
DAMP-114
1991
Australia

Australian test pressing to check the etching on The Saint's limited edition of Grain Of Sand, featuring side B of Bleach.

Nevermind

Original pressing
LP
DGC
DGC 24425
1991
USA

Test pressing of the original US pressing of Nevermind.

MFSL pressing
LP
MFSL
MFSL 1-258
1996
USA

White label pressing made while warming up the press and adjusting the cycle time. A-1/B-1 matrix.

MFSL pressing
LP
MFSL
MFSL 1-258
1996
USA

Test pressing of the audiophile pressing by MFSL. A-2/B-2 matrix.

ORG first pressing
LP
ORG
ORG-032
2009.03.09
USA

Test pressing of the original ORG pressing, made in the USA by RTI.

ORG first pressing
LP
ORG
ORG-032
2009.03.31
USA

Test pressing of the original ORG pressing, made in the USA by RTI. It is identical to the previous test pressing, except for the stamped date.

Simply Vinyl (EMI)
LP
Simply Vinyl
SVLP 038
1998
UK

Test pressing of the first Simply Vinyl issue.

ORG second pressing
LP
ORG Music
ORG 032
2010.11.15
Germany

Test pressing of the second ORG pressing, made in Germany by Pallas.

ORG third pressing
LP
ORG Music
ORG 032
2011.10.04
Germany

Test pressing of the third ORG pressing, made in Germany by Pallas.

20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
4x12"
Universal Music Group
06025 277 79041
2011
Czech Republic

Test pressing of the European Back To Black 20th anniversary reissue. Only the first vinyl has been found so far.

Argentinian pressing
LP
DGC/ EMSSA Argentina
TLP24425
1991
Argentina

The first South American test pressing to surface.

Incesticide

Failed ORG pressing
LP
ORG
ORG-060
2010.05.13
USA

The first test pressing by RTI had an error on side A, and had to be recut.

Recut ORG pressing
LP
ORG
ORG-060
2010.07.28
USA

New test pressing of the recut side A. While successful, it was not released.

ORG first pressing
LP
ORG Music
ORGM 1005
2010.11.12
Germany

Test pressing of the released record, made in Germany by Pallas.

In Utero

Original pressing
LP
DGC
DGC-24607
1993.08.06
USA

Test pressing of the original US pressing of In Utero.

ORG first pressing
LP
ORG
ORG-033
2009.03.27
USA

Test pressing of the first ORG pressing, made in the USA by RTI.

ORG second pressing
LP
ORG Music
ORG 033
2010.11.12
Germany

Test pressing of the second ORG pressing, made in Germany by Pallas.

ORG third pressing
LP
ORG Music
ORG 033
2011.10.04
Germany

Test pressing of the third ORG pressing, made in Germany by Pallas.

Unplugged In New York

Original pressing
LP
DGC
DGC-24727
1994.10.06
USA

Test pressing of the original US pressing of Unplugged In New York.

ORG first pressing
LP
ORG
ORG-034
2009.04.27
USA

Test pressing of the first ORG pressing, made in the USA by RTI.

Cancelled pressing
LP
Geffen
GEF 24727
1994
UK

This British pressing must have been cancelled for some reason, as a retail copy has never surfaced.

ORG second pressing
LP
ORG Music
ORG 034
2010.11.12
Germany

Test pressing of the second ORG pressing, made in Germany by Pallas.

ORG third pressing
LP
ORG Music
ORG 034
2011.10.04
Germany

Test pressing of the third ORG pressing, made in Germany by Pallas.

From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah

US reissue
2xLP
DGC
DGC2-25105
2015.07.27
USA

Test pressing for the 2016 reissue.

Nirvana

US reissue
2xLP
DGC
B0023022-01
2015.05.16
USA

Test pressing for the 2015 reissue.

EPs

Blew
12"
Tupelo
TUPEP 8
1989.09.22
France

French test pressing of Nirvana's first EP. Came with a release sheet.

Hormoaning
12"
Geffen
GEF 21711
1992
Australia

The only known test pressing, half red and half blue. Any collector not in possession of this record is not a true collector.

Singles

Love Buzz
7"
Sub Pop
SP23
1988
USA

Test pressing of Nirvana's first single. Six different copies are pictured!

Sliver
7"
Sub Pop
SP73
1990
USA

Test pressing of the American release of the single.

Sliver
7"
Tupelo
TUP 25
1990.11.07
France

Test pressing of the UK 7" release of the single, pressed in France.

Sliver
12"
Tupelo
TUPEP 25
1990
France

One of the more common test pressings, this white label was also used for promotion.

Molly's Lips
7"
Sub Pop
SP97
1991
USA

Test pressing of the The Fluid/ Nirvana split single.

Here She Comes Now
7"
Communion
Comm 23
1991
USA

Test pressing of the Nirvana/ The Melvins split single.

Come As You Are
7"
DGC
DGCS 7
1992.01.16
UK

7" test pressing of the British single.

Come As You Are
12"
DGC
DGCT 7
1992.01.21
UK

12" test pressing of the British single.

Come As You Are
12" (p/d)
DGC
DGCTP 7
1992
UK

An uncommon picture disc test pressing, as most picture discs are tested on black vinyl.

Oh, The Guilt
7"
Touch & Go
TG83
1993.01.22
France

Test pressing of the French pressing of the Jesus Lizard/ Nirvana split single.

Oh, The Guilt
7"
Insipid Vinyl
IV-23
1993
USA

Black vinyl test pressing of the Australian picture disc release, pressed in the USA.

Compilations

Sub-Pop-200
3x12"
Sub Pop
SP25
1988
USA

The compilation includes Nirvana's Spank Thru.

Teriyaki Asthma
7"
C/Z Records
C/Z009
1989
USA

Test pressing of the 7" compilation which includes Nirvana's Mexican Seafood.

Hard To Believe
LP
C/Z Records
CZ024
1990
USA

American test pressing of the Kiss covers compilation which includes Nirvana's take on Do You Love Me?.

Hard To Believe
LP
Waterfront
DAMP121
1990
France

French test pressing of the Kiss covers compilation which includes Nirvana's take on Do You Love Me?.

Heaven & Hell Volume 1
LP
Communion
comm-20
1990
USA

Test pressing of the The Velvet Underground covers compilation which includes Nirvana's take on Here She Comes Now.

Kill Rock Stars
LP
KRS
KRS-201
2001.12.03
USA

Test pressing of a later repressing of the compilation, featuring Nirvana's Beeswax.

Eight Songs For Greg Sage And The Wipers
4x7"
Tim/Kerr
T/K 917010 TRIB 2
1992
USA

Test pressing of the Wipers tribute compilation, featuring Nirvana's take on Return Of The Rat.

Side projects

The Go Team - Scratch It Out/ Bikini Twilight
7"
K Records
GTJL-89/ GTAU-89
1990.01.25 (?)
USA

Double-sided test pressing of the July and August releases.

Mark Lanegan - The Winding Sheet
LP
Sub Pop
SP61
1990
USA

Unsuccessful cut of Mark Lanegan's solo album.

Mark Lanegan - The Winding Sheet (RE-1)
LP
Sub Pop
SP61
1990
USA

Re-cut and approved test pressing.

the “Priest” they called him (ver. 1)
10"
Tim/Kerr
TK9210044
1993.06.01
USA

Test pressing of the collaboration between Kurt Cobain and William S. Burroughs.

the “Priest” they called him (ver. 2)
10"
Tim/Kerr
TK9210044
1993
USA

White label pressing of the collaboration between Kurt Cobain and William S. Burroughs, most likely used for promotion.

Melvins - Houdini
LP
Amphetamine Reptile
82532
1993
USA

Kurt Cobain lazily produced the record and played guitar on one track which appears on this test pressing.

Hole - Live Through This
LP
City Slang
EFA 04935-1
1994
Germany

Kurt Cobain appears on a few songs on the album, but his vocals are buried in the mix.

Earth - Divine And Bright
7"
Autofact
FACT-01
2003.07.24
USA

Kurt Cobain appears on this song with Earth. An unverified test pressing from the second pressing also exists.

CD samples

Bleach
CD
Geffen
GED/GEFD 24433
n.a.
Sweden

Printed sample disc made in Sweden sometime between 1994 and 1997.

Bleach
CD
Sub Pop/ WMG
9878-70034-2
2002
Germany

Sample disc from the 2002 reissue. Some were used by the distributor to presell the album to retailers.

Nevermind
CD
DGC
GED 24425
n.a.
Germany

Sample disc from a pressing from 1994 or slightly later. Endless, Nameless is included.

In Utero
CD
DGC
DGCC/SD 24607
1993
Canada

Sample disc from the original Canadian pressing. The discs came with custom printed front inserts.

Unplugged In New York
CD
DGC
DGCSD 24727
1994
Canada

Sample disc from the original Canadian pressing. The disc came with a laser printed back insert.

Unplugged In New York
CD
Geffen
GED 24727
1994
UK

Sample disc from UK, unfortunately the only existing photograph is quite poor.

Smells Like Teen Spirit
CD
DGC
GED 21673
1991
Germany

Sample disc from the original German pressing of the single. Some were used by the distributor to presell the single to retailers.

All Apologies
CD
DGC
PRO-CD-4618
1994
USA

Sample disc of the promo pairing the live and album versions of All Apologies.

The Beavis And Butt-Head Experience
CD
DGC
GEFC/SD-24613
1993
Canada

Sample disc from the original Canadian pressing. The disc came with a laser printed insert.

DVD and BD samples

Nirvana (Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!)
DVD
Universal
1709812
2006
Germany

German sample disc.

Unplugged In New York
DVD
Universal
n.a.
2007
USA

American sample disc.

Unplugged In New York
DVD
Universal
0602517506305
2007
Germany

German sample disc.

Live At Reading
DVD
DGC
B001350109
2009
USA

American sample disc.

Sonic Youth - 1991: The Year Punk Broke
DVD
Universal
B001594009B1UMED
2011
USA

American sample disc.

Live At Paramount
DVD
DGC
B001588109
2011
USA

Sample disc of the stand-alone DVD release.

Nevermind - Super Deluxe L
DVD
DGC
B001588500DV01
2011
USA

Sample disc of the Live At The Paramount DVD included with the super deluxe edition.

Live At Paramount
BD
DGC
B001588259
2011
USA

Sample disc of the BD release.

Live & Loud - DVD
DVD
DGC
B001904009
2013
USA

American sample disc of the live disc released for the 20th anniversary of In Utero.

In Utero (Live & Loud)
DVD
DGC
3750299
2013
Germany

German sample disc of the live disc released for the 20th anniversary of In Utero.

Unconfirmed and unofficial test pressings

These two pages cover test pressings which are rumored to exist but have yet to be documented, and counterfeit records made to look like authentic test pressings.