Pixies - Surfer Rosa FLAC

Anyone get one of the euro represses with a Doolittle inner sleeve?

Contacted Mobile Fidelity Sound by email and this is the response I got about how many copies are produced of various titles: “As far as our current releases go, unless a limited number is specified on the listing, the number of copies to be pressed is not predetermined. If not specified, limited edition refers to the length of time in which we hold a contract with the artist/label. All contracts are different, but do expire at some point. When they do, we can no longer make copies. They are pressed as needed during the length of the contract for that title. Music Direct is the current owner of the MFSL production now. They purchased the company as it was going bankrupt in 1999 from its original owner!As per Wikipedia, they said the following : In November 1999 Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab shut down after the bankruptcy of M. S. Distributing, one of its biggest distributors. In 2001 MFSL's assets were acquired by Music Direct. The acquisition turned over to Music Direct the company's intellectual property and the rights to the technology used in the proprietary mastering chain.So with this knowledge of their process, it really means that unless an LP is strictly numbered to a specific number of copies, the pressing can go higher as long as the still have a contract with the original label. This explains why my Santana - Abraxis is numbered over 10,000. I guess this was a popular seller. I’m assuming if certain titles are more desirable and popular the number of copies will definitely vary in how many are pressed.Their web page is very specific about what titles are limited to a certain number and if it doesn't say the LP is strictly limited, it’s more of a time issue than how many copies are actually pressed!Only their SACDs and Hybrid SACDs are limited to either 2,000 copies or 5,000 copies. Their SACDs use Direct Stream Digital (DSD) encoding rather than the more common Pulse-code modulation (PCM). Mobile Fidelity sells its remasters in limited editions of 5000 copies or less. Music Direct is a great company to deal with. I’ve purchased many of my MFSL Lps and Hybrid SACDs from them. They still have some remaining copies of this Hybrid SACD in stock. It will play on most regular CD players as well, but to get the full High Resolution sound, you’ll need either a SACD player or a mutiformat player like I own. I have an Oppo BDP-105D player and I haven’t found anything this player will not play, plus I’ve got the region free model that will play PAL DVDA DVDs and Blu-rays from anywhere.

I'm not convinced this 'rough cover' is an original 1988 pressing. One or two other people have posted here to say that they bought it on day of release and their copy has a glossy sleeve and it's the same with me. The 2004 reissue, on the other hand, DEFINITELY does have a rough cover - https://www.discogs.com/Pixies-Surfer-Rosa/release/2109418 You can tell the two apart by the inner sleeve. the 1988 issue uses gold metallic ink for the inner. The inner in the 2004 issue is a non-metallic yellow/brown colour.(Btw, there's a similar difference between original copies of Bossanova and the 2004 reissue. Originals use silver metallic ink on the front cover. reissues use a non-metallic grey.)

Thanks for the replies. You've convinced me. Also, going by the images here, you can tell the difference between this rough cover and the 2004 reissue by the layout of the barcode stripes.

The rough cover was released at the same time as the gloss cover or within a matter of weeks. I had the gloss and a friend bought a copy soon after with the matt pictures on cover. I now have a matt cover and it has the gold screen printed inner sleeve.

The rough cover is original I'm sure.. I bought it around 88, it's not 'linen effect' just a raw card stock finish.

Original copies had a small silver "modesty" hype sticker placed over "Rosa's" bare torso. It said "pixies surfer Rosa" on it. I have an old rough trade pressing that has a white insert, printed with the same pictures and info as the gold sleeve most editions have. Haven't seen this variation listed.

https://www.picclickimg.com/d/w1600/pict/332319289294_/PIXIES-Surfer-Rosa-US-pressing-on-4AD-Rough.jpga picture of the album in shrink with silver sticker... It was an original Rough Trade US edition.

Never saw that 'modesty sticker' in the UK. Sounds more like something they'd do in the US.

speaking of classic : elegant abrasive and ambiguous polarized style *****

I have an import of the album from the Uk in the 4AD pressing that I got from the Kobey's Swap Meet in San Diego for less then five dollars and it sounds amazing but that isn't why I am writing this. I am writing this because this is such an amazing record. Kim Deal ROCKS!!!! her bass playing stands alone as a such a talent towards the whole grunge movement of the nineties along with her back ground vocals, only Lou Barlow could come close. Joey Santiago thrash slash noise guitar shows that Jimi Henedrix is alive and going strong. Gigantic should be known by all as one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

disc plays ok, but looks horrible. lots of stains and manufacturing marks on the surface.

What version are the sealed LPs that float around record stores these days? I bought a sealed (non-gatefold) copy in 2014 that aligns closest with the 2004 entry. But surely there has been a repress since then?

number 4298 January 2016

I bought a copy directly from 4AD Mail Order (mid 90's) and i get it overall glossy sleeve without that beautiful inner sleeve (Sadly). By that period i didn't know it should have an inner. Got inner? (I want it)

Bought mine on day of release in the UK and my copy has glossed photographs on front and back cover + gold print inner. This vers of cover does not seem to be listed.

Only the photographs are glossy on my original copy. It never had an overall glossy sleeve.

I have certainly had a rough cover since around 88.

Same here. Bought on day of release - glossy cover. The 2004 reissue has a rough cover. I think someone has mistaken the reissue for an original.