A Record Collector's Guide

The Afghan Whigs released six full-length albums between 1988 and 1998...and here they are...

Big Top Halloween

Ultrasuede 001, released 1988

This has long been the crown jewel of Afghan Whigs vinyl collecting.  The band's first album, self-released on Ultrasuede in 1988.  Limited to 1000 copies.  The band wishes there were fewer.  Personally, I don't know why they are all so down on this album.  Sure, there are some tracks that miss the mark.  There are some really good ones there as well.  That's just my opinion, though.  This one has been expensive for a very long time, but remarkably has not appreciated in value much in the past 10 or so years.

Insert

V/A - Where the Hell are the Good Scissors?

Man-Cub MANCUB001, released 1988

Contains the Afghan Whigs song "King of Millville"

The Where the Hell are the Good Scissors? compilation featured a bunch of Cincinnati area bands.  It was the only ever appearance of the track, "King of Millville."  This comp got a lot easier to find once online auctions entered the picture.  It was limited to 1000 copies, all on red vinyl, and came with a comic book (see images).

Comic Book

Up in It

Sub Pop SP60, released 1990

Glitterhouse GR0092 (Germany)

Sub Pop SP5/116 (CD - Germany)

This was the first Afghan Whigs album released on Sub Pop.  There were two versions of the sleeve and several colors of vinyl to go along with each.  The first pressing was of 1000 copies on orange vinyl.  Accompanying these copies was the sleeve containing the horizontal arm and orange print.  These copies came with lyric sheet inserts.  There were also black vinyl copies pressed with this sleeve.  Glitterhouse Records in Germany pressed this album (GR0092) with the original sleeve, also on black vinyl.  The cd version was one of the earliest Sub Pop Europe releases (SP5/116).

Later pressings had the second version of the sleeve, depicting a vertical arm with more shading and white lettering.  This version was pressed on black, green, blue marble and blue-green marble vinyl, and came with no inserts.  The blue and green varieties are all fairly rare.  There are also a very few copies out there that were on the 1st press black vinyl, but came in 2nd press sleeves.  These copies, unlike the rest of the 2nd run, did come with inserts: letter-sized Singles Club enrollment forms.

Test Pressing	1st Press Insert	Early 2nd Press Insert
		Glitterhouse

Congregation

Sub Pop SP130, released 1992 (CD/CS)

Sub Pop SP26/183 (LP - Germany)

Afghan Whigs album number three, released on Sub Pop in 1992.  The only vinyl version of this album came out on Sub Pop Europe.  All copies were on black vinyl.

Test Pressing

Gentlemen

Sub Pop SP238, released 1993

Elektra 7559-61501-1 (Germany)

Blast First BFFP90 and BFFP90S (UK)

The Afghan Whigs' first major label release.  There are all kinds of versions of this one.  Well, okay, three, really - all of them were on black vinyl.  Sub Pop had the rights to release the U.S. vinyl (SP238).  The German one was on Elektra (7559-61501-1), and the UK one was on Blast First (BFFP90).  There is, however, a version of the UK release that comes with a bonus 4-track 12" single (BFFP90S).  All versions seem to be selling for pretty high prices these days, but the German version on Elektra is the rarest. 

Blast First Test Press	Sub Pop	Elektra
Blast First	Blast First Bonus 12"

V/A - The Lost Weekend

Blast First BFFP93, released 1993

Contains the Afghan Whigs songs "I Keep Coming Back" and "Fountain and Fairfax"

This compilation was given away to attendees of the Whigs' "Lost Weekend" shows in London September 10-11, 1993.  It does not have exclusive tracks, but had a lot to do with the band, so I am including it.  There's also a great God Machine track on here.  All copies were on black vinyl.  Limited to 3000 copies.

V/A - The King and I 10"

Blueyedog VTDOG11, released 1994

Contains the Afghan Whigs song "What Jail is Like (acoustic version)"

This was an odd British compilation.  I am including it because of the exclusive version of "What Jail is Like."  It is also often referred to as "The Human Ear is Now Employed to 'Mix' the Music," mainly because that is what is on the sleeve's spine.  Black vinyl.

Black Love

Sub Pop SP353, released 1996

Elektra 7559-61896-1 (Germany)

Mute STUMM143-1 (UK)

This is one of the best albums ever recorded. This is not up for debate. Released in 1996, Sub Pop had the U.S. rights to the vinyl for this one as well.  It was released as SP353 on black vinyl.  The UK version was on Mute Records (STUMM143-1), also on black vinyl.  There is also a German release on Elektra Records.  This one seems to be the rarest.

Sub Pop

Elektra

Mute

1965

Columbia C 69450, released 1998 (U.S.)

Columbia 491486-1 (Europe)

Sadly, this was the Whigs' final album.  All vinyl versions were released on various incarnations of Columbia Records.  All were on black vinyl.  It has been difficult to predict how much this record will sell for.  Sometimes it goes for very little, more often a fair amount.  There has been some confusion about the European vinyl releases for 1965.  Supposedly, there were UK and Austrian versions of this one.  I have a copy, and it gives no indication of country of origin on the sleeve or on the label.  This leads me to believe that the UK and the Austrian versions are identical.  All indications are that the catalogue numbers are the same for both countries (based on the cd version).

C 69450

491486-1