The Early Van Halen Pressing That Ended My Search

Dave already knew and loved Van Halen’s debut. The search for an early pressing was not about gaining access to the music; it was about finding a physical copy connected to the period when the album first arrived. In this episode of Dave’s Side One, Dave looks at the label, catalog number, runout information, jacket and condition of the copy that ended his search. He also explains why pressing details should add context to a record’s story rather than replace the music as the reason for collecting it. Today’s Side One Spin: Which album made you search for a specific pressing or edition?