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A Record Collector's Guide


Sub Pop Singles: SP251 - SP300

From this point onward, Sub Pop started to really lose some momentum. For several years, starting in the mid-90s, I was very uninterested in many of the label's releases. As always, there were a few highlights. From the collector's perspective, there wasn't much happening. Almost all of the releases were exclusively on black vinyl. (I think the market research told them that people didn't care about color vinyl; additionally, it was more expensive to press and carried with it risk of pressing delays).  These pressings were largely not difficult for the collector to find. There are a few exceptions, but not many. This point also marks the time at which we see the clear cutoff of vinyl I have or have had in my collection. As a result, I am missing quite a few pictures. I will fill it out someday. Maybe. Please send me any scans you might have to help make this more complete.

SP251 Lou Barlow

I Am Not Mocking You/Survival/Helpless Heartbreak b/w Dirty Mind/Forever Instant

Sub Pop SP251 7", released December 1993 (U.S.)

Sub Pop Singles Club #62

Limited to 1,500 copies, all on pink vinyl. This was it...the end of the first run of the Singles Club. There is also a hot pink marble variation of this one, which is much harder to find.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP251 Pink Marble 10-15 3 Stable
SP251 Hot Pink Marble 25-35 7 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy
Credits STOUTR: Hot pink marble image

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP253 Monopoly Queen

Let's Keep It Friendly b/w Monopoly Queen

Sub Pop SP253 7", released February 1994 (U.S.)

Lisa Suckdog. Black vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP253 Black 5-8 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP255 Ripe

Something Fierce b/w The Eggplant Family

Sub Pop SP255 7", released April 1994 (U.S.)

Black vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP255 Black 1-3 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP257 Velocity Girl

Sorry Again b/w Marzipan

Sub Pop SP257 7" / SP257b CD, released May 1994 (U.S.)

A solid pop single. This one came out to coincide with the release of Velocity Girl's second album, ¡Simpatico! Black vinyl, custom labels. Easy to find.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP257 Black 4-6 3 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

The following record marked a very sad point in Sub Pop history...the (temporary) demise of the yellow Sub Pop label.  It was phased out for a while in favor of the black labels you see below, on which each had an olive green ring around the border and silver print. There are a couple of other releases with yellow labels below, but this was the beginning of the black label. After several years, they resurrected the yellow labels (either for the beginning of Singles Club V2 or shortly beforehand), but from roughly 1994-1998, it was all black labels.

SP258 Von Ryan's Express

Ghetto Pose b/w Lucky Sevens

Sub Pop SP258 7", released August 1994 (U.S.)

Very loud. Not much else to say.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP258 Black 1 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP262 Hardship Post

Slick Talkin' Jack b/w If I...

Sub Pop SP262 7", released September 1994 (U.S.)

Black vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP262 Black 1 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP263 Pond

Moth b/w You Don't Quite Get It Do You But You're Thinking Hard

Sub Pop SP263 7", released April 1994 (U.S.)

The A side of this one is one of my all-time favorites to be released on the Sub Pop label. Definitely the best song Pond ever wrote. B-side is forgettable, but not bad. Black vinyl. Mostly.

There was also a blue marble vinyl version of the Moth single that was pressed. Most of these were packaged with the UK version of The Practice of Joy Before Death LP. 1,000 of them, to be precise. However, more of them are out there, as many have been circulated independent of the album. The blue ones represent a completely separate pressing. The U.S. one had a large center hole and classic yellow Sub Pop labels. The blue one had a small hole and the later black Sub Pop labels. The matrix codes were also different. The color of the blue one varied quite a bit - some were green.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP263 Black 2-4 1 Stable
SP263 Blue Marble 5-8 5 Stable
Black
Blue
Color Variants
Sleeve Full glossy
Credits Costa: variants image and info

This page was last updated on April 4, 2020.

SP264 Swell

Summer Songs

This is How It Starts b/w Too Many Days w/o Thinking

Sub Pop SP264 7", released June 1994 (U.S.)

Black vinyl, custom labels. Common.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP264 Black 1 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP266 Eric's Trip

The Gordon Street Haunting

I'm So Near Here/Lightly Feeling b/w Never Grow/Departure Song/Your Always Right

Sub Pop SP266 7", released May 1994 (U.S.)

Eric's Trip strikes back. This one is actually remarkably difficult to find. I never quite understood why. Sub Pop's discography page says it was a Canada-only release. That doesn't seem like a good reason in and of itself. It might just have been an uncharacteristically limited press run. Black vinyl. The value is relatively stable, but trending upward.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP266 Black 25-35 7 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP267 Sebadoh

Skull (Remix) b/w Punching Myself in the Face Repeatedly Publicly/Sing Something/Plate 'O' Hatred

Sub Pop SP267 7", released August 1994 (U.S.)

Hey look - Sebadoh! Black vinyl. Easy to find.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP267 Black 5-8 2 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP271 5ive Style

Waiting on the Eclipse b/w Where the Rio de Rosa Flows

Sub Pop SP271 7", released September 1994 (U.S.)

Black vinyl. Common.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP271 Black 2-4 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP272 Red Red Meat

Idiot Son b/w Gauze

Sub Pop SP272 7", released 1994 (U.S.)

Sub Pop SP139/343 10", released 1994 (Germany)

Black vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP272 Black 1-3 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP274 Poison 13

Love Me/Warsaw b/w What a Way To Die/Strychnine

Sub Pop SP274 7", released October 1994 (U.S.)

Black vinyl. Readily available.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP274 Black 3-5 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP275 Elastica

Stutter b/w Pussycat

Sub Pop SP275 7", released August 1994 (U.S.)

Sub Pop's brief Brit-pop obsession took hold with the release of this one. Side note: "Stutter" is one of my favorite songs of the mid-90s. This and the Supergrass single were both fairly valuable for a short period of time, but the bands' popularity died down after a year or two (no new material / the UK music fan general public is fickle), and the values of the singles went with them. The release of the Helter Shelter box set (all four British band singles in a very limited box) did not help, either. As collectors, we thought that box set was going to skyrocket in value, due to its scarcity and due to the popularity of the bands involved at the time. In the end, all it did was dilute the market with extra copies of the British singles. Oh well. Interesting packaging for these, though. Cardboard die-cut sleeve, with a second cardboard internal full sleeve. The Elastica single came on red vinyl, but there was some variation in the color: the most common version was the main red one pictured here, but the color could range from almost pink to a deep blood red.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP275 Red 8-12 3 Stable
Inner Sleeve
Red Vinyl
Color Variants
Sleeve Cardboard die-cut sleeve, with a second cardboard internal full sleeve
Credits Costa: variants image and info

This page was last updated on April 4, 2020.

SP276 S*M*A*S*H

Barrabas (Piloted) b/w Turn On the Water

Sub Pop SP276 7", released November 1994 (U.S.)

Sub Pop SP142/348 (Germany)

Brit-pop 7" #2. Same double sleeve set-up as the Elastica single. Nice Afghan Whigs cover on the b-side. Released on both olive green and regular green vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP276 Green 1 1 Stable
SP276 Olive Green 1 1 Stable
Test Pressing
Inner Sleeve
Sleeve Cardboard die-cut sleeve, with a second cardboard internal full sleeve
Test Pressing Black vinyl, small hole, white labels

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP278 The Grifters

Queen of the Table Waters b/w Return To Cinder

Sub Pop SP278 7", released November 1994 (U.S.)

Black vinyl. Common.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP278 Black 1-3 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP279 Jessamine

Your Head is So Small It's Like a Little Light b/w Soon the World of Fashion

Sub Pop SP279 7", released 1993 (U.S.)

The era of unnecessary packaging continues! The most interesting thing about this single is the sleeve. It is encased in a multi-level cardboard thing with a bolt screwed the middle. Good times. Black vinyl. This one used to be a little expensive, but no longer.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP279 Black 3-5 1 Stable
Sleeve Multi-level cardboard thing with a bolt screwed the middle

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP280 Supersuckers

On the Couch b/w Nitroglycerine

Sub Pop SP280 7", released September 1994 (U.S.)

Sub Pop SP141/345 7" / SPCD 141/345 CD, released 1994 (Germany)

Black vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP280 Black 4-6 3 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP281 Supergrass

Lose It b/w Caught By the Fuzz

Sub Pop SP281 7", released March 1995 (U.S.)

Brit-pop single #3. See the Elastica single for more of a description of this series. This one probably received the most hype of the four, and the band definitely ended up having the most staying power. I was never really into them, though. I always thought Elastica was much better. Exists on clear yellow and opaque yellow vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP281 Yellow 4-6 2 Down
SP281 Opaque Yellow 4-6 3 Down
Inner Sleeve
Sleeve Cardboard die-cut sleeve, with a second cardboard internal full sleeve

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP282 5ive Style

Kiki's Cookout b/w Hot Box

Sub Pop SP282 7", released February 1995 (U.S.)

Black vinyl. Common.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP282 Black 1-3 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP283 Shudder To Think

X-French Tee Shirt b/w Shake Your Halo Down

Sub Pop SP283 7", released November 1994 (U.S.)

Another entry in Sub Pop's occasional flirtations with DC bands. Black vinyl. Pretty easy to find.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP283 Black 4-6 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP286 Zumpano

Wraparound Shades b/w Orange Air

Sub Pop SP286 7", released November 1994 (U.S.)

Went on to become the New Pornographers. Black vinyl. Common.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP286 Black 2-4 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP287 The American Psycho Band

Falls Church b/w My War 7", released March 1995 (U.S.)

Black vinyl. Very common.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP287 Black 1 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP290 The Denison/Kimball Trio

Landshark b/w Whirlpool

Sub Pop SP290 7", released May 1995 (U.S.)

Black vinyl. Easy to find.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP290 Black 2-4 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP291 Friends of Dean Martin

Polena b/w Seashells

Sub Pop SP291 7", released April 1995 (U.S.)

This band ended up having to change its name due to copyright infringement. They went with, "Friends of Dean Martinez." Black vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP291 Black 2-4 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP293 Sportsguitar

Gong Gong b/w Tits

Sub Pop SP293 7", released February 1995 (U.S.)

Swiss indie rock. Nudity on the sleeve. What more could you ask for? Black vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP293 Black 1 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP294 Gene

Be My Light, Be My Guide b/w I Can't Help Myself

Sub Pop SP294 7", released June 1995 (U.S.)

The final Brit-pop installment. Blue vinyl. The blue color varies a bit among different copies: many are the blue shown here, but some dark blue versions exist. There is apparently a version of this one floating around that is a mispress, with the A-side song on both sides.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP294 Blue 3-5 1 Stable
SP294 Blue Mispress 8-10 5 Stable
Inner Sleeve
Sleeve Cardboard die-cut sleeve, with a second cardboard internal full sleeve

This page was last updated on April 4, 2020.

SP295 Hardship Post

Watchin' You b/w My Sunshine

Sub Pop SP295 7", released June 1995 (U.S.)

This one exists on both orangey-red and black vinyl, and the red one seems to be much more common than the black. The color of the red one varies quite a bit from light to dark.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP295 Light Orange 1-3 1 Stable
SP295 Dark Orange 1-3 1 Stable
SP295 Black 2-4 4 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy
Test Pressing Black vinyl, small hole, white labels

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP296 Supersuckers

Born With a Tail b/w Are You Ready?

Sub Pop SP296 7", released July 1995 (U.S.)

This song had two distinct 7"s, roughly 20 catalogue numbers apart...never figured that one out. This one comes in an interesting sleeve in the shape of a file folder. Black vinyl. It was once somewhat difficult to find, but it is now quite common.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP296 Black 3-5 1 Down
Test Pressing
Sleeve File folder manila sleeve
Test Pressing Black vinyl, small hole, plain white labels

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP297 Tindersticks

Here b/w Harry's Dilemma

Sub Pop SP297 7", released May 1995 (U.S.)

Black vinyl. Pretty easy to find.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP297 Black 5-8 1 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

SP298 Moonsocket

Accept Fear b/w Someone Else's Love

Sub Pop SP298 7", released July 1995 (U.S.)

Sub Pop says this one was "mail-order only". It has always been a little more difficult to find than an average single. Black vinyl.

Version Value ($) Scarcity Price Trending
SP298 Black 6-10 4 Stable
Sleeve Full glossy

This page was last updated on October 27, 2019.

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Sub Pop Singles Club V1
Sub Pop Singles Club V2
Sub Pop Index
Home

Scarcity Score Definition
10 Near impossible: Fewer than 50 copies or publicly sold every few years
8-9 Very rare: 50-199 copies or publicly sold 1-2 times per year
6-7 Rare: 200-499 copies or publicly sold a few times a year
4-5 Medium: 500-999 copies or publicly sold ~10 times a year
1-3 Common: 1000+ copies, readily available, or publicly sold 20+ times a year

Estimated values are based on recent auction results or online sales. Commercial use of images on this site is not permitted. Non-commercial use of images permitted, with attribution to Pette Discographies. All images copyright their respective owners.