Sublime (2) – 40oz. To Freedom

I have this pressing too. Mine came with the 'Skunk Records Mail Order Catalog Winter 1998' folded in as an insert (which I understand did not come in all copies). The most interesting bits that I will quote straight off the insert below. Key search here are 'winter' and '1998', meaning a customer was able to place the order with intent by Skunk Records to fulfill orders in a meaningful and respectable time.

Of interest there are four albums d on the Skunk Records Mail Order Winter 1998 that have a known release date, which can be used to ballpark the release of this 1st pressing of '40oz To Freedom'.

First, The Ziggens - Christmas 12". This album is officially titled as 'Three Wise Men and...Dickie'. This is the ONLY catalogued Christmas album released by The Ziggens in 1998 AND one of two albums ever pressed on vinyl via Cornerstone R.A.S. (none on Skunk Records). Additionally 'Pamona Lisa' was released as a CD only, April 28th 1998, preceeding the Christmas album. A few online sources state the Christmas album was released April 6th, 1999.

Second, Filibuster - The Means... released on December 2nd, 1997 on vinyl. An odd one as this predates the mail order flyer by a year.

Third, Fiibuster - New Ruler & The King released early 1998 on vinly and pressed by Renate Records 44359 Dortmund, Austria (currently now in Berlin, ). There is another release of this album in vinyl in 1998 by Cornerstone R.A.S.

Fourth, Long Beach Dub Allstars. The exact album title is not stated on the mail order. In late 1998 LBDAS released a promo called 'Long Beach Dub Allstars & Friends'. Not until late September of 1999 did 'Right Back' get released. Though this late release could have been due to the internal drama of the surviving Sublime leaving the band during the winter of 1999 and may have been the one promised on the mail order, but this is pure conjecture.

My educated guess is this Sublime - 40oz To Freedom 1st pressings started production some time in mid-to-late 1998. For all intents purposes this can be pressed in 1998 BUT sold/in-hand in early 1999:

-The mail order flyer clearly states 'winter 1998'
-The mail order states 'coming soon on vinyl', meaning most all of the promised/offered for sale vinyl records were at the time of winter 1998 being pressed on vinyl with the exception of The Ziggens
-40oz To Freedom listed as a mail order item; meaning this insert was generic and placed in other albums sold as a CD or vinyl by Skunk and Cornerstone R.A.S. such as Secret Hate / Das Clown 1998 release on vinyl and Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, The Ziggens etc. in their 1998 CD releases on Skunk Records
-The quote from Opie shared by BlackCircleRecord that he lifted from www.sublimedirect.com

The mail order flyer reads as follows:

Comin' on wax....
NEW!!! Skunk Records & Cornerstone R.A.S. VINYL

The Ziggens - Christmas 12" - brand new recording!!!

Fillibuster - The Means... w/ bonus tracks

Filibuster - New Ruler & The King - Euro import w/ bonus tracks (double vinyl)

Sublime - 40oz To Freedom - first ever Sublime album on vinyl! (double vinyl)
Entire Sublime catalog coming soon on vinyl from Skunk including:
Robbin' the Hood, Sublime, Second-hand Smoke, Stand By Your Van**

Das Klown / Secret Hate split 7"
DYF - Not a Good Day For a Picnic 7"

L.B.D.A.S. debut album coming early 1999 on Skunk Records

im looking for just side C and side D disc,pm me if you have copy to sell

Pulled from MTV News website before they went dark - Dated Oct 2, 1999 — Opie Ortiz. "Earlier this year, a vinyl version of 40 Oz. to Freedom was offered on Sublime's retail website (www.sublimedirect.com)"

Likely a 1999 release date, possibly Fall of 1998 as shown in the Fall '98 Skunk Records catalog

I bought this one either 1998 or 1999, I know for sure that it wasn't after that. I turned 21 in Jan 2000, and I brought this to many parties where I know that I had to get people to buy me alcohol.

One thing that I do want to know, as I can't . Was there a hype sticker on the shrink, or a mention in the Skunk Records catalog that came with the LP, that this record was supposed to be the original Skunk version? I something like that, and was kinda bummed that it was the later edited track listing (no Get Out, samples cut from some songs, etc).

My otherwise-clean copy has major static throughout side A of disc 1. Cleaned and tested on multiple tables. Wonder if it's a defect in the pressing.

Besides that issue, album sounds great! Happy to have this one in my collection. Is this the first pressing?

Excellent pressing. Such a nice balance on the mastering. Highly recommend the album and this version

Sounds amazing! One of my favorite listens in my entire collection!! Get it if you can find it!

I purchased this new somewhere between 1998 and 2000 at Plush Records (no longer in business) in Madison, WI. Came with a nice black and white "Skunk Records" sticker. Wish I would have kept it with the records, put it on my BBQ grill instead (which of course has long been rusted out and disposed of) Probably gets at least 5 or 6 plays per year. No idea what the number pressed were, but I would imagine not many considering vinyl was all but dead around that period of time. The sound quality is fantastic. Do not hesitate to pick up a nice clean copy if you can, you will not be disappointed.

Anyone know when this was released? About how many copies of this are out there?

I'm surprised nobody has commented on this yet.. How is the sound quality on this?