• CD
• Released: 02 Nov 2005
• Country: Japan
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 4988005414229
  • Barcode: 4 988005 414229
  • ASIN: B000BKJLU4
  • Rights Society: JASRAC
  • Matrix / Runout: UICU-1105 1
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L278
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 45K0
• Notes: Recorded live between May 2004 and 2005. (P)&(C) 2005 The Mars Volta, licensed exclusively to Universal Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Comes in a jewel case with 6-page folded booklet, 12-page japanes booklet and an obi.

• Vinyl
• Released: 2005
• Country: US
• Identifiers:
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118 - A
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118 - B
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118 - C
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118 - D
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL118- A
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL118-B
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL-118-C
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118- D
  • Barcode: 6 1350550118 9
  • Barcode: 613505501189
• Notes: Single sleeve with black inner sleeves, 23" x 9" foldout poster and 8-page folded inlay advertising other releases available. The credit "The Mars Volta Group" does not distinguish performers and crew on release. [Record 2, D-side:] This Album Was Recorded Live On My Mobile Studio [E-Clat] Between May 2004 And May 2005 By Jonathan Debaun, Who Engineered The Entire Project. I Put It Together [Including Some Field Recordings I Made Of The Band On Tour] And Mixed It Under A Strict Time Constraint At Sound City Studios In September 2005. It Was Promptly Sent To Howie Weinberg Who Mastered It At Masterdisk, New York City, With The Assistance Of Roger Liam. Danielle Van Ark Is Responsible For All The Photographs And For Sending Them To Sonny Kay, Who Designed And Laid Out This Record Under The Art Direction Of Cedric And Myself. This Coordination Was Made Possible By Kristen Welsh, The Care Taker Of Monkey Island. - Omar

• CD
• Released: 2005
• Country: Canada
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 6 02498 86788 4
  • Barcode: 602498867884
  • Matrix / Runout: cinram B000564402 #51016Y23 14
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L387
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 6000
  • Other: 23 MADE IN CANADA
• Notes: Recorded live between May 2004 and 2005. (P)&(C) 2005 The Mars Volta, licensed exclusively to Universal Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.

• CD
• Released: 2005
• Country: Mexico
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 6 02498 86788 4
  • Matrix / Runout: MAЯИIƆ ᛚ8Ԑ⅃ 𐑕88٢მ88୧ MMM୧𐑕0ᛚट0#
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 2000
• Notes: Recorded live between May 2004 and 2005. (P)&(C) 2005 The Mars Volta, licensed exclusively to Universal Records, a division of UMG Recordings.

• CD
• Released: 2005
• Country: Australasia
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 6 02498 86788 4
  • Matrix / Runout: 0167457 9886788 01 IFPI L681 SMEA
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L681
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 6519
• Notes: Credits for performers and crew are given on release as "The Mars Volta Group" Marketed in Australasia by Universal Music Australia under exclusive licence. Made in Australia.

• CD
• Released: 2005
• Country: Argentina
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 60249886788
  • Rights Society: SADAIC. BIEM. AADI. CAPIF
• Notes: Recorded live between May 2004 and 2005. (P)&(C) 2005 The Mars Volta, licensed exclusively to Universal Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Industria Argentina

• Vinyl
• Released: 2005
• Country: US
• Identifiers:
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118 - A
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118 - B
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118 - C
  • Matrix / Runout: GSL 118 - D
• Notes: 8 sets pressed.

• CD
• Released: 2005
• Country: Indonesia
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 6 02498 86788 4
  • Barcode: 602498867884
• Notes: Manufactured and Printed in Indonesia.

• CD
• Released: 08 Nov 2005
• Country: US
• Identifiers:
• Notes: Compilation of live recordings: 05/12/2004 – Wiltern Theatre – Los Angeles, CA 05/13/2004 – Wiltern Theatre – Los Angeles, CA 05/05/2005 – Roseland Ballroom – New York City, NY 05/06/2005 – Roseland Ballroom – New York City, NY

• CD
• Released: 07 Nov 2005
• Country: Europe
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 6 02498 86788 4
  • Barcode: 602498867884
  • Label Code: LC01846
  • Rights Society: SABAM / BIEM
  • Matrix / Runout: [4x Universal Logo] 06024 988 678-8 01 ✳ 51668488
  • Matrix / Runout: MADE IN GERMANY BY EDC I
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI LV26
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 0114
  • Matrix / Runout: [4x Universal Logo] 06024 988 678-8 01 ✳ 51668488
  • Matrix / Runout: Made in Germany by EDC A
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI LV26
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 0127
  • Matrix / Runout: [4x Universal Logo] 06024 988 678-8 01 ✳ 51668488
  • Matrix / Runout: MADE IN GERMANY BY EDC D
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI LV26
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 0133
• Notes: Standard jewel case with clear tray & 6-page fold-out sheet. Hype sticker on front cover reads: "OVER 70+ MINUTES OF LIVE MUSIC 0602498867884" This album was recorded on my mobile studio (E Clat) between May 2004 and May 2005 by Jonathan Debaun, who engineered the entire project. I put it together (including some field recordings I made of the band on tour) and mixed it under a strict time constraint at Sound City Studios in September 2005. It was promptly sent to Howie Weinberg who mastered it at Masterdisk, New York City, [...]. Kristen Welsh, the caretaker of Monkey Island. Total Time: 72:54 themarsvolta.com universalrecords.com Booklet: ℗ & © 2005 The Mars Volta, licensed exclusively to Universal Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Back cover & CD: © & ℗ 2005 The Mars Volta Licensed exclusively to Universal Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Made in the EU.

• CD
• Released: 07 Nov 2005
• Country: US
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 6 02498 86788 4
  • Barcode: 602498867884
  • Matrix / Runout: B00 056 4402 02$ O [Universal Logo] IFPI L009
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L009
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 0344
  • Other: MADE IN USA
  • Matrix / Runout: B00 056 4402 02$ J [Universal Logo] IFPI L009
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L009
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 0396
  • Other: MADE IN USA
  • Matrix / Runout: B00 056 4402 02$ N [Universal Logo] IFPI L009
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L009
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 0399
  • Other: MADE IN USA BY UML
  • Matrix / Runout: B00 056 4402 02$ L [Universal Logo] IFPI L009
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L009
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 0345
  • Other: MADE IN USA BY UML
  • Matrix / Runout: B00 056 4402 02$ P [Universal Logo] IFPI L009
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L009
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 0310
  • Other: MADE IN USA BY UML
• Notes: "This album was recorded live on my mobile studio [E Clat] between May 2004 and 2005 by Jonathan Debaun who engineered the whole project. I put it together [including some field recordings I made of the band on tour] and mixed it under a strict time constraint at Sound City Studios in September 2005. It was promptly sent to Howie Weinberg who mastered it at Masterdisk, New York City, with the assistance of Roger Liam. Danielle Van Ark is responsible for the photographs and for sending them to Sonny Kay, who designed and laid out this record under the art direction of Cedric and myself. This coordination was made possible by Kristen Welsh, The Caretaker of Monkey Island. – Omar". ℗ & © 2005 The Mars Volta, licensed exclusively to Universal Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Issued in a standard jewel case with clear disc tray and 3-panel / 6-page folding booklet. Total time: 72:54. Some variants of this release may have "MADE IN USA BY UML" mould on inner hub of CD. Despite the credit these were also made by [l381697] — see company profile for more information.

• CD
• Released: 04 Jun 2008
• Country: Japan
• Identifiers:
  • Barcode: 4988005515483
  • Rights Society: JASRAC
  • ASIN: B0017W7EKO
• Notes: Recorded live between May 2004 and 2005. (P)&(C) 2005 The Mars Volta, licensed exclusively to Universal Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. Made in Japan

Scabdates is, to this date, the only full live album released by The Mars Volta.   It is not on any streaming service or their bandcamp page, making the album increasingly difficult to listen to.  Additionally, the album was not repressed by Clouds Hill making it difficult to obtain on vinyl.  The album features overdubbed and edited versions of three songs, Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt, Concertina, and Cicatriz ESP.  These songs have had certain amounts of overdub added to them.  Take the Veil features an extended version of the “helicopter jam” that frequented their 2005 shows, and Cicatriz ESP has entire sound collage layered on top of the latter half of the song.  These three tracks are separated by two pre-song jams Haruspex and Caviglia.  While the performances are strong on this live album due to the abundance of bootleg recordings it is often overlooked by the more aggressive fans of the band.

In 2011 NME named the album one of the top 50 live albums of all time.  Part of Take the Veil was featured in the movie Get Him to the Greek.  

Per Omar Rodriguez-Lopez on the construction of Scabdates:

“I listened to my favorite live records, and said, “Okay, that’s nice. What would I want as a fan?” When I was a kid, I always wanted little moments about the band on tour, so I could imagine them in my head. You hear our live record, and it starts with sound check and our technicians speaking about what’s wrong with the microphone. And then there’s us backstage, and then it goes into the concert, and then in the middle of a song, I put in some conversations we had on the tour bus. All these things are really appealing to me. A lot of people who were upset said, “This is not a live album. It includes all this other bullshit. And it has overdubs!” It has no overdubs, it was just mixed in a creative way.”

The recording process is described as such:

“This Album Was Recorded Live On My Mobile Studio [E-Clat] Between May 2004 And May 2005 By Jonathan Debaun, Who Engineered The Entire Project. I Put It Together [Including Some Field Recordings I Made Of The Band On Tour] And Mixed It Under A Strict Time Constraint At Sound City Studios In September 2005. It Was Promptly Sent To Howie Weinberg Who Mastered It At Masterdisk, New York City, With The Assistance Of Roger Liam. Danielle Van Ark Is Responsible For All The Photographs And For Sending Them To Sonny Kay, Who Designed And Laid Out This Record Under The Art Direction Of Cedric And Myself. This Coordination Was Made Possible By Kristen Welsh, The Care Taker Of Monkey Island.”

This is the first The Mars Volta album to note a distinct delineation between The Mars Volta being Cedric and Omar and the rest of the members of the band being part of The Mars Volta Group.  

Chart Performance:

Australian Albums (ARIA) – 87
US Billboard 200 – 76

Recording sources:

05/12/2004
Wiltern Theatre – Los Angeles, CA: “Haruspex“, “Cicatriz“

05/13/2004
Wiltern Theatre – Los Angeles, CA: “Caviglia“

05/05/2005
Roseland Ballroom – New York City, NY : “Abrasions Mount the Timpani“, “Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt“

05/06/2005
Roseland Ballroom – New York City, NY: “Gust of Mutts / And Ghosted Pouts“

05/10/2005
Avalon Ballroom – Boston, MA: “Concertina“