For anyone starting to collect out there, this is something you should become familiar with, the general terms used in collecting records.
2x CDs in the one release.
2x records in the one release.
45 RPM record. Usually refers to 7" records.
7 inch Vinyl Record. (diameter = 7" / 18cm)
10 inch Vinyl Record. (diameter = 10" / 25cm)
12 inch Vinyl Record. (diameter = 12" / 30cm)
An acetate is a transitional stage between the master and the finished record. Usually used for the promotion. [example]
A record which was not created with the permission of the band or their record company. The majority of bootlegs are live recordings.
A set of items that are packaged together. [example]
The code given to each record be the record company to identify them. You can easily see these on most CD spines. On records, the code can be seen etched into the 'run out groove'. Note that it is common to see the same catalogue number for different releases.
Compact Disc album. Usually 5" in diameter.
3 inch Compact Disc single. [example]
5 inch Compact Disc Single.
Combination of a audio CD with a CD-ROM. The audio tracks are playable on a normal CD player, the video need a computer.
Sleeve design with the logo of the record company. [example]
LPs or CDs that at first sight appear to be regular releases, but in fact are bootlegs pretending to be official albums.[example]
Record sleeve with a big hole in the center. [example]
A CD or DVD packaging. It consists of one or more plastic trays contained in a cardboard of various shapes and forms. [example]
Shortened version of a track.
(see CD extra).
Extended play record. [example]
A thin sheet of plastic cut with the grooves of a record, it is soft and can be bent or rolled, hence the name. [example]
A sleeve folded in the middle that opens like a book. Most of the time such a sleeve holds two records. [example]
(see die-cut sleeve)
Sleeve for the record which sits inside the overall sleeve.
Usually like a piece of paper which was included inside the record, but is not part of the sleeve. [example]
A standart CD plastic case.
Long Playing record. An album on vinyl.
A Joke, because everything is limited... but a strong argument for collecting rare stuff! For example a ‘collector’s edition of 5.000’. [example]
A release which has the wrong music on it. [example]
Music Cassette, audio tape
(see limited edition)
Japanese Obi Strip. It is a strip of paper which wraps around the left side of CDs in Japan/Korea. [example]
CD with a picture printed on it. [example]
A vinyl record with a picture embedded into it. The sound is quite often inferior to standard black vinyl releases. [example]
Any item sent out to DJs, radio stations or reviewers in order to plug a new release. Most are marked "for Promotional Use only" hence the abbreviation to "promo". [example]
Common :
Fairly common :
Uncommon :
Rare :
Very rare :
A CD plastic case with no back insert. Usually used for CD5 singles.
Cardboard case that slips over the CD or cassette case. Almost every Marilyn Manson albums have a slipcase. [example]
Not the nasty price tags, of course, but stickers from the record company with contents like ‘Artist, Title, containing the xxx song’.
A small batch of records that were made to test a new release. These are used by the artist and the record company to check the quality of the record and sometimes given out to promote the album. [example]
The name white label comes from the fact that most promotional records used to be sent out in an unfinished state, with the label completely white. [example]