r/vinyl

Before you ask I paid $500 for them all "his asking price". I had absolutely no fucking clue what i was doing but spent the last week researching. Some of the big hits in pics. Kinda shocked at what these are bringing

Hey everyone! I’ve posted a similar vinyl guide for my favorite band on a few other sites, and today I finally found the time to share it here on Reddit as well. I hope many of you find this useful. Cheers!

I've been going through a rough patch in my life and been kind of anxious lately. These albums have helped me calm down. Any other ones you recommend in the same genre?

Just came out on vinyl (re-release). One of my favorite hip hop records.

First time i heard it was on Mark & Lard while at work.. was everything you wanted it to be.. blew away all the pretenders.. i've never stopped playing it.. and it still sounds brilliant!! see you on My Star! 🙌

For the newer collectors out there, here's a piece of history: an album cover made out of another box.

When times were tight and companies needed to save money where they could, record covers were printed on the blank side of shipping cartons. This was especially prevalent in Jamaica, but not limited to that market.

Here's a Studio One Showcase comp cover printed on the back of a dandruff shampoo package.

Of course, there are examples of other records where printing on the inside of the jacket was done on purpose (Neil Young "On the Beach" comes to mind), but one doesn't see examples like this too often these days.

Remarkably, the record itself is in pretty good shape. Looking forward to playing it at the next Yardsale (at which point it'll probably sell pretty quickly ;-)

The 1981 Connection
The Fateful Show: In March 1981, future Beastie Boys members Mike D, MCA, and future frontman Ad-Rock (along with Henry Rollins and Thurston Moore) were all separately in the audience at New York's Peppermint Lounge for Black Flag's first-ever East Coast show.

Inspiration: Witnessing that raw hardcore performance inspired the future Beastie Boys members to form their own punk band (initially called The Young Aborigines) before shifting to rap.

Later 1990s Connection
Tours with Rollins: While they never played with Black Flag, the Beastie Boys did tour and perform alongside the Rollins Band (fronted by former Black Flag singer Henry Rollins) during their 1992 Check Your Head tour.

Having a rather small collection of records, I visited Wrocław to see some family, so decided to also visit some of the record stores there were there, as there is so much in such a small area from where I stayed. Either way, here is everything I got, a mix of Japanese and West German pressings:

- West German First Pressing of The Wall, 1979. This is a very cool thing as I just love the artwork on the inside of the gatefold, Scarfe done a great job with these drawings. My copy has the original lyrics sleeves, and just seeing them in person made me realise how different of an album we got to what we originally would have had (well I’m sad that What Shall we do now? is not on the album, but allas). The center labels having the wall and drawings on them is also a nice little touch. This album is in my top 3 of Floyd albums, so having it in physical form now is very cool

- Japanese first pressing of Atom Heart Mother, 1971. The artwork for this immediately caught my eye as it’s just so visible, I knew the album before visiting the store, but when I got in there, the cover just instantly caught my attention first. Either way, this is a very cool pressing of this album, comes in the very nice quality textured gatefold with Lulubelle III on the front (obviously), and then the track listing and other stuff on the inside. This is one thick gatefold, and probably the sturdiest in my collection. This version originally came with an Obi, but it’s gone from my version. The inserts remain, and they are a very nice piece to have, with some funny promo pictures of the band, along with some info about the band and the album, and then a lot of stuff in Japanese which I presume is also info. Although not in my top 3 of Floyd albums, it’s very high up there, and I haven’t played it since I’ve gotten back, so I’m definitely excited for Atom Heart Mother (well the track and album).

- West German first pressing of Animals, 1977. As soon as I saw this one in store, I knew I had to get it. Just a little disclaimer, Animals is my favourite Floyd album, that’s probably why. This is a nice gatefold, although not as thick as Atom Heart Mother, but contains some Cool images inside that refer to the themes of the album, and then the simple lyrics sleeve Written in white on a black background. The center label is probably my favourite part of the record (and specifically this pressing), as it features a dog on side one, for Dogs, then a pig and a sheep, for both Pigs (three different ones), and Sheep. Very cool stuff. Instead of saying 'side’ on the label, it says 'seite’ since this is a West German pressing, along with some other German stuff Written on the label. Very cool.

- Japanese 10th anniversary limited edition of Led Zeppelin, 1979. This is a very cool piece. Since it’s a Japanese pressing, it comes with the Obi, which is still intact and contrasts very nicely with the cover, adding some pop of colour. The record itself is very clean, and plays nicely, notably on the organs of Your time is gonna come, and has honestly made me realise so many details throughout the album I didn’t hear before. The inserts with the lyrics and The Atlantic Catalogue is also a very cool piece of history

- West German First Pressing of Physical Grafitti, 1975. Although the cover and the sleeves aren’t in the best condition (as you can see), this is still a very cool piece, and I love how you can just take out the sleeves and just put whoever you want from the sleeves into the Windows. Although there are some minor signs of wear of the record, it still sounds very nice, and even though I’ve seen people say that this is a very bad pressing, I actually disagree and it honestly sounds great.

-Japanese First Pressing of A Night At The Opera 1975, with intact Obi and Inserts. Now this is probably the best piece I got. The embossed cover feels so nice to touch. The gatefold sleeve is also very nice quality and having the lyrics printed inside is honestly very cool. Along with the Japanese lyrics and info, along with the Elektra centre label. Very cool stuff

- Japanese First pressing of Sheer Heart Attack 1974, with intact Obi and inserts. The red Obi looks very cool against the red of the writing on Sheer Heart Attack. It also has the inserts with some very funny pictures of the band, along with the obvious lyrics and info.

- Japanese First Pressing of Queen II, with inserts. Obviously this also came with an Obi originally, but mine does not have it. Either way, this has a very cool gatefold, which is very heavy and honestly, probably the second most sturdy in my collection, expcept for Atom Heart Mother. It also opens upwards, just like any other Queen II, but this a very cool little quirk for me. Either way, this is probably the best insert out of any I have, probably because I can understand some of it, but I also really like the table at the bottom which has some very funny stuff in it about each of the members

- Last, but certainly not least, West German First Pressing of News of the World. This does not come with the original lyrics sleeve, but this a very cool pressing with the wacky center label. Side one has the track listing on it for both sides, then side two has the A Day At The Races/Queen crest with News of the World Written under it. Very cool. Although I wish the gatefold for this was a bit thicker though, something like Queen II, but oh well, it’s cool as it is

Overall, I’m very happy with everything I got, now I’ve got a HUGE listening back log, which I will eventually find time for 😁

Acquired half of my Discogs wanted list in the last half a year. Need some help deciding on the last few to get to 200 or which records I should sell that look out of place. Most are OG or audiophile pressings, so things got expensive quick!

Buuuttttt it’s just the most random artists and genres, plus some cds! It really does take a big chunk of my teen job paycheck 🥲🥲

Picked this up a while back: "I Swear I Stayed for the Encore E.P.," a bootleg on a fake Chiswick label, of the Sex Pistols' June 4th, 1976 show at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall. Never been able to pin down when or where it was actually pressed. Anyone recognize it or have a lead on dating it?

For context on why the gig matters: it's the show credited with kickstarting Manchester's post-punk scene. Joy Division, Buzzcocks, The Fall, The Smiths and a chunk of Factory Records all trace back to people allegedly in that room. Wrote up more on the gig and the full attendee list here if you want the background: https://www.thesenseofdoubt.com/blogs/archive/the-gig-nobody-agrees-on-sex-pistols-at-the-lesser-free-trade-hall-1976

Mostly posting for the record though. Curious if anyone here can help place this pressing or have a similar version.

Along with the usual suspects like Ray Price, Roy Clark, and Tennessee Ernie Ford were some unusual finds and some nice gems. The jackets were rough but the albums are in good shape.