How to Identify Vinyl Pressings and Record Variations 

Man that Japanese la woman with the obi strip is a holy grail! I found the doors a few years after my grandpa passing and found out it was his favorite band too, and every time I spin a the doors record it feels like he's here with me

I just started at 43 years old. Discogs is a great resource however it also prevents you from ever finding a good deal on ebay or record stores bc everyone thinks their records are worth the max. My first buy was Abby Road from 1969. Cant believe how nice it looks. I think garage sales or estate sales might be the only real way to get a deal. Any record can be bought on discogs its just the prices are super high.

I HAVE A PROBLEM! Ive collected vinyl for like 2 weeks and i have already put 300€ into records. Is there an AA group for this...

The major reason I subbed your channel was the fact that you did videos like this to educate the newbies. Thanks bud

One thing to look out for is when the inner paper sleeve has advertisements for other records. If you've picked an album that was released in, for example, 1972 and the inner sleeve is advertising records that were released in 1980, its unlikely to be an original. Seems obvious but was something that I fell for a number of times when I first started collecting. All part of the learning experience though. Great video, keep up the good work!

I've been able to find some records that I probably wouldn't have at all cared for if it wasn't for discogs. Recently picked up a copy of Strange Days by The Doors for $20, it was a bit more than I wanted to pay but it was in great shape and I was getting records for quite cheap that whole day so I went for it. Next day I was putting all of my finds that day into discogs and I got to Strange Days. I'd put in what I was able to make out from the matrix, and there was about 5-6 results. I went through all of the first ones and none of them matched, I got to the last one and it finally matched up. I ended up getting a near mint first pressing worth around $100 for $20.

So glade I found your channel today...you gave me the the resourses to find an album and a piece of music I have been searching for for about 20 some odd years...Thank Uou!

A couple of points; 1. Various people have different ideas of what a first pressing is. Are you looking for the first stamper from the first mother from the first lacquer? Or does it just have to be in the year and the country of release? 2. There are many clues that allow experienced collectors to say when a record was pressed. In Decca/London, the ink color changed gradually during the 70s - the silver got duller, and the maroon became more and more washed-out. It is true that many sellers don't know much. An eBay seller once sold me the Speakers Corner reissue of the Zubin Mehta performance of Holst's Planets, thinking it was a Decca original. They don't put any identifiers on the reissues, and it was an exact replica. Even the deadwax was a replica, because Speakers Corner had hired Tony Hawkins, the original Decca mastering engineer, to master the lacquer, so stamped in his Decca engineer code of 'K'.

I found secret messages on some of my dad's records this week 😎 it's cool to see them. He passed away unexpectedly 16 months ago. He liked the Damned. The Sisters of Mercy, The Cult etc.

I just recently found your channel and am learning so much. I am caught up on the current ones and am in the process of going back and watching the older ones. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with a newbie.

So helpful! I’ve been collecting for 12 years and still don’t always get it right. This is one of your more important videos, Dillon. Thank you!!! ❤️🎶❤️

One of the earliest albums with a barcode is Duty Now For The Future by DEVO from 1979, to the point where they put the barcode in the album artwork itself

Thank you very much. Getting back into records 40 years after I first jumped in. This is such a great help to me determining the provenance of a record.

Thank you for informing the listing of a vinyl inwhich the sellers wants fit the vinyl album!

Wow, your knowledge is vast and your best asset is your incredible articulation with no dead air or confusion. Been a collector for 57 years, and will tell you that the greatest album is not "Kind of Blue, Pepper, or Pet Sounds, or the album behind you, "Love Forever Changes!". It is a "greatest hits" album propelled by the greatest bassist that ever lived

Thank you so much for your videos! I just bought my first record player this week and have been in search of my favorite albums. Found an original Canadian pressing of Dreamboat Annie from Heart in my local record store and used what I learned from your video (and Discogs) to ensure it was what I was looking for. Super helpful for this newbie to the vinyl world!

They used color vinyl to categorize earlier records (usually 45s when I see it) into genre. One color (translucent, btw, not solid like most modern color vinyl) meant it was a country/western song, another meant it was a “race record” (literally what they called it… usually blues, jazz genres and related). A few videos around here that go into the specifics.

ive been watching this channel so much over the past 2 or 3 days and can't stop lmao. awesome content!

This was really helpful thanks for posting. I just started watching your videos this evening and was going to ask you this very thing.

Wow, thanks for the info. Literally new to collecting records. Only Got 4 records for the first time ever and I was able to use your information and knowledge to figure out 3 of them are original pressings and one is a reissue. Glad I stumbled across your video cause now I know what to look for when I go to check out records.

Very interesting video It can be a complicated process sometimes determining what pressing is what but is very rewarding. I remember when I bought an Australian copy of "Beatles No.1" and "Twist and Shout" I found out these particular copies weren't actually on Discogs, I actually had to add them onto Discogs which shows that not every pressing of a record has been catalogued, even for very popular bands, let alone more obscure records.

Been collecting since 1954 and never knew how important the #'s in the dead wax were. Thanks !!

Thank you for this video. Very informative and superb information. Very helpful.

I've been wanting to know this information for so long. When other RU-vidrs talk about vinyl records I think they assume we know what all this means first second pressing and where to find it. Thank you Dylan

A lot of information I did not know so glad you posted this. Thanks for posting as much as you do, I’m learning a lot and getting a lot of good insights.

Obi (sash) An obi (帯) is a belt of varying size and shape worn with both traditional Japanese clothing and uniforms for Japanese martial arts styles. Originating as a simple thin belt in Heian period Japan, the obi developed over time into a belt with several different varieties, with many different sizes and proportions, lengths, and methods of tying. it is not Oh Bee Eye, just trying to do my part to help.

I have an ebay store selling music. I sell primarily CDs and cassettes. I have picked up some vinyl over the last few years but have been very apprehensive to sell because I just don't trust my grading judgment yet. Your videos are helping me so much.

Great advice, wish I had seen this when it came out. Glad you mentioned the pink vinyl Floyd Animals album because I have that one. I've done the buy it before you look just two weeks ago, I found a used record store I hadn't been to and I was so exited when I saw a Link Wray from 1990. I just grabbed it. I got lucky. Thanks. 100 thumbs up.

Thank you for the information you provided! It's going to be really helpful to me, when I'm shopping for vinyl records! Take care! Keep spinning the vinyl!

This brings up a couple different pressings I have of Turn of the Cards by Renaissance. One is an early pressing from when Sire was owned by Gulf + Western. My other one is from when Sire was owned by ABC. There are also Sire/Warner pressings of it as well. Looking for ABC on the label is key to knowing if you have a first press of the Ramones debut. Ownership of whatever the company was owned by is a good way to figure it out.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge here. Some great tips for me to keep in mind.

Excellent video. Many thanks for this. Learnt a lot added to my knowledge. Brilliant

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Listen up young bucks (and record lovin’ ladies), because this guy drops pearls of wisdom! The internet makes us all experts, but seriously this guy knows what he’s talking about. See lots of vids from others who don’t, but I’ve been around records off and on since about 5 years old, and I’ve learned a lotta new tricks from him. Thanks for the knowledge brother and keep ‘em coming!

Yeah the barcode is important and thank you for reminding me because sometimes I think that we overlooked that aspect of it

Very interesting & informative, Thanks from Canada

I’m going to need to watch this again. This is something I definitely struggle with. I have used discogs to look up albums, but often, especially with older records, I can never find an exact match. 🤷🏻‍♀️. I do appreciate the tutorial and will keep trying.

Exploring the Dead Wax in your vinyl can be fun you would be surprised to see what might be there. Thanks great video.

Super helpful! Wish I knew these tricks before I started buying. One more I've found useful: sometimes there are Club editions which have a specific code on the jacket somewhere like CRC

I just love your posts / videos dude. I have been collecting vinyl for over 30 years and I am still learning stuff. I did not know about the history of barcodes. I must have been hiding under a rock all of these years.

This has been really helpful!! I’ll check out your shop!!

For many years I was looking for this information, thank you very much.

Fantastic information! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us newbies.

Thanks for the video. Yes, Discogs is my main go-to-site, absolutely. Sometimes, you can get a Frankensteined record, where cover and label or matrix don‘t really match. I then file it under the right matrix number, even though the cover might vary. Just had this issue with a twofer with Procol Harum‘s Shine On Brightly, where everything is a UK 1972 reissue on Cube, but the record is the German 1968 Polydor pressing.

Awesome Info. Thanks

Great video Also I love that forever changes is the only full cover visible

The incomparable genius, the legendary, James Jamerson, and that record is: "The Temptations Greatest Hits!

Super Helpful. My Late Hubs was an ON air DJ and I am finally tackling his library to catalog and sell so this gives me a realistic idea of what I have (45, 33, 78, CDs. Cassettes, plus his component system and speakers. YIKES But time to reclaim the extra bedroom.

Great information! I have a lot of older records and need to find out what pressings they are.

Very informative. Thanks!

This is great information! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Lisa in Connecticut

Some good tips here !.. good vid, man !

Thanks for posting

"I'm not touching the grooves. Please don't come at me" ~ Spit my coffee out, thanks LOL.

Collecting for over 20 years and this is great info which I was not fully aware of!

This was fun, thanks for sharing!

Great info! Thanks!

I have a 1962 recording of Bill Doggett entitled Oops. Columbia label variants red label with black featured six eyes.

I love the 6 eye Columbia logo, that is my favorite Columbia logo

A wealth of knowledge dude this is awesome

Great video! It is very hard to find a 1st pressing of Otis Blue or any Otis Redding for that matter. I actually prefer the reissues on certain Jazz and rock records. I think the sound quality is much better but I also love nostalgia behind owning the first pressings too.

Great video as always.

Good info. Thanks

This was helpful….thanks friend!

Never knew about Popsike until this video, so thanks for that my man. No idea why I never heard of it before as I've used Discogs for years.

Awesome video thank you much

Thank you for this info!

It's been tough identifying alot my haul as they are sealed. It's just one rabbit hole after another of research.

This is excellent advice that I have been using for years. Also use your cellphone to check the sources that he list while in the store. While doing your research some record stores will place a record that you are interested in on hold, some won’t. I have been to some record stores and he is right the owner or worker didn’t know what they had, but some record store owners are incredibly knowledgeable.

Thanks for the info!

Love to read the little messages on the inner dead wax things that say, "ode to a duck" or a "duck is as good as a nudge, Steely Dan albums, Outlaw albums were notorious for these tidbits, I'm 70+, 45's and albums that I bought in 60's and 70's are still in my cabinet, have a 45 I bought that has John Forgety singing and playing on it before CCR thanks for the infro.

Some really great tips here. It can be quite a minefield record collecting and looking for original pressing etc...

This is crazy I was just searching for a better explanation on this. Dope!

Great video! Thank you so much!

In norway there is a site called norsike that is dedicated just to norwegian records. I can imagine there might be similar sites in other countries as well? Sometimes I can find things there that are not on discogs or popsike.

Thank you for the video your a world of knowledge. All on top of it.

Really useful video, thanks Dylan.

Awesome video, man!

Hey Dillon, longtime viewer, lover of oldschool rock n roll like you. You've inspired me to become part of the vinyl community. Bought my first suitcase turntable and a few records today. Excited to be a part of the community!!! Hope to checkout Noble Records someday. Let me know if you can ship to Wisconsin.

I also have the album of The Chambers Brothers A New Time A New Day which has the "360" stereo with two eyes.

sweet job !! nice information and knowledge sharing! Nice turn on for many folks who do need it! .......and it was free!! I think a SLANG term video would help out also! LOL, you mention the 1st Press with Bar Code from sellers with a smile......that would burn me up!

Thank you i have over a 1000 vinyls im going through of my late fathers everything from jazz classical rock etc etc and my mind is boggled tbh beatles albums and im using the like tp 230 numbers for example to define i will now look at what u have said and see if its easier for me so thank you x

Very Interesting! Thank you. Great tips. Fascinating! I see a lot of YT videos going out from you on this. I love your examples. Love the details. Can you show some more examples on the UK pressings and different countries? And the some of the interesting variations of one album? Can you do some more on different factories? Things like that. Can you do some more on how to spot bootlegs and counterfeits?

very good info..

Thank you for this! I appreciate your knowledge very much and I learn useful information about vinyl which I have been buying since the mid1960's (First album purchased was either Waiting for the Sun by the Doors or Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel, I just can't recall which came first.) I am creating an account on Discogs and I am interested to learn if in any of these 100's of albums there are any gems. Keepin' the faith...

I had the pink Floyd animals pink vinyl pressing in 77. I gave it to a young girl from Poland, it was another world..

Helpfull as usual 👍

Finally the vid we needed

I have The Moody Blues "A Question of Balance" Test Pressing with XZAL 100 : 02 in the Deadwax. The label is white with Moody Blues A Question of Balance written in blue ballpoint pen.

i found a white label /promo of Rotary Connections debut;in a paper sleeve (eg printed but not backed on card or laminated) it looked brand new;but on checking the number on the run out it was a first uk press! 2 pounds well spent

I know you did this video a while back now, but it's helped me alot today. I've literally just started getting into records since my work place said we could start listing them on our ebay and the info they provided started a new interest for me (i'm Autistic, it happens 😂) My main interests are Vintage Disney and movie soundtracks - but man, i've found it hard to distinguish which versions are which. This video helped so much and from now on i'll take my time and research the matrix number in the dead wax (which still, is hard when alot of ebay sellers dont provide it in their listings 😂😂😂)

just came across sgt peppers the lonely heart club original and first print it was stashed in the cellar at grannys. and yes i did a fair amount of reading before i ended up here. nice like 3gs thanks for info as well

Dillion, we also have the same issues in the digital world. You have the first generation of CD'S that came out that are AAD. Then there is the Remastered Version, the Vinyl Rip version, the Japanese release, the release with the bonus tracks, then my favorite the SACD version. It just goes on and on, whoever said building your own library was easy has no idea.

I had a 1976 Antilles pressing of Nick's first album. I wish I hadn't sold it -- it was special!

several vinyl lovers are talking about this record company Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab - MFSL. they are known for pressing vinyl records from original master recordings

That Nick Drake record! I want it! I've been so frustrated looking for Nick Drake. I want these albums to listen to. It seems so many want them for collector value that the prices are crazy high.

When I finally cataloged my 45s I came across one Buddy Holly that's a 'Gloversville' pressing. Gloversville? Research turned up that it was pressed in a plant about an hour from my house in a plant that was operative until around '06 that I didn't know existed. Since then I've driven to see the building. Offices now, but vibes, for sure. I found Let it Be at a yard sale, $5. Sounded shite. Turned out a counterfeit. Found the Cure's Three Imaginary Boys in Vermont. Bought it for $50. Turned out to be the $150 pressing. Never selling it, but nice to know. All on Discogs. Vinyl i.d. is fun stuff.

Great video Dylan, cheers. I'm a bit obsessed with the Sex Pistols pressing at the minute, mainly NMTB. It's surprising how much focus, and value comes from those with mis-spelled labels, and mis-credited tracks, where actually the really rare copies are those with the correct labels. NMTB is a minefield in itself! :-o

I remember having an Elvis Moody Blue album in the early 80's that was pressed in translucent blue. I thought it was cool, but now everyone is doing it.

Yeah this was really helpful to me 😊