Sadly, and perhaps like a lot of people born prior to the last quarter of the twentieth century, I sold most of my record collection in the 1990s, not long after the compact disc became the standard currency of recorded music. Happily, I had enough good sense to hold onto a select few treasures; some because they hadn't yet made it onto the new digital format at the time, some merely because I'd grown too attached to them to part ways. Nevertheless, my lovingly maintained, mostly mint collection was depleted by some seventy-five to eighty percent before the turn of the millennium.
A decade or so later, in part because of a wistful yearning for the look and feel of an album cover in my hands while its companion 12-inch vinyl disc rotated on a nearby turntable in the comfort of my home, I began re-buying a few lost gems now and then at flea markets, secondhand shops, used record stores, and online auction sites. Along the way I also picked up some classics -- as well as a few quirk-satisfying oddities -- that I hadn't gotten around to acquiring the first time around. Additionally, when we moved my mother to an assisted living community in 2009, I adopted her and my late father's modest but diverse (and long dormant) record collection (there was no room for their circa 1968 hi-fi console in her new apartment -- I now wish I'd adopted that, too), which included artists ranging from Glen Campbell to The 5th Dimension to Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass to the Lemon Pipers. Mom did her best to stay hip, well into her thirties. In recent years, my younger son has also become a collector of vintage vinyl, and his collection is merged with mine.
On display below* is a cross-section of my collection as it exists today. There are no new 180 gram LPs, the kind associated with the hipster-generated vinyl quasi-renaissance of the 2010s. In fact, nothing you'll see here was released later than 1991. All are first or early pressings in their original incarnations (rare exceptions are noted), and no less importantly, with their original covers. (Full disclosure: I do own the Giles Martin-remixed 50th anniversary edition Beatles LPs, which were sourced from the original analog tapes.)
No longer a mere sampling of past glory, the collection is again robust and thriving -- enough to evoke memories of how much of a pain these things can be to store.
*See also here, here, and here.
No longer a mere sampling of past glory, the collection is again robust and thriving -- enough to evoke memories of how much of a pain these things can be to store.
*See also here, here, and here.
Chuck Berry
Chess 1961
Here's Little Richard
Little Richard
Specialty 1957
RCA Victor 1956
(Son AJ's)
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan
CBS (France) 1965
With gatefold sleeve.
Below: US first pressing, mono
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles
Above:
Parlophone (UK) 1967; 1st pressing, mono
With flipback inside gatefold, original insert and inner sleeve.
Below:
Capitol (US) 1967; early pressing, mono
With original insert and inner sleeve.
Cover and insert designed by Peter Blake and Jann Haworth; photographed by Michael Cooper: art-directed by Robert Fraser; inner sleeve designed by The Fool.
Forever Changes
Love
Elektra 1967
I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
Aretha Franklin
Atlantic 1967
In original shrink wrap.
Sly and the Family Stone
Epic 1969
Saint Dominic's Preview
Van Morrison
Warner Bros. 1972
With insert.
The Band
Capitol 1971
Cover art by Gilbert Stone.
The Allman Brothers Band
Capricorn 1973
With insert.
With insert.
Marvin Gaye
Tamla 1971
The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Joni Mitchell
Asylum 1975
Carole King
Ode 1971
The Sex Pistols
Warner Brothers, Virgin 1977
In original shrink wrap with original inner sleeve.
(Son AJ's)
The Clash
Epic 1980
2-LP set, inner sleeves with lyrics.
Cover photo by Pennie Smith.
Below: cover with warning sticker.
Ramones
Sire 1977
Physical Graffiti
Led Zeppelin
Swan Song 1975
Two-LP set with inner sleeves and die cut jacket.
Stevie Wonder
Tamla 1976
Gatefold, two-LP set, 7" EP, and book.
True Stories
Talking Heads
Sire 1986
In original shrink wrap with hype stickers.
R.E.M.
I.R.S. 1987
Son AJ's
The Go-Go's
I.R.S. 1982
Pointer Sisters
Planet 1982
This is an RCA reissue, released after RCA took over distribution of Planet Records later in 1982.
Elvis Costello
Columbia 1983
Hüsker Dü
SST 1985
By the Light of the Moon
Los Lobos
Slash/Warner Brothers 1987
The Mekons
A&M - Twin/Tone 1989
The Replacements
Sire 1987
G.I. Blues
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor 1960
Elvis
RCA Victor 1956
1st pressing mono.
Loving You
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor 1957
1st pressing mono.
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley
Chess 1958
After School Session With Chuck Berry
Chess 1957
Cadence 1958
(Son AJ's)
Cadence 1960
Bill Haley and His Comets
Decca 1955
Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps
Capitol 1956
Canadian issue.
Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps
Capitol 1958
(Son AJ's)
Eddie Cochran
Liberty 1960
(Son AJ's)
Sun 1961
(Son AJ's)
Imperial 1956
Cover art by (?) Grayson.
Imperial 1956
This Is Fats
Fats Domino
Imperial 1957
The Exciting Lloyd Price
ABC-Paramount 1959
Ritchie Valens
Del-Fi 1959
Original, with misprint on back cover ("I Got a Gal Named Sue" instead of "That's My Little Suzie").
The Buddy Holly Story
Buddy Holly and the Crickets
Coral 1959
With original inner sleeve.
Jerry Lee Lewis
Sun 1958
Epic 1960
(Son AJ's)
Johnny Cash With His Hot and Blue Guitar
Sun 1957
Monument 1961
Wanda Jackson
Capitol 1958
Roulette 1959
Please Please Please
James Brown and His Famous Flames
King 1964
This is a reissue (with a different cover) of Brown's 1958 debut LP.
Below: Back cover (1st version of '64 reissue).
The Johnny Burnette Story
Liberty 1964
(Son AJ's)
Baby Workout
Jackie Wilson
Brunswick 1963
Don't Play That Song!
Ben E. King
ATCO 1962
Dynamite!
Ike & Tina Turner
Sue 1962
Atlantic 1957
Ray Charles
Atlantic 1959
Mothership Connection
Parliament
Casablanca 1975
1999
Prince
Warner Bros. 1982
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
David Bowie
RCA Victor 1972
(Son AJ's)
Quadrophenia
The Who
MCA 1973
Two-LP gatefold with book insert.
Elton John
MCA 1973
2-LP gatefold.
Jackson Browne
Elektra 1974
Design and front cover photo by Bob Seidemann.
Photo inspired by René Magritte's painting, L'Empire de Lumières (below).
Anticipation
Carly Simon
Elektra 1971
Okie
J. J. Cale
Shelter 1974
Cover art by Richard Germinaro.
John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band
Apple 1970
Al Kooper with Shuggie Otis
Columbia 1969
(Son AJ's)
Columbia 1969
Gatefold, 2-LP set.
Fleetwood Mac
Reprise 1969
First issue, without "Oh Well."
Cover art by Maxwell Armfield.
Procol Harum
A&M 1969
King Crimson
Atlantic 1969
(Son AJ's)
Traffic
United Artists 1970
Badfinger
Apple 1970
Rod Stewart
Mercury 1970
Below: UK pressing on Vertigo.
(Son AJ's)
Faces
Warner Bros. 1971
(Son AJ's)
Below: poster insert.
Isaac Hayes
Enterprise 1971
2-LP multi-gatefold sleeve.
Darkness on the Edge of Town
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia 1978
With lyric sheet and inner sleeve.
Patti Smith Group
Arista 1978
With lyric sheet.
Talking Heads
Sire 1978
Cover art by Jimmy De Sana.
Manifesto
Roxy Music
E.G./Polydor/ATCO 1979
Ry Cooder
Warner Brothers 1979
In original shrink wrap with price sticker.
Warren Zevon
Asylum 1979
Kansas
Kirshner 1975
Cover art by Giuseppe Arcimboldo.
Epic 1976
In original shrink wrap with hype stickers.
Queen
Elektra 1977
Artwork by Kelly Freas, the front cover being a reboot of his painting for a pulp magazine cover from 24 years earlier.
The Cars
Elektra 1978
Blondie
Chrysalis 1978
2nd pressing, with "Disco Version" of "Heart of Glass," no bar code.
The Eagles
Asylum 1976
In shrink wrap with hype sticker.
Linda Ronstadt
Asylum 1977
Night Moves
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
Capitol 1976
The Stranger
Billy Joel
Columbia 1977
New York Dolls in Too Much Too Soon
New York Dolls
Mercury 1974
Electric Light Orchestra
United Artists 1975
Robin Trower
Chrysalis 1976
Cover art by "Funky" Paul Olsen.
Marvin Gaye
Tamla 1976
Cover art: "Sugar Shack" by Ernie Barnes. Originally created in 1971, Barnes altered the banners in the painting specifically for the album cover.
The Beatles / 1967-1970 ("The Blue Album")
Apple 1973
Two 2-LP sets with gatefold covers, released on the same day (April 2).
(Red: son AJ's)
Complete and Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
Otis Redding
Volt 1966
J.J. Jackson
Calla 1967
Soul Men
Sam & Dave
Stax 1967
The Young-Holt Unlimited
Brunswick 1968
Petula Clark
Warner Brothers 1966
The Association
Warner Brothers 1967
The Supremes
Motown 1964
Dionne Warwick
Scepter 1965
Moods of Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Tamla 1966
Nancy Sinatra
Reprise 1966
Sonny & Cher
ATCO 65
Gordy 1967
Atlantic 1968
In original shrink wrap with hype sticker.
Percy Sledge
Atlantic 1968
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
A&M 1970
Mercury 1967
Status Quo
Cadet-Concept 1968
(Son AJ's)
Big Brother and the Holding Company
Columbia 1968
Cover art by Robert Crumb.
Let It Bleed
The Rolling Stones
London 1969
With inner sleeve and poster insert.
Decca (UK) 1969
1970 pressing.
(Son AJ's)
Leon Russell
Shelter 1970
(Son AJ's)
Are You Experienced?
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Reprise 1967
Early pressing with tri-color label.
(Son AJ's)
Verve 1967
Cover art by Andy Warhol.
Above is a third state pressing, with partially peeled banana sticker.
(Son AJ's)
Below: 1972 reissue, with printed, non-peelable banana.
The Beach Boys
Capitol 1966
1st mono pressing, Scranton, PA plant.
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1962
1st pressing matrices stamped in runout grooves (XSM-55621-1E / XSM-55622-1C),
later pressing label ("2-eye"). The earliest pressings of Bob Dylan bear "6-eye" labels.
At Folsom Prison
Johnny Cash
Columbia 1968
The NEW Favorites of George Jones
George Jones
United Artists 1962
Marty Robbins
Columbia 1959
Goodbye Jumbo
World Party
Chrysalis/Ensign 1990
(Son AJ's)
The Pogues
Island 1989
MCA-Curb 1989
(Son AJ's)
'Til Tuesday
Epic 1986
Prince and the Revolution
Warner Brothers 1984
With poster insert.
Crowded House
Capitol 1986
Joe Jackson
A&M 1986
Two-LP set with insert.
Learning to Crawl
The Pretenders
Sire 1984
Warner Brothers / Slash (Netherlands) 1982
Released in the U.S. in 1981.
Al Green Explores Your Mind
Al Green
Hi 1974
In original shrink wrap with hype sticker.
The Staple Singers
Stax 1973
In original shrink wrap with hype sticker.
The Friends of Distinction
RCA Victor 1970
In original shrink wrap.
Pink Floyd
Harvest 1971
(Son AJ's)
Led Zeppelin
Atlantic 1971
With hype sticker.
(Son AJ's)
The Edgar Winter Group
Epic 1972
ZZ Top
London 1975
Blow by Blow
Jeff Beck
Epic 1975
Bo Diddley
Chess 1972
Cover art by Doug Johnson.
...What That Is!
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Philips 1969
LLLLLOCO-MOTION
Little Eva
Dimension 1962
The Chiffons
Laurie 1963
(Son AJ's)
Rosie Hamlin
Brunswick 1961
The Marvelettes
Tamla 1962
Cover design by Louyce Wakefield and Barni Wright.
The Shirelles
Scepter 1961
My Boyfriend's Back
The Angels
Smash 1963
The Crystals
Philles 1963
Signed by lead singer Dolores "La La" Brooks.
Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica
The Ronettes
Philles 1964
"Leader of the Pack"
The Shangri-Las
Red Bird 1965
The Chiffons
Laurie 1966
The Toys
DynoVoice 1966
Dusty Springfield
Philips 1964
Shindig!
various artists, including Fats Domino, The Impressions, Tommy Roe
ABC-Paramount 1964
Cover art by Bob Bentovoja.
Dance With Dick Clark
The Keymen
ABC-Paramount 1958
various artists
End 1962
This is a late '60s Roulette pressing.
Good Evening
Marshall Crenshaw
Warner Brothers 1989
Sealed in original shrink wrap.
Warner Brothers 1986
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Eurythmics
RCA 1983
Diamond Life
Sade
Portrait 1985
Fables of the Reconstruction
R.E.M.
I.R.S. 1985
Combat Rock
The Clash
Epic 1982
Original custom label, inner sleeve with printed lyrics.
Bring the Family
John Hiatt
A&M 1987
In original shrink wrap, with hype sticker.
Greatest Hits
Steely Dan
ABC 1978
Firefall
Atlantic 1976
In original shrink wrap with hype sticker.
Silk Degrees
Boz Scaggs
Columbia 1976
Hermit of Mink Hollow
Todd Rundgren
Bearsville 1978
Venus and Mars
Paul McCartney and Wings
Capitol 1975
With inserts.
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
Elton John
MCA 1975
With inserts.
Artwork by Alan Aldridge.
Tupelo Honey
Van Morrison
Warner Bros. 1971
With poster insert.
The World Is a Ghetto
War
United Artists 1972
Green River
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fantasy 1969
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
Reprise 1969
The Kinks
Reprise 1970
First pressing, with "Manufactured by Bethevin Productions, Ltd." on label.
Karussell (Spain) 1972
(Son AJ's)
Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits
Alice Cooper
Warner Brothers 1974
Cover art by Drew Struzan and Bill Garland; Ernie Cefalu, creative director.
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1978
(Son AJ's)
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1979
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Backstreet 1981
The Best
Billy Preston
A&M 1982
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Radar (UK) 1979
With bonus EP and inserts.
Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & the Attractions
Columbia (US) 1979
With bonus EP.
In shrink wrap with hype stickers.
Repeat When Necessary
Dave Edmunds
Swan Song 1979
That's the Way of the World
Earth, Wind & Fire
Columbia 1975
The Three Degrees
Philadelphia International 1973
Watchout!
Martha & the Vandellas
Gordy 1966
The Supremes A' Go-Go
The Supremes
Motown 1966
In original shrink wrap with price code sticker.
Motown 1964
Betty Everett
Uni 1969
Under the Boardwalk
The Drifters
Atlantic 1964
The Clovers
Atlantic 1960
The Never Ending Impressions
The Impressions
ABC-Paramount 1964
Shout!
The Isley Brothers
RCA Victor 1959
Tamla 1961
Singin' and Swingin'
Hank Ballard and the Midnighters
King 1959
This is an early '60s pressing. Later issues have "The Twist" printed three times in block letters down the right side of the cover, below the title.
James Brown
King 1963
*The album's title as it appears on the spine of the jacket.
Arthur Alexander
Dot 1962
Gene McDaniels
Liberty 1961
Chuck Jackson
Wand 1962
Garnet Mimms and the Enchanters
United Artists 1963
Gene Chandler
Vee-Jay 1962
Son AJ's
Lover Please!
Clyde McPhatter
Mercury 1962
The Routers
Warner Brothers 1963
With hype sticker.
Below: mono pressing
Surfin' Bird
The Trashmen
Garrett 1964
(Son AJ's)
Amy 1965
The Beatles
Capitol (Canada) 1964
The Beatles
Parlophone (UK) 1966
Second pressing, circa 1968, with flipback cover.
The Young Rascals
Atlantic 1966
The Dave Clark Five
Epic 1964
MGM 1964
(Son AJ's)
Them
Parrot 1965
Having a Rave Up with the Yardbirds
Epic 1965
The Byrds
Columbia 1965
The Rolling Stones
Hörzu (Germany) 1965 (3rd pressing, 1966-68)
(Son AJ's)
Buffalo Springfield
ATCO 1966
1967 re-press with "For What It's Worth" as leadoff track.
Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton
John Mayall & the Blues Breakers
London 1966
Morrison Hotel
The Doors
Elektra 1970
Columbia 1967
With photo book insert.
The Shadows of Knight
Dunwich 1966
(Son AJ's)
Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.
Simon & Garfunkel
Columbia 1964
The Beatles
Parlophone (Australia) 1965
This is a 1978 reissue.
Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)
The Beach Boys
Capitol 1965
Supertramp
A&M 1979
With custom inner sleeve.
Tonight
David Bowie
EMI America 1984
A Sense of Wonder
Van Morrison
Mercury 1985
Lyle Lovett
Curb 1987
Absolute Torch and Twang
k.d. lang and the Reclines
Sire 1989
Lifes Rich Pageant
R.E.M.
I.R.S. 1986
Warner Brothers 1982
Abraxas
Santana
Columbia 1970
With poster.
Malo
Warner Brothers 1972
Cover art by Jesús Helguera.
Innervisions
Stevie Wonder
Tamla 1973
There Goes Rhymin' Simon
Paul Simon
Columbia 1973
Living in the Material World
George Harrison
Apple 1973
With insert.
Faces
Warner Brothers 1973
Die cut gatefold cover with poster/lyric sheet insert.
Cover designed by Jim Ladwig.
Goats Head Soup
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stone Records 1973
(This is a 1977 reissue.)
Cover photography by David Bailey.
With insert.
The Isley Brothers
T-Neck 1973
On the Beach
Neil Young
Reprise 1974
Below: On the Beach trade publication ad.
Tonight's the Night
Neil Young
Reprise 1975
Early pressing, black label, with insert.
The Basement Tapes
Bob Dylan and the Band
Columbia 1975
Two-LP set.
Before the Flood
Bob Dylan and The Band
Asylum 1974
In shrink with hype sticker.
(Son AJ's)
The River
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia 1980
Two-LP set, with insert and inner sleeves.
Best of Leon
Leon Russell
Shelter 1976
With insert.
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Warner Brothers 1977
With insert.
Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis Wilson
Caribou 1977
The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl
The Beatles
Capitol 1977
The Best of Spinners
The Spinners
Atlantic 1978
Cover art by David Willardson.
"Mr. Personality" Sings the Blues
Lloyd Price
ABC-Paramount 1960
Rock 'n Roll Stage Show
Bill Haley and His Comets
Decca 1956
Checker 1960
Johnny Burnette Sings
Liberty 1961
Roy Orbison
Monument 1962
Body and Soul
Jackie Wilson
Brunswick 1962
Music Ala Carte
The Crew-Cuts
Mercury 1956
The Crew-Cuts
Mercury 1957
This is the second 12" LP reissue of their 1954 10" record of the same name.
The Platters
The Platters
Mercury 1956
Calico 1959
The Flamingos
End 1959
Chet Atkins' Teensville
Chet Atkins
Rca Victor 1960
End 1959 (1962 re-press)
Dion
Laurie 1961
Ricky
Ricky Nelson
Imperial 1957
The Young Frankie Avalon
Chancellor 1959
Annette on Campus
Annette Funicello with the Wellingtons and The All American Chorus
Buena Vista 1964
Only Love Can Break a Heart
Gene Pitney
Musicor 1962
Pat's Great Hits
Pat Boone
Dot 1957
Edd Byrnes (with Connie Stevens and Joanie Sommers)
Warner Brothers 1959
Paul Anka Sings His Big Big Big 15, Vol. 3
ABC-Paramount 1962
Bobby Vee
Liberty 1961
Swan 1960
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1964
With Insert.
(Son AJ's)
Give 'Em Enough Rope
The Clash
Epic 1978
Sire 1976
With original inner sleeve.
(Son AJ's)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Atlantic 1970
Green Onions
Booker T. & the M.G.s
Stax 1962
Volt 1965
Wilson Pickett
Atlantic 1968
Cold Sweat
James Brown
King 1967
I Wish I Knew
Solomon Burke
Atlantic 1968
Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul
Ray Charles
ABC-Paramount 1963
Deep Purple
Nino Tempo & April Stevens
ATCO 1963
Peter, Paul and Mary
Warner Brothers 1967
Exile on Main St.
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stones 1972
With inserts.
Above: circa 1974 pressing; Artisan master, Monarch pressing plant, Shorepak "unipack" sleeve.
Below: 1972 first pressing; Artisan master, Monarch pressing plant, Shorepak "unipack" sleeve.
Below: promotional flexi disc (UK).
Live! The World of Ike & Tina
Ike & Tina Turner
United Artists 1973
Two-LP set with gatefold sleeve.
Cover art by Doug Johnson.
From Elvis in Memphis
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor 1969
In original shrink wrap.
Glen Campbell
Capitol 1967
In original shrink wrap.
After the Gold Rush
Neil Young
Reprise 1970
1978 reissue, with lyric sheet.
Below: 2nd cutting (1972), with "Re-2" in dead wax.
Creedence Gold
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fantasy 1972
Going to a Go-Go
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Tamla 1965
Make It Happen
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
Tamla 1967
(Reissued as The Tears of a Clown in 1970)
Psychedelic Shack
The Temptations
Gordy 1970
The Beatles ("The White Album")
The Beatles
Apple 1968
Two-LP set with gatefold sleeve.
With inserts.
Below: French pressing; top load, "flipback" inside gatefold, black inner sleeves, debossed serial number.
Below: original UK top loading gatefold sleeve with "flipback" inside.
Infidels
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1983
(Son AJ's)
Avalon Sunset
Van Morrison
Mercury 1989
In original shrink wrap with price & hype stickers.
This Is Tom Jones
Parrot 1969
Elvis Presley Sings Leiber & Stoller
RCA International (UK) 1980
The Chantays
Dot 1963
Originally released on Downey in 1963.
Santo & Johnny
Santo & Johnny
Canadian-American 1959
Let's Have a Party
The Rivieras
USA 1964
Jimmy Jones
MGM 1960
The Tymes
Parkway 1963
Rag Doll
The Four Seasons
Philips 1964
Born to Run
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia 1975
Above: a mid-'80s pressing, which actually sounds
brighter and less muddy than most earlier pressings.
Below: 1970s pressing.
Havin' a Party With Southside Johnny
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
Epic 1979
Call Me
Al Green
Hi 1973
33 1/3 rpm "little album" (made for jukeboxes), with title strips.
Call Me
Al Green
Hi 1973
LP
Rags to Rufus
Rufus, Featuring Chaka Khan
ABC 1974
Little Richard
Reprise 1970
Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)
The Rolling Stones
London 1969
December's Children
The Rolling Stones
London 1965
With hype sticker advertising their hit single "Get Off of My Cloud."
Sandinista!
The Clash
Epic 1980
Three-LP set, with insert.
Trust
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Columbia 1981
In original shrink wrap.
Below: original promo poster, designed by Paula Scher.
R.E.M.
I.R.S. 1984
Marshall Crenshaw
Warner Brothers 1985
Van Morrison
Warner Brothers 1974
Time Fades Away
Neil Young
Reprise 1973
With lyric sheet/poster insert.
The Beatles
Parlophone (UK) 1966 (mono, 2nd pressing, 1966-69)
Cover art by Klaus Voormann.
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles
Capitol (U.S.) 1967
Capitol green label pressing, 1969.
Below: West German Odeon Hörzu pressing.
Sentimental Journey
Ringo Starr
Apple 1970
Rose Garden
Lynn Anderson
Columbia 1970
D-I-V-O-R-C-E
Tammy Wynette
Epic 1968
Roll Out the Red Carpet for Buck Owens and His Buckaroos
Buck Owens and His Buckaroos
Capitol 1966
Roy Clark Sings Lonesome Love Ballads
Roy Clark
Capitol 1966
Another Place Another Time
Jerry Lee Lewis
Smash 1968
Together Again
Ray Charles
ABC-Paramount 1965
Here's Brenda Lee
Vocalion 1967
Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie
Jay & the Techniques
Smash 1967
I Heard It Through the Grapevine!
Marvin Gaye
Tamla 1968
In the Groove was reissued as Grapevine after Gaye's recording of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" became a hit. Gaye's version (both the Miracles and Gladys Knight & the Pips recorded the song at around the same time as Marvin), released as a single on October 30, 1968, would become Motown's biggest selling single up to that time.
(Son AJ's)
Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
MGM 1965
The Orlons
Cameo 1963
Rufus Thomas
Stax 1963
The Impressions
ABC-Paramount 1964
The Fabulous Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Columbia 1958
Decca 1957
Heartbreak U.S.A.
Kitty Wells
Decca 1961
Patsy Cline with the Jordanaires
Decca 1963
Posthumous reissue of the 1961 Cline release Showcase (which had a different cover, with no mention of the Jordanaires).
Right or Wrong
Wanda Jackson
Capitol 1961
Imagine
John Lennon
Apple 1971
Honky Château
Elton John
Uni 1972
Bare Trees
Fleetwood Mac
Reprise 1972
Billion Dollar Babies
Alice Cooper
Warner Brothers 1973
With insert, inner sleeve.
Paradise and Lunch
Ry Cooder
Reprise 1974 (1976 pressing)
Love You
The Beach Boys
Brother/Reprise 1977
This Year's Model
Elvis Costello
Radar (UK) 1978
With inner sleeve.
Damn the Torpedoes
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Backstreet 1979
Squeezing Out Sparks
Graham Parker & the Rumour
Arista 1979
Black and Blue
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stones 1976
Cover photo by Hiro.
With custom inner sleeve.
Chuck Berry in London
Chuck Berry
Chess 1965
Fresh Berry's
Chuck Berry
Chess 1965
Soul '69
Aretha Franklin
Atlantic 1969
Turn Back the Hands of Time
Tyrone Davis
Dakar 1970
The Delfonics
Philly Groove 1970
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1967
Cover photo by Rowland Scherman.
With poster by Milton Glaser.
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits, Vol. II
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1971
Greatest Hits
Bob Dylan
CBS (UK) 1967
With flipback cover.
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits
Bob Dylan
CBS (Netherlands) 1967
Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits 2
Bob Dylan
CBS (Netherlands) 1967
Bob Dylan
CBS (New Zealand) 1978
Three-LP set, trifold sleeve.
(Son AJ's)
CBS/Sony/Jigu (South Korea) 1978
Decca 1966
The Rolling Stones
London 1968
Early pressing, with "All songs written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards" printed on label.
Below: 1986 digitally remastered reissue with originally intended cover.
Them
Decca 1965
1969-early '70s pressing, boxed Decca logo on label, "Laminated with Clarifoll" cover.
Below: 1968-69 pressing, unboxed logo, "Clarifoll" cover.
The Unbeatable James Brown - 16 Hits
James Brown and the Famous Flames
King 1964
Reissue (with a different cover of Brown's Try Me! LP (1959).
Ike & Tina Turner
A&M 1969
In original shrink wrap, with George Harrison quote hype sticker.
Green Tambourine
The Lemon Pipers
Buddah 1968
Help Yourself
Tom Jones
Parrot 1968
Roxy Music
E.G./Polydor 1982
The Night I Fell in Love
Luther Vandross
Epic 1985
I Won't Be Home No More
(Volume 8 of the Definitive Hank Williams Series)
Hank Williams
Polydor 1987
Two-LP set.
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
Van Morrison
Mercury 1986
In original shrink wrap, with inner sleeve.
Poetic Champions Compose
Van Morrison
Mercury 1987
With original inner sleeve.
John Hiatt
A&M 1988
In original shrink wrap, with inner sleeve.
(Son AJ's)
Twistin' Round the World
Chubby Checker
Parkway 1962
Bo Diddley
Checker 1960
$1,000,000.00 Worth of Twang
Duane Eddy, His "Twangy" Guitar & the Rebels
Jamie 1960
Del Shannon
Bigtop 1961
(Son AJ's)
Greatest Hits!
The Kinks
Reprise 1966
Well Respected Kinks
The Kinks
Marble Arch (UK) 1966
Yardbirds (a.k.a. Roger the Engineer)
The Yardbirds
Columbia (UK) 1966
This is a 1969 re-press.
Over Under Sideways Down
The Yardbirds
Epic 1966
U.S. iteration of Roger the Engineer.
Out of Our Heads
The Rolling Stones
London 1965
Mono pressing.
The Drifters' Greatest Hits
The Drifters
Atlantic 1960
1962 pressing.
The Very Best of the Drifters: Up on the Roof
The Drifters
Atlantic 1963
The Drifters' Golden Hits
The Drifters
Atlantic 1968 (1974 pressing)
ABC-Paramount 1961
This is a 1962-66 pressing.
(Son AJ's)
Ray Charles
Atlantic 1958
Original cover, black label pressing. Cover was changed for 1964 re-press.
Cooke's Tour
Sam Cooke
RCA Victor 1960
In Dreams
Roy Orbison
Monument 1963
The Very Best of Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Monument 1966
Cover signed on reverse by Roy Orbison.
Mystery Girl
Roy Orbison
Virgin 1989
Nebraska
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia 1982
With inner sleeve.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse
Reprise 1981
Songs of the North and South
Frank Luther and Zora Layman
Decca 1954
Boy
U2
Island (UK) 1980
Led Zeppelin II
Led Zeppelin
Atlantic 1969
This is an early re-pressing of LZII; the re-pressings were ordered by Atlantic Records founder and president Ahmet Ertegun, because he believed the original mix to be faulty. According to legendary mastering engineer Robert Ludwig, Ertegun did this because his daughter's copy of a first pressing--mastered by Ludwig--caused the needle to skip on her "really cheap" turntable, due to the loud bass signal in Ludwig's "hot mix" (though I can find no evidence that Ertegun had any children). At any rate, the copy pictured above is a re-pressed version with the bass signal reduced. Below is a Ludwig "hot mix," with his initials etched in the runout dead wax.
White Light / White Heat
Led Zeppelin
Atlantic 1969
This is an early re-pressing of LZII; the re-pressings were ordered by Atlantic Records founder and president Ahmet Ertegun, because he believed the original mix to be faulty. According to legendary mastering engineer Robert Ludwig, Ertegun did this because his daughter's copy of a first pressing--mastered by Ludwig--caused the needle to skip on her "really cheap" turntable, due to the loud bass signal in Ludwig's "hot mix" (though I can find no evidence that Ertegun had any children). At any rate, the copy pictured above is a re-pressed version with the bass signal reduced. Below is a Ludwig "hot mix," with his initials etched in the runout dead wax.
The Velvet Underground
Verve 1968
(Son AJ's)
Axis: Bold as Love
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Reprise 1968
Truth
Jeff Beck
Epic 1968
The Jeff Beck Group
Epic 1969
Cover art: La Chambre d'Écoute, by René Magritte
(Son AJ's)
Hot Rocks
The Rolling Stones
London 1971
Two-LP set, gatefold cover.
In shrink wrap with hype sticker.
Joni Mitchell
Reprise 1971
Tapestry
Carole King
Ode 1971
Above: Mid-1970s Epic/Ode pressing.
Below: Original Ode pressing with textured, matte sleeve.
No Secrets
Carly Simon
Elektra 1972
Freda Payne
Invictus 1970
Apple 1970
Hits / Greatest & Others
Joan Baez
Vanguard 1973
In shrink wrap.
Wildflowers
Judy Collins
Elektra 1967
Kitty Wells
Decca 1958
Petula Clark
Warner Brothers 1967
Hasten Down the Wind
Linda Ronstadt
Asylum 1976
Reprise 1975
Al Green
Hi 1972
In shrink wrap with stickers.
Bob Dylan at Budokan
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1978
With poster insert.
Live Peace in Toronto
Plastic Ono Band
Apple 1969
In original shrink wrap.
Below: sealed shrink wrapped copy, with 1970 John and Yoko calendar enclosed.
Shaved Fish
John Lennon
Apple 1975
In original shrink wrap with hype sticker.
Band on the Run
Paul McCartney and Wings
Apple (Canada) 1973
In partial shrink wrap with hype sticker, inner sleeve, and poster insert.
Wavelength
Van Morrison
Warner Bros. 1978
With original inner sleeve.
Into the Music
Van Morrison
Warner Bros. 1979
With original inner sleeve.
Elton John
MCA 1974
David Bowie
RCA Victor 1974
(Son AJ's)
Beatles for Sale
The Beatles
Parlophone (UK) 1964 (mono)
Spike
Elvis Costello
Warner Brothers 1989
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
The Cure
Elektra 1987
The Unforgettable Fire
U2
Island 1984
The Blasters
Slash 1983
Greatest Hits
Diana Ross and the Supremes
Motown 1967
With poster insert.
Artwork by Robert Taylor.
Stormsville
Johnny & the Hurricanes
Warwick 1960
Please Please Me
The Beatles
Parlophone 1963 (1969 "type 4" pressing)
Garrod & Lofthouse flipback cover, original sepia inner sleeve.
Let it Be
The Beatles
Apple/United Artists 1970
Original 1970 red apple label.
The Genius Hits the Road
Ray Charles
ABC Paramount 1961
The Temptations
Gordy 1968
Gene Chandler
Mercury 1970
Columbia 1969
In original shrink wrap with hype and price stickers.
The Band
Capitol 1968
(Son AJ's)
Gentle on My Mind
Glen Campbell
Capitol 1967
The Turtles
White Whale (Canada) 1965
(Son AJ's)
Columbia 1964
Above: stereo
Below: mono
Georgy Girl
The Seekers
Capitol 1967
In original shrink wrap.
Sounds of Silence
Simon & Garfunkel
Columbia 1966
Early pressing (with "Tiger Beat" photo on back cover).
Mr. Tambourine Man
The Byrds
Columbia 1965
(Son AJ's)
Aftermath
The Rolling Stones
Decca (UK) 1966
Early '70s pressing.
Between the Buttons
The Rolling Stones
London 1967
Above: two US pressings, one in shrink wrap with hype sticker (son AJ's).
Below: UK version.
(Son AJ's)
The Exciting Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
Atlantic 1966
The Kinks
Reprise 1966
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Fantasy 1969
(Son AJ's)
The Best of Mountain
Mountain
Columbia Windfall 1973
School's Out
Alice Cooper
Warner Brothers 1972
With panties insert.
Endless Summer
The Beach Boys
Capitol 1974
2-LP compilation, gatefold cover, with poster.
Cover art by Keith McConnell.
Struttin' My Stuff
Elvin Bishop
Capricorn 1975
Leon Russell
Shelter 1975
Mott
Mott the Hoople
Columbia 1973
You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic
Ian Hunter
Chrysalis 1979
Epic (US) 1979
In shrink wrap with hype stickers.
Mind Games
John Lennon
Apple 1973
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1963
Early mono pressing of first issue, with "Guaranteed High Fidelity" printed on label.
Below: early stereo pressing with "Stereo '360 Sound'" printed in black type on label.
En Roue Libre
Bob Dylan
CBS (France) 1965
Moving
Peter, Paul and Mary
Warner Brothers 1963
The Kingston Trio
Capitol 1959
Goin' Places
The Kingston Trio
Capitol 1961
New Frontier
The Kingston Trio
Capitol 1962
Warner Brothers 1962
(Son AJ's)
The Dixie Cups
Red Bird 1964
It's Mashed Potato Time
Dee Dee Sharp
Cameo 1962
South Street
The Orlons
Cameo 1963
Del Shannon
Bigtop 1963
(Son AJ's)
Brenda Lee
Decca 1960
various artists
Roulette 1965
The Beatles
Odeon (West Germany) 1965
This is a 1966-69 reissue.
Rubber Soul
The Beatles
Parlophone (UK) 1965 (mono, 2nd pressing, 1966-69)
Rubber Soul
The Beatles
Capitol 1965 (mono)
Blonde on Blonde
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1966
Cover photo by Jerry Schatzberg.
Original inside spread, with photos of Claudia Cardinale and an unknown person whispering into Dylan's ear (both were removed from later US pressings, beginning in 1968).
Below: UK (CBS) pressing, circa 1968-69
Gatefold with Claudia/whisperer photos + original inner sleeves.
Below: French (CBS) pressing and unique inside gatefold.
Below: US gatefold cover, open.
Below: post-Claudia inside gatefold spread with "two-eye" label, circa 1968-69.
How the West was Won
Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, various artists
RCA Victor 1960
With book insert.
Cool Water
Sons of the Pioneers
RCA Victor 1960
1964 pressing.
Cover art by Neil Boyle.
Harmony 1960
Good Old Camp Meeting Songs
The Stanley Brothers
King 1962
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Ray Charles
ABC-Paramount 1962
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Volume Two
Ray Charles
ABC-Paramount 1962
The Rolling Stones
London 1970
Cover photo by David Bailey.
The Doors
Elektra 1970
The Who
Decca 1971
In original shrink wrap.
Badfinger
Apple 1971
Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast
Van Morrison
Mercury 1984
Mary Jean & 9 Others
Marshall Crenshaw
Warner Brothers 1987
Imperial Bedroom
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
F-Beat (UK) 1982
Warner Brothers 1977 (1978-80 pressing)
Neil Young
Reprise 1978
Poco
ABC 1978
Cover art by Phil Hartman.
Carolina Dreams
The Marshall Tucker Band
Capricorn 1977
Outlaws
Arista 1976
Jerry Lee Lewis
Mercury 1973
Promotional copy.
HELP!
The Beatles
Parlophone 1965 (stereo, 1st pressing)
Below: Hörzu (Germany) 1965 (circa 1966 pressing)
Below: circa 1968 pressing.
HELP!
George Martin and His Orchestra
United Artists 1965
Instrumental interpretations of the Beatles' songs from the movie HELP!
Magical Mystery Tour
The Beatles
Capitol 1967 (first pressing)
Unfinished Music No. 2: Life With the Lions
John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Zapple 1969
Wedding Album
John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Apple 1969
With inserts.
McCartney
Paul McCartney
Apple 1970
All Things Must Pass
George Harrison
Apple 1970
3-record set, with poster.
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
IMP (UK) 1984
Be Yourself Tonight
Eurythmics
RCA 1985
Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams
BoDeans
Slash 1986
Tunnel of Love
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia 1987
In original shrink wrap.
Green
R.E.M.
Warner Brothers 1988
Van Morrison
Polydor (UK) 1990
Below: U.S. pressing in original shrink wrap, sealed.
Blood on the Tracks
Bob Dylan
Columbia 1975
Yesterday and Today
The Beatles
Capitol 1966
Top: "Trunk Cover."
Peeled and semi-peeled "Butcher Covers."
Little Richard
Little Richard
Specialty 1958
Mr. "Personality"
Lloyd Price
ABC-Paramount 1959
Chuck Berry
Chess 1960
Bo Diddley in the Spotlight
Bo Diddley
Checker 1960
Bo Diddley & Company
Checker 1962
Elvis' Golden Records
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor 1958
1958 pressing; late 1958 edition of cover (LPM-1707 RE printed on back).
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong
Elvis' Gold Records -- Volume 2
Elvis Presley
RCA Victor 1959
1964-67 mono pressing.
Coral 1958
With original wax paper inner sleeve.
Capitol 1957
The Casual Jesse Belvin
Crown 1959
The Big Bopper
Mercury 1959
(Son AJ's)
Um Um Um Um Um Um: The Best of Major Lance
Major Lance
Okeh 1964
More Greatest Hits
Connie Francis
MGM 1961
Navy Blue
Diane Renay
20th Century Fox 1964
Some Girls
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stone Records 1978
Discontinued outer and inner sleeves, designed by Peter Corriston.
Tattoo You
The Rolling Stones
Rolling Stone Records 1981
Let's Dance
David Bowie
EMI America 1983
Mercury 1973
(Son AJ's)
Down Two Then Left
Boz Scaggs
Columbia 1977
In original shrink wrap with hype sticker.
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder
Tamla 1974
Moondance
Van Morrison
Warner Brothers 1970
Above: Original issue with "W7" logo on green label and "tambourine mix" of "Into the Mystic."
Below: Later "WB" logo on green label, corrected mix of "Into the Mystic."
Let's Stay Together
Al Green
Hi 1972
St. Louis to Liverpool
Chuck Berry
Chess 1964
Here Stands Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Imperial 1957
Fats Domino Swings
Fats Domino
Imperial 1959
Bo Diddley
Checker 1961
Jerry Lee Lewis
Sun 1961
(Son AJ's)
Do You Wanna Dance?
Bobby Freeman
Jubilee 1958
This is a DJ (disc jockey) copy, 1962 pressing.
Dance 'Til Quarter to Three with U.S. Bonds
Gary "U.S." Bonds
Legrand 1961
I'll Try Something New
The Miracles
Tamla 1962 (1964 reissue)
Introducing... the Beatles (mono)
The Beatles
Vee Jay 1964
Authentic 1964 Vee-Jay pressing. (Cover photo is sharp and clear, includes George's shadow; "The Beatles" is above the spindle hole on the labels; the color green is present in rainbow ring on labels; 1/4" interior cover flaps; "A Taste of Honey" type is unbroken on back cover; back cover slick is glossy.)
The Beatles
Vee-Jay 1964
Reissue of Introducing the Beatles.
Something New
The Beatles
Odeon (Germany) (1977 pressing).
Below:
U.S. mono version on Capitol, 1964
U.S. stereo version on Capitol "subsidiary" label, issued in 1968 or early '69.
The Concert for Bangladesh
George Harrison & Friends
Apple 1971
Some Time in New York City
John Lennon & Yoko Ono / Plastic Ono Band
Apple 1972
I'll Cry If I Want To
Lesley Gore
Mercury 1963
Mr. Blue
The Fleetwoods
Dolton 1959
Johnny Tillotson's Best
Johnny Tillotson
Cadence 1961
Promotional copy.
Ruby Baby
Dion
Columbia 1963
Handy Man
Del Shannon
Amy 1964
The Impressions
The Impressions
ABC-Paramount 1963
Hot Buttered Soul
Isaac Hayes
Enterprise 1969
Blooming Hits
Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra
Philips 1967
Whipped Cream & Other Delights
Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass
A&M 1965
South of the Border
Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass
A&M 1964
Reach Out
Burt Bacharach
A&M 1967
Aretha Now
Aretha Franklin
Atlantic 1968
Abbey Road
The Beatles
Apple (UK) 1969
2nd pressing (Sept. '69-Sept. '70).
Cover photo by Iain MacMillan.
Abbey Road
The Beatles
Apple (US) 1969
"Cover #2" (printed on card stock with "Her Majesty" listed on the back cover). West coast pressing.
McLemore Avenue
Booker T. & the M.G.s
Stax 1970
Hey Jude (a.k.a. The Beatles Again)
The Beatles
Apple 1970
Harvest
Neil Young
Reprise 1972
American Stars 'n' Bars
Neil Young
Reprise 1977
