Here is our full explanatory list (in alphabetical order, of course) of the terms that are used on our website with the items being graded as shown when you purchase them.

Acetates:

Acetates are metal discs covered in a waxy lacquer onto which the track or tracks are then "cut" by a lathe.  They are noticeably heavier than ordinary vinyl records and usually have either hand written or typed labels with a very distinctive smell.  Generally only a handful are ever made and sometimes contain unreleased tracks or a unique version(s) of a particular song. Commonly to be found cut on one side only or as a 10" disc cut with a 7" playing area.

Generally better quality than that of vinyl itself as they are closer in generation to the original master tape.  However, the lacquer covering is not as hard wearing as regular vinyl and will not stand up to repeated plays.  The 1990's has seen a decline in their production for promotional purposes with the advent of recordable CD-R's.

Catalog Number:

Almost every commercial release has a unique catalog number.  This can be a combination of both letters and numbers.  Promotional items very often have different catalog numbers to the commercial release and are often easily spotted as the catalog number will be prefixed "PRO", "DJ" or "PR".  There is however no set pattern at all and catalog numbers are rarely issued in sequence for a particular artist.

CD3 or 3" CD:

The smaller 3" CD disc is now mostly only produced in Japan (see Snap-Packs) and is not to be confused with the Minidisc.  A large number of early CD singles were made in this format.  These should play on most CD players without the need for a plastic adaptor.

CD-R or CD Acetates:

Recordable CD's are usually gold or silver in color.  These differ from regular CD discs as the audio information on them is "burned" on in real time rather than "pressed".  This makes them suitable for short production runs, where anything from a single copy to several hundred copies are required.

CD-Video:

A largely obsolete but highly collectable format, briefly popular during the late 1980s.  CD-Videos were produced on 5", 8" or 12" sized discs and can be played on some laserdisc players. 5" CD-Video discs have the advantage of containing audio tracks which can be played on a regular CD player.

Colored Vinyl:

Any color in the spectrum other than black can be classified as colored vinyl.  It can be either a single primary color or a mixture of colors (e.g. "splattered" or "marbled").  Occasionally, vinyl which appears at first glance to be black may well be pressed on a translucent colored vinyl. When held up to a strong light source, the disc will appear either brown or red in color.

Counter Display:

Similar to a display card but has a piece on the reverse which will enable the display to stand upright.  Usually placed around the cash desk area in a record store where it's most likely to attract your attention.

Custom Sleeve:

A picture or title sleeve that is unique to the promotional pressing and is not used for the commercial release.

Cut Out:

A deleted item that has been either saw cut, clipped or drilled by the record company to prevent it from being sold as a full-priced product.

DAT:

Digital Audio Tape.  About half the size of a conventional cassette tape.  Only a few titles were made commercially available on this format in the mid 1980's.  Although no longer considered a domestic format, it is still used widely within the music industry for recording and mastering purposes.

DCC:

Digital Compact Cassette.  Slightly smaller than a conventional cassette tape.  An early competitor to the Minidisc which did not really gain any popularity.

Double Pack:

A set of two CD's or vinyl discs.  The term is usually associated with either promotional double 12" releases that have been issued for DJ purposes only, double 7" single sets or two part CD singles.

Deleted:

An item is termed deleted when it is no longer possible to order new stock direct from the record company.

Die-Cut:

A sleeve with a custom cut area or hole which is usually intended to reveal a picture disc, colored vinyl disc or the label without having to remove it from the sleeve.

Digipak:

A folding cardboard CD sleeve which is glued to a plastic tray that holds the disc.

Display Card or Display Flat:

A picture, title or color display on a card used for promoting an artist or single.  Usually the type of thing that you would see stapled to the wall of your local record store.

DVD (Digital Video Disc):

A CD-sized visual/audio formatted disc.  DVD's are region specific and require a DVD player or other compatible hardware.

DVD-A (DVD Audio):

A CD-sized format which betters the audio experience through DVD technology.  DVD-A needs a DVD-A player or DVD player to which they are not CD player compatible.

Gatefold:

A sleeve that has been folded down the center to create a double pocket which is often abbreviated as either "g/fold" or "g/f".

Gold-Stamped:

A regular or promotional sleeve to which an embossed gold "stamp" has been applied stating that it is either a promotional or advanced copy.  It does not necessarily mean that the actual disc itself is a promotional copy.

Jewel Case:

The transparent outer plastic case of a compact disc which is sometimes manufactured from translucent colored plastic.

Japanese Promo or Not For Sale Items:

These items are marked or stickered with a 3 character reference.  To view some examples, click here.

Limited Edition:

A limited pressing or issue where a strict number of units have been manufactured & distributed with no likelihood of a repressing ever being made once it is sold out.  Differs from a regular issue which is intended to be available for a longer period of time and may be repressed to meet demand and is usually abbreviated as either "ltd" or "ltd edition" and may sometimes be individually numbered.

Matrix Number:

The number or numbers in the run-off groove area of a record or around the center ring on the playing side of a compact disc which identifies a particular pressing from other pressings of the same item.

Maxi-Single:

A European term for an extended play 12" or CD single.

Minidisc:

An increasingly popular digital format that is housed inside a 5cm x 5cm cartridge which is not to be confused with the 3" CD single.

No'd:

Numbered.  Usually refers to the packaging of limited editions.

NTSC:

The video standard for North America & Japan which will not play on PAL systems.

OBI Strip:

The outer paper band around Japanese vinyl LP releases or the strip affixed to Japanese CDs. These strips give Japanese language information concerning the item and are usually decorative and highly attractive.  OBI strips are very rare on Japanese items dating from before the late 1960s.  If an item does not include the OBI strip, it is generally worth less in value because of this unless of course the item is nearly impossible to find in any condition.

O.S.T.:

Original Sound Track which would be that of the soundtrack to a film, play, show or TV program.

PAL:

The video standard for the U.K., Australia & most of Europe and will not play on NTSC systems.

P/S:

A picture sleeve or picture cover which will not necessarily feature a picture of the group.

Picture Insert:

A printed piece of flat paper or card insert that is placed in front of or behind a disc which is  housed inside either a plastic sleeve or jewel case.  In some instances, picture discs sometimes come with a printed backing card with most Japanese 7" vinyl singles having a picture/lyrics insert sheet only rather than a printed pocket sleeve.

Poster Sleeve:

A vinyl record that comes housed in a picture sleeve cover which when unfolded, can be used as a poster.

Press Kit:

As below, but with the addition of either a CD, cassette or vinyl album.

Press Pack or Press Kit:

A combination of printed or photocopied literature (possibly on Record Company headed paper) which is usually accompanied by a promotional photograph and is sent out to the media, newspapers, magazines and the like.  In addition, it contains new release information and/or biography material about an artist or group.  They are sometimes contained in an A4-sized folder and are customized for the artist/release concerned with no set formula or music.

Press Release:

Usually released as a single A4 sheet and sent out with advanced or promotional copies of a release that contains additional information for journalists or urging DJs to feature the item on their playlist.

Promo:

Technically speaking, this is any item that has been produced specifically to be used in promoting an artist or release to the media, DJ's, shops, radio stations, etc.  Any item that has been classified as either promo or promotional will have some distinguishing feature on it that makes it different from any commercially available release.  Promo items commonly contain one of the following phrases: Promotional Use Only, DJ Use Only, Play It Say It Don't Sell It, Not For Sale or Not For Resale.  Not every promo item states that it is a promo or uses any of the above terms.  Some merely use specific catalog numbers or prefix/suffix the catalogue number of the normal commercial issue with either "DJ", "ADV", "PR", "PRO" or just plain "P".

Proof Sleeve:

Basically a test run of a sleeve or other piece of packaging material which will be noticeably different to that of the finished commercial item as they usually retain the printers color keys along the edges and are generally not cut or folded as the finished item would be.

SECAM:

The French video standard which only plays in black & white on PAL video systems.

Shaped Picture Disc or CD:

A disc which is custom cut to whatever shape required with vinyl discs being cut with a 7" or 10" playing area and are usually a collectable limited edition pressing.

Snap-Pack:

A unique form of packaging for Japanese 3" CD singles which is comprised of a 6" x 3" card sleeve folded over a plastic frame which holds the CD.  The frame can be "snapped" down to 3" x 3" size and the sleeve folded around it.

Test Pressing:

A pressing made to test the quality of an item in advance of a longer run or for use as promos prior to finished promo or commercially released product being available.  Some test pressings have studio labels or just plain white labels instead of record company labels.  Some test pressings also have different catalog numbers to domestic releases and are sometimes abbreviated as "T/P".

Uncut Picture Disc:

An item which when commercially released was a shaped disc.  However, for test pressing purposes only, has been left circular in shape with either a clear or colored surround around the actual picture with only a handful of these ever being made.

V/A:

An LP, CD, DVD, VHS or audiocassette tape featuring various artists or groups.  Usually used to promote either a single album or different artists from different albums on to one item.

White Label:

A promotional pressing with a completely blank label denoting that it is promo only.  It may also have unique black on white printed labels with just the artist & title information or simply "A" & "B" symbols.  Some white labels have different catalog numbers to domestic releases.

Wallet Sleeve:

A cardboard pocket into which a CD can be slipped into.