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Grading,
Abbreviations and Terminology
A NOTE ABOUT PROMOTIONAL ITEMS
Basically, a promotional record is any copy of a record not meant for
retail sale. Different labels identify these in different ways: The most
common method on LPs is to use a white label instead of the
regular-color label and/or to add words such as the following:
• “Demonstration — Not for Sale”
• “Audition Record”
• “For Radio-TV Use Only”
• “Promotional Copy”
Some labels, of course, used colors other than white; still others used
the same labels as their stock copies, but added a promotional
disclaimer to the label.
Sometimes, regular stock copies have a “Demonstration — Not for Sale” or
“Promo” gold stamp (or on older records, a rubber stamp on the cover);
these are known as “designate promos” and are not of the same cachet as
true promotional records.
"White Label" or "DJ Promo Labels" indicates that the item has a special
and distinct label to identify it as a promotional pressing. These
pressings were usually the first pressed and were then sent to radio
stations and reviewers to promote the release. As such, the labels took
particular care with their promotional pressings, and often made
extraordinary efforts to ensure they put their best foot forward.
Sometimes this meant using higher grades of vinyl, special handling, or
even replacing the stampers more quickly. But in any case, the special
labels are often much rarer than the regular stock copies and are often
highly prized in the collecting world. In some very rare cases,
promotional pressings may significantly differ from the regular
pressings with the inclusion of songs deleted before the regular run of
records or after the first initial run of copies, irregular artwork,
monophonic pressings, etc. 7 inch vinyl promo singles were usually
issued as M/S (mono/stereo) promos, indicating that one side contained
the track being promoted in mono, with the stereo version on the
reverse. Special promotional artwork can sometimes be on offer as well.
Promotional Posters are
found only on my eBay site
here
These were created solely for use in promoting the items in the retail
outlets. Promo posters often featured the album cover artwork and
alternate graphics, text and photos, and are highly prized as they were
never intended for the consumer market. Printed in extremely small runs,
these items were supposed to be destroyed after their use in a record
store, and in most cases that's exactly what happened. Finding NM or VG+
promotional posters from the 70's and even the 80's is becoming harder
and harder with each passing day, as those that survived have often
spent significant time tacked up in a dorm room and carry significant
wear and damage from inattention or improper storage.
ABBREVIATIONS, GRADING and TERMINOLOGY
Abbreviations:
• 7 = 7 inch
• 12 = 12 inch
• BB HOLE = drill hole in label or jacket
• CC or CUTCORNER or CUTOUT = saw mark or cut corner on cover
• CW = cover wear
• DJ or DJLP = promotional issue - dj labels means special promotional
label different from standard or "stock" pressings
• DJ STAMP = promotional stamp on cover - usually gold colored - see
promo stamp
• DJ TIME STRIP = dj timing strip (12" x 4" white sticker on cover
detailing titles and playing time)
• NOTCHED = saw mark on cover - usually indicates a promo or cutout
• PD = picture disc
• PROMO STAMP =usually gold embossed notice on jacket indicating that
item intended for promotional use
• PS = picture sleeve (for 45's and 12" singles) - paper or cardboard
picture cover, often more valuable than the vinyl itself
• RE = reissue
• SEAM SPLIT - 4 INCH SPLIT etc. = all refer to cover damage
• SL = slight
• SM= small
• STOCK = used to indicate normal commercial issue and not a promotional
copy
• TOC or TOL = tear on cover or tear on label
• WLP = white label promo
• WOC or WOL = writing on cover or writing on label
Grading:
The truth is that most records, especially from before the 1970s,
are not in anything close to Mint or Near Mint condition, which explains
why a collector will pay a premium for such a disc.
For most collectors, Very Good is the lowest grade for which they will
pay more than bargain-bin prices. And some won’t even do that.
Lower-grade records are only good as place holders, until a better copy
comes along, or as examples of truly rare records that are difficult to
find in any condition.
Although many of the newer additions to our database may have been
checked on a turntable, the majority of records were graded visually due
to the sheer volume, as I just don’t have the time to play the entire
stock. That said, some defects are easy to see, such as scratches and
warps. Others are subtle, such as groove wear from using a cheap or
poorly aligned tone arm. It has been our experience that older LPs
(1950s to about 1971) tend to play better than they look, and newer LPs
(at least until 1989) tend to play worse than they look.
Some records will be worthy of a higher grade except for defects such as
writing, tape or minor seam splits, as will usually be mentioned. For
some collectors, they will be irrelevant, but for others, they will be a
deal-breaker.
That said, here are the standard grades for record albums, from best to
worst.
MINT (M) These are absolutely perfect in every way. If
it’s been opened and handled, I’ll very rarely use the Mint designation.
NEAR MINT (NM OR
M-) A good description of a NM record is “it looks like it just
came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.” In other
words, it’s nearly perfect. Many dealers won’t use a grade higher than
this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record or sleeve is ever
truly perfect.
NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or
other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any “spindle marks”
from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. Major
factory defects also must be absent; a record and label obviously
pressed off center is not Near Mint. If played, it will do so with no
surface noise. (NM records don’t have to be “never played”; a record
used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the
disc is properly cared for.)
NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.
Tiny corner bumps may be acceptable depending upon whether they mar the
beauty of the cover, and will almost always be noted.
NOTE: These are high standards, and they are not on a sliding scale. A
record or sleeve from the 1950s will meet the same standards as one from
the 1990s or 2000s to be Near Mint. It’s estimated that no more than 2
to 4 percent of all records remaining from the 1950s and 1960s are truly
Near Mint, which is why they fetch such high prices, even for more
common items.
VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) A good description of a VG+ record is
“except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint.” Most
collectors, especially those who want to play their records, will be
happy with a VG+ record, especially if it toward the high end of the
grade (sometimes called VG++).
VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs
or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience.
Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of
handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but
repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very
light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable.
VG+ covers should have only minor wear. A VG+ cover might have some very
minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the
most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such
as a cut-out marking. Covers with cut-out markings can never be
considered Near Mint.
Very Good (VG) Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record
are more obvious on a VG record. That said, VG records are among the
biggest bargains in record collecting, because most of the “big money”
goes for more perfect copies. For many listeners, a VG record or sleeve
will be worth the money.
VG records have more obvious flaws than their counterparts in better
shape. They lack most of the original gloss found on factory-fresh
records. Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep
enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface
noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially in soft passages
and during a song’s intro and ending. But the noise will not overpower
the music otherwise.
Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. Many
collectors who have jukeboxes will use VG records in them and not think
twice. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if
it were in better shape.
VG covers will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear in the
middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would
reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be
visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three
sides, though it won’t be obvious upon looking. Someone might have
written or it or stamped a price tag on it, too.
Good (G), Good Plus (G+) or Very Good Minus (VG–) Good
does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, so
it can serve as filler until something better comes along. But it has
significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with
significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious damage caused by
someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably. A Good
to VG– cover has ring wear to the point of distraction, has seam splits
obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing, such as, for
example, huge radio station letters written across the front to deter
theft.
POOR (P) and Fair (F) Records are cracked, impossibly warped, or
skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them. Covers are so
heavily damaged that you almost want to cry.
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