Every term you'll meet on a Discogs listing, in plain English.
Damaged. Skips, deep scratches, or cover damage.
Heavily played, scratches and significant surface noise, but still plays through.
Perfect, never played, sealed or factory-fresh.
Looks and plays nearly perfectly, with only minor signs of handling.
Clearly played, visible scuffs, audible surface noise.
Played carefully, light wear visible, plays with minor surface noise.
The entire chain from recording to vinyl stayed analogue, with no digital step.
The earliest run of an album, often the most collectible.
Records pressed in Japan, generally to higher quality standards than US or UK pressings of the same era.
The aluminium disc with a soft coating that the engineer cuts grooves into. The source of the whole chain.
Etched codes in the empty groove near the label that identify the pressing.
Intermediate metal parts used to press your record. Earlier stampers tend to sound better.
Copies sent free to DJs, journalists, and radio. Often have distinguishing label marks.
A new pressing of an older album, usually years later.
A reissue where the source has been re-EQ'd or re-cut. Sometimes better, sometimes worse.
A later run of the same pressing. Same plates, same era, just more copies.
A small initial run sent to the label or artist for approval before mass pressing.
A record with blank white labels. Often a promo or test press.
Heavier vinyl (180 grams vs the standard ~140g). Marketing has overstated its importance.
Vinyl pressed in colours other than the standard black. Sometimes slightly noisier than black.
A double-width cover that folds open like a book.
Mono mixes are single-channel, stereo is two-channel. Both exist for many 1960s albums and they sound different.
The paper strip wrapped around the spine of a Japanese pressing.
Vinyl with an image visible through the grooves. Usually a poor listen but great as art.
A sleeve where the printed paper is wrapped and glued to the cardboard, not printed direct.
The dominant secondary market for collectable vinyl. Where Vinyl Monkey's values come from.
Sellers grade their records using the Goldmine and Discogs scale. Accuracy varies wildly.
Annual event (usually April) with exclusive limited releases sold only through independent record stores.
Never opened. Usually the highest-value version but introduces its own risks.
The practice of physically browsing record store bins for hidden gems.
Slang for a batch of records bought in a single shopping trip or arrived together.
A circular imprint or wear pattern on the sleeve where the disc inside has shifted.
The clear plastic film a new LP ships in.
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