Identifying the edition of your vinyl record

blastingas10 · 12-13-2011, 03:16 AM

I'm somewhat new to record collecting. I need some info on how to tell If my records are first editions. Isn't there a catalog number on the album covers? I was looking at my collection, and i noticed that there is a number on some of them, but I couldn't find a number on others.
If someone could help me out with this it would be apprectiated.

Guybrush · 12-13-2011, 03:37 AM

Even if the serial number is not on the sleeve, it can usually be found on the round label on the vinyl record. I don't know of any truly great online catalogs, but sites like discogs.com (which I like very much) lists release serial numbers in searches in a way that makes it relatively easy. Since it doesn't contain everything, it might not have your release entered into it though.

edit :

I suspect very serious collectors buy catalogs made for collectors or published by record labels (f.ex on ebay). As far as I know, record labels will only include vinyls that are in print in their catalogs, so you'd need a catalog from them from the time your vinyl was in production.

s_k · 12-13-2011, 06:33 AM

If it's on the sleeve it's usually in the upper right corner, back side, or somewhere near the record label logo

Jedey · 12-13-2011, 07:03 AM

There are numbers in the dead-wax (the area between the last song and the label) a Google search should help identify the version.

12-13-2011, 03:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	Identifying the edition of your vinyl record I'm somewhat new to record collecting. I need some info on how to tell If my records are first editions. Isn't there a catalog number on the album covers? I was looking at my collection, and i noticed that there is a number on some of them, but I couldn't find a number on others. If someone could help me out with this it would be apprectiated.

12-13-2011, 03:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Even if the serial number is not on the sleeve, it can usually be found on the round label on the vinyl record. I don't know of any truly great online catalogs, but sites like discogs.com (which I like very much) lists release serial numbers in searches in a way that makes it relatively easy. Since it doesn't contain everything, it might not have your release entered into it though. edit : I suspect very serious collectors buy catalogs made for collectors or published by record labels (f.ex on ebay). As far as I know, record labels will only include vinyls that are in print in their catalogs, so you'd need a catalog from them from the time your vinyl was in production. __________________ Something Completely Different

12-13-2011, 06:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	If it's on the sleeve it's usually in the upper right corner, back side, or somewhere near the record label logo __________________ Click here to see my collection

12-13-2011, 07:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jedey Veritas vos liberabit Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Musicapolis Posts: 477	There are numbers in the dead-wax (the area between the last song and the label) a Google search should help identify the version. __________________ My Tunes