40 landmark records
Vinyl album value guides.
Pressing by pressing.
A title alone cannot tell you what a record is worth. Start with the exact label, catalog number, matrix, inserts, and condition. These guides show you what to check and the range a confirmed original can bring.
01
Confirm the pressing
Label, catalog number, matrix runout, sleeve, and inserts.
02
Grade the condition
NM and VG+ copies can land in very different price brackets.
03
Compare the right range
An original and a later reissue are different markets.
Find your record
Search all 40 guides.
Search by artist, album, year, or first-press label. Then narrow the shelf by decade.
90 guides
1966 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Beach Boys — Pet Sounds
VG+ originals: $40–$100. Near mint: $80–$300.
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1967 · Elektra gold label
The Doors — The Doors
VG+ originals: $50–$120. Near mint: $100–$350.
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1967 · Atco yellow-and-purple
Cream — Disraeli Gears
VG+ originals: $40–$90. Near mint: $80–$250.
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1969 · Decca gold-and-black
The Who — Tommy
VG+ originals: $40–$100. Near mint: $80–$250.
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1970 · Cotillion red-and-orange
The Velvet Underground — Loaded
VG+ originals: $40–$80. Near mint: $80–$200.
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1975 · Columbia orange-and-yellow
Bruce Springsteen — Born to Run
VG+ originals: $20–$50. Near mint: $40–$120.
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1971 · Reprise steamboat
Joni Mitchell — Blue
VG+ originals: $25–$60. Near mint: $50–$150.
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1970 · Reprise two-tone
Neil Young — After the Gold Rush
VG+ originals: $25–$60. Near mint: $50–$150.
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1965 · Impulse! orange-and-black
John Coltrane — A Love Supreme
VG+ originals: $60–$150. Near mint: $150–$400.
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1970 · Columbia 360 Sound
Miles Davis — Bitches Brew
VG+ originals: $30–$80. Near mint: $60–$200.
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1959 · Columbia six-eye
Charles Mingus — Mingus Ah Um
VG+ originals: $60–$150. Near mint: $120–$400.
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1959 · Columbia six-eye
Dave Brubeck Quartet — Time Out
VG+ originals: $40–$100. Near mint: $80–$250.
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1971 · Tamla Detroit-map
Marvin Gaye — What's Going On
VG+ originals: $25–$60. Near mint: $50–$150.
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1976 · Tamla yellow-rim
Stevie Wonder — Songs in the Key of Life
VG+ originals: $20–$50. Near mint: $40–$120.
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1965 · Volt fingerprint
Otis Redding — Otis Blue
VG+ originals: $40–$100. Near mint: $80–$200.
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1967 · Atlantic red-and-plum
Aretha Franklin — I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
VG+ originals: $30–$80. Near mint: $60–$180.
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1965 · Columbia two-eye
Bob Dylan — Highway 61 Revisited
VG+ originals: $40–$100. Near mint: $80–$250.
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1968 · Columbia two-eye
Johnny Cash — At Folsom Prison
VG+ originals: $20–$50. Near mint: $40–$120.
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1976 · Asylum maroon
Eagles — Hotel California
VG+ originals: $15–$40. Near mint: $25–$80.
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1971 · Ode brown-and-gold
Carole King — Tapestry
VG+ originals: $15–$50. Near mint: $30–$100.
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1975 · Columbia tan
Pink Floyd — Wish You Were Here
VG+ originals: $25–$80. Near mint: $50–$200.
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1971 · Atlantic red-and-plum
Led Zeppelin — Untitled (IV)
VG+ originals: $50–$150. Near mint: $100–$350.
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1969 · London maroon
The Rolling Stones — Let It Bleed
VG+ originals: $70–$200. Near mint: $150–$400.
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1972 · Rolling Stones Records
The Rolling Stones — Exile on Main St.
VG+ originals: $25–$80. Near mint: $50–$200.
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1973 · MCA black
The Who — Quadrophenia
VG+ originals: $25–$60. Near mint: $50–$150.
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1970 · Warner Bros. green-and-yellow
Black Sabbath — Paranoid
VG+ originals: $40–$120. Near mint: $80–$300.
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1970 · Atlantic red-and-plum
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young — Déjà Vu
VG+ originals: $20–$60. Near mint: $40–$150.
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1970 · Warner Bros. green
James Taylor — Sweet Baby James
VG+ originals: $15–$50. Near mint: $30–$100.
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1970 · Columbia two-eye
Simon & Garfunkel — Bridge Over Troubled Water
VG+ originals: $12–$40. Near mint: $25–$80.
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1973 · Tamla Detroit-map
Stevie Wonder — Innervisions
VG+ originals: $15–$50. Near mint: $30–$100.
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1971 · Epic black-and-yellow
Sly & the Family Stone — There's a Riot Goin' On
VG+ originals: $20–$50. Near mint: $40–$120.
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1971 · Westbound black-and-yellow
Funkadelic — Maggot Brain
VG+ originals: $30–$80. Near mint: $60–$200.
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1969 · Enterprise yellow
Isaac Hayes — Hot Buttered Soul
VG+ originals: $20–$50. Near mint: $40–$120.
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1973 · Hi Records red-and-orange
Al Green — Call Me
VG+ originals: $15–$50. Near mint: $30–$100.
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1968 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Band — Music from Big Pink
VG+ originals: $25–$80. Near mint: $50–$200.
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1969 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Band — The Band (Brown Album)
VG+ originals: $20–$60. Near mint: $40–$150.
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1975 · Columbia orange-and-yellow
Willie Nelson — Red Headed Stranger
VG+ originals: $12–$40. Near mint: $25–$80.
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1966 · Blue Note 43 W. 61st
Wayne Shorter — Speak No Evil
VG+ originals: $100–$250. Near mint: $200–$600.
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1956 · Prestige yellow (446 W. 50th)
Sonny Rollins — Saxophone Colossus
VG+ originals: $150–$400. Near mint: $300–$900.
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1968 · Atlantic red-and-plum
Aretha Franklin — Lady Soul
VG+ originals: $20–$60. Near mint: $40–$150.
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1964 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Beatles — Meet the Beatles!
VG+ originals: $15–$50. Near mint: $50–$300.
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1964 · Vee-Jay black with rainbow colorband, oval logo
The Beatles — Introducing... The Beatles
VG+ originals: $40–$120. Near mint: $100–$300.
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1965 · Capitol black rainbow-rim
The Beatles — Rubber Soul
VG+ originals: $15–$45. Near mint: $50–$175.
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1968 · Apple, manufactured by Capitol
The Beatles — The Beatles (White Album)
VG+ originals: $25–$60. Near mint: $60–$250.
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1969 · Apple, manufactured by Capitol
The Beatles — Abbey Road
VG+ originals: $15–$35. Near mint: $40–$125.
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1973 · MCA black label with rainbow
Elton John — Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
VG+ originals: $10–$20. Near mint: $20–$45.
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1975 · MCA custom picture label
Elton John — Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
VG+ originals: $7–$14. Near mint: $15–$35.
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1972 · UNI
Elton John — Honky Château
VG+ originals: $6–$12. Near mint: $12–$30.
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1976 · Epic orange
Boston — Boston
VG+ originals: $8–$16. Near mint: $20–$45.
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1978 · Epic orange
Boston — Don't Look Back
VG+ originals: $5–$10. Near mint: $12–$25.
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1982 · Epic
Michael Jackson — Thriller
VG+ originals: $10–$25. Near mint: $25–$75.
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1979 · Epic
Michael Jackson — Off the Wall
VG+ originals: $15–$35. Near mint: $35–$90.
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1987 · Epic
Michael Jackson — Bad
VG+ originals: $20–$45. Near mint: $45–$100.
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1985 · Warner Bros. white label (ghosted shields)
Dire Straits — Brothers in Arms
VG+ originals: $8–$20. Near mint: $20–$45.
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1980 · Warner Bros. tan (narrow horizontal lines)
Dire Straits — Making Movies
VG+ originals: $8–$18. Near mint: $15–$40.
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1977 · Columbia, with Family Productions logo
Billy Joel — The Stranger
VG+ originals: $10–$20. Near mint: $25–$60.
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1978 · Columbia, with Family Productions logo
Billy Joel — 52nd Street
VG+ originals: $5–$12. Near mint: $15–$35.
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1983 · Columbia, with Family Productions logo
Billy Joel — An Innocent Man
VG+ originals: $4–$10. Near mint: $12–$30.
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1979 · Warner Bros. speckled custom label
Fleetwood Mac — Tusk
VG+ originals: $10–$18. Near mint: $25–$50.
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1975 · Reprise tan steamboat label
Fleetwood Mac — Fleetwood Mac
VG+ originals: $10–$20. Near mint: $25–$60.
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1969 · Fantasy blue label, gold print
Creedence Clearwater Revival — Willy and the Poor Boys
VG+ originals: $10–$20. Near mint: $20–$45.
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1970 · Fantasy blue label
Creedence Clearwater Revival — Pendulum
VG+ originals: $7–$14. Near mint: $15–$30.
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1976 · Fantasy brown label
Creedence Clearwater Revival — Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits
VG+ originals: $10–$20. Near mint: $20–$40.
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1972 · Elektra butterfly label
Carly Simon — No Secrets
VG+ originals: $4–$10. Near mint: $10–$25.
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1971 · Elektra butterfly label
Carly Simon — Anticipation
VG+ originals: $3–$8. Near mint: $8–$18.
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1969 · Island pink 'block' logo
Nick Drake — Five Leaves Left
VG+ originals: $450–$900. Near mint: $1,500–$3,400.
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1971 · Island pink-rim 'palm tree'
Nick Drake — Bryter Layter
VG+ originals: $250–$550. Near mint: $700–$2,000.
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1972 · Island pink-rim 'palm tree'
Nick Drake — Pink Moon
VG+ originals: $300–$600. Near mint: $800–$1,300.
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1980 · Chrysalis custom blue photo label
Pat Benatar — Crimes of Passion
VG+ originals: $3–$8. Near mint: $8–$25.
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1979 · Chrysalis white-to-blue fade with butterfly logo
Pat Benatar — In the Heat of the Night
VG+ originals: $3–$8. Near mint: $8–$25.
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1975 · Columbia
Aerosmith — Toys in the Attic
VG+ originals: $8–$15. Near mint: $20–$45.
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1976 · Columbia
Aerosmith — Rocks
VG+ originals: $6–$12. Near mint: $15–$35.
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1974 · Columbia
Aerosmith — Get Your Wings
VG+ originals: $7–$14. Near mint: $15–$35.
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1974 · Elektra butterfly label (15 Columbus Circle address)
Queen — Queen II
VG+ originals: $12–$25. Near mint: $30–$60.
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1975 · Elektra butterfly label
Queen — A Night at the Opera
VG+ originals: $15–$30. Near mint: $35–$75.
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1977 · Elektra (custom album labels)
Queen — News of the World
VG+ originals: $10–$18. Near mint: $20–$45.
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1978 · Warner Bros. Burbank palm-tree
Van Halen — Van Halen
VG+ originals: $10–$20. Near mint: $25–$60.
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1981 · Warner Bros.
Van Halen — Fair Warning
VG+ originals: $8–$18. Near mint: $20–$45.
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1984 · Warner Bros.
Van Halen — 1984
VG+ originals: $10–$20. Near mint: $20–$45.
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1991 · Warner Bros. (Columbia House club edition)
Travis Tritt — It's All About to Change
VG+ originals: $45–$90. Near mint: $100–$200.
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1990 · Warner Bros. (Columbia House club edition)
Travis Tritt — Country Club
VG+ originals: $35–$75. Near mint: $80–$150.
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1989 · RCA
Keith Whitley — I Wonder Do You Think of Me
VG+ originals: $50–$90. Near mint: $90–$160.
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1985 · RCA Victor
Keith Whitley — L.A. to Miami
VG+ originals: $45–$100. Near mint: $100–$200.
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1990 · Arista
Alan Jackson — Here in the Real World
VG+ originals: $35–$70. Near mint: $70–$165.
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1993 · Rhino 180-gram
Uncle Tupelo — Anodyne
VG+ originals: $40–$80. Near mint: $80–$170.
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1989 · A&M
The Blue Nile — Hats
VG+ originals: $45–$90. Near mint: $90–$160.
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2006 · Big Machine Records
Taylor Swift — Taylor Swift
VG+ originals: $60–$110. Near mint: $100–$160.
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2017 · Big Machine Records (picture disc)
Taylor Swift — Reputation
VG+ originals: $60–$120. Near mint: $120–$200.
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2016 · Boys Don't Cry (2016 Black Friday 2×LP)
Frank Ocean — Blond
VG+ originals: $250–$400. Near mint: $350–$700.
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1984 · Philips
Junko Ohashi — Magical
VG+ originals: $120–$250. Near mint: $250–$500.
Check the pressingCompare the catalog
See collectible albums artist by artist.
Artist profiles put first-press values side by side and show which labels, inserts, and matrices change the answer.
Artist profile
Aretha Franklin
Compare valuesArtist profile
Stevie Wonder
Compare valuesArtist profile
The Who
Compare valuesArtist profile
The Rolling Stones
Compare valuesArtist profile
The Band
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The Beatles
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Elton John
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Boston
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Michael Jackson
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Dire Straits
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Billy Joel
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Fleetwood Mac
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Creedence Clearwater Revival
Compare valuesArtist profile
Carly Simon
Compare valuesArtist profile
Nick Drake
Compare valuesArtist profile
Pat Benatar
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Aerosmith
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Queen
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Van Halen
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Travis Tritt
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Keith Whitley
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Taylor Swift
Compare valuesStart with the center label
Learn the label families behind the prices.
Color gets you close. Rim text, catalog prefixes, plant marks, and matrices tell you which pressing you actually have.
roughly 1955–1962
Columbia six-eye
Identify a Columbia six-eye pressing by its six walking-eye marks, catalog prefix, label text, and dead-wax matrix—then check album-specific details.
Identify the labelroughly 1962–1970
Columbia two-eye
Identify a Columbia two-eye pressing from its two walking-eye logos, 360 Sound text, catalog prefix, and dead-wax matrix variations.
Identify the labelmid-1960s–early 1970s
Atlantic red and plum
Identify Atlantic red-and-plum LP pressings by label layout, catalog number, address and rim text, pressing-plant marks, and matrix details.
Identify the label1960s label family
Capitol black rainbow
Identify Capitol black-rainbow and colorband pressings by logo position, rim text, catalog prefix, plant mark, and matrix runout.
Identify the label1973–1978
Warner Bros. Burbank palm-tree
Date a 1970s Warner Bros. LP by its label: solid green before 1973, the Burbank palm-tree street photo from 1973 to 1978, then the cream label with a large WB shield.
Identify the label1970–1979
Elektra butterfly
Date a 1970s Elektra LP by its butterfly label: the New York address on early copies, the Los Angeles address and Warner wording later, and the red label that replaced it in 1979.
Identify the label1973–1977
MCA black rainbow
Date an MCA LP by its label: black with a rainbow sweep from 1973 to fall 1977, tan labels from late 1977, blue with a rainbow from 1980, and how Uni titles were renumbered.
Identify the label1968–1975 in the US
Apple Records
Identify US Apple pressings by the whole-apple and sliced-apple sides, Capitol rim text, the Her Majesty listing, plant marks, and the Capitol and barcode reissues that followed.
Identify the label1964
Vee-Jay Introducing... The Beatles
Tell a genuine Vee-Jay Introducing... The Beatles from a counterfeit by label layout, logo, colorband, dead-wax stamps, jacket gloss, and the two track lists.
Identify the labellate 1967–mid 1970s
Island pink label
Date a UK Island LP by its label design: pink 'eye', black block, white 'i', or pink-rim palm tree. Then confirm it with the runouts, label typesetting, and sleeve printer.
Identify the label1970 into the 1990s
Columbia red label (1970s)
Tell a 1970s Columbia original from a 1980s reissue by catalog prefix (KC, PC, JC, FC), label copy, barcode, and plant letters in the dead wax.
Identify the label1973–1980s
Epic orange and blue labels
Date a US Epic LP by label color (yellow, orange, or dark blue script), catalog prefix (PE, JE, FE, QE), barcode, and the runouts.
Identify the label1972–1988
Capitol orange and purple labels
Date a Capitol LP on the 1970s orange label, the 1978 purple dome label, the 1983 rainbow reissue, or the 1988 purple label, and spot Beatles reissues sold as originals.
Identify the label1968–1980s
Fantasy Records (Creedence)
Tell an original Creedence Clearwater Revival LP on Fantasy's blue label from the brown, lightning-sky, aqua, and 1983 retro-blue reissues by catalog number, label text, runout, and barcode.
Identify the label