THE ANALOG-RECORDS GLOSSARY

FOC
= fold-out cover If a single LP ships in a fold-out cover like a Double LP, it is most commonly stated. As it has been for a long time very common for Double LPs, we do not mention it there.

OIS
= original inner sleeve Applies to all printed sleeves containing lyrics, photos, credits, etc. White sleeves or those with commercial printing are no original inner sleeves.

ORIGINAL (LYRICS) INSERT
Refers to extra sheets containing lyrics, etc.

STILL SHRINK WRAPPED BUT OPEN
Term used for covers that are still shrink-wrapped but not sealed on the opening spine. Shrink-wrapped covers usually are in very good shape, though the vinyl has been played.

LAMINATED COVER
The lamination is a thin layer of clear plastic that protects the cover from little damages. Sometimes you can tell a pressing by its lamination, for instance, if the 1st pressing of a record is laminated and the 2nd is not (or vice versa).

PLAIN COVER
= a simple unicoloured cover with a center hole and no printing

PICTURE SLEEVE
Most 7" and some 12" don’t have covers but instead come in printed sleeves. Not to be confused with OIS.

LABEL COVER
Sometimes different records, most of all 12", are released in unitary covers that have the label logo and design printed on it.

GIMMICK COVER
Refers to covers with special formats, bricolage, etc. For special cuttings, we use the term "die cut sleeve."

EMBOSSED COVER
= cover with embossed printing or artwork (does not count for Braille)

TEXTURED COVER
= cover made of coarse-grained board

WHITE LABEL
Doesn’t necessarily have to be white but is definitely a blank label used for promo copies and test pressings. Though some promo versions are identical to the retail version but with a promo stamp on it.

FLEXIDISC
= ultra-thin, bendable record (mostly 7") that can be played on a normal player. Flexidiscs often were added as gimmicks to official LPs.

AUDIOPHILE LP
= record with enhanced sound due to high-quality pressing, special remastering, etc. There are various techniques to enhance the sound quality of a record. For example, Half-Speed Mastering, where the extrusion die is cut at half speed, making a cleaner cut. Or the Direct Metal Mastering (DMM) where the grooves are cut directly into a copper plate, which reduces mush.

OBI
Japanese pressings usually come with a paper clip that contains information in Japanese. A record that still contains the OBI could be more valuable.

SLIPCASE
A slipcase normally contains more than one record and is heavier and thicker than a normal cover. Sometimes ordinary LPs are released in slipcases too.

CUT-OUT
Normally cut-outs are small cuttings on the cover corner that don’t affect the quality of the cover. Bigger cut-outs are mentioned separately.

CUT-OUT HOLE
Sometimes distributors would not add a notch to the cover but punch a little hole into it. Normally these holes have a maximum diameter of 8-5mm. A bigger diameter will be mentioned separately.

CUT-OUT CORNER
Term used when a corner of the cover is cut off instead of a notch or a hole. The raw edge normally has a length of 2-3cm max.

RINGWEAR
= wearing on cover that has the shape of the record. This is a very common phenomenon with used records due to the mere pressure of the record against the cover.

SEAM SPLIT
Seam splits appear when the record shoves through the edges of the cover. The location of the split is described as "seam split on spine / top spine / bottom spine."

DAMAGE ON (TOP/BOTTOM) SPINE
A damage that is not a seam split is simply called damage. For an explanation of "(top/bottom) spine," see the previous article.

WOC/WOBC
= writing on cover/writing on back cover Term used for every kind of writing or painting on the cover front or the back cover.

WOL
= writing on label. Term used for every kind of writing or painting on the label.

SOC/SOBC/SOL
= sticker on cover/sticker on back cover/sticker on label Abbreviation used for stickers that are bigger than a usual price tag. Promo stickers like "Includes The Hit Single ..." are part of the record and will not be mentioned.

TOC/TOL
= tape on cover/tape on label Very commonly, tape is used to fix damaged covers. On the label, especially Hip-Hop DJs would stick tape to the center hole so the record is more stable on the platter.

STOC/STOL
= stamp on cover/stamp on label. You’ll find stamps mostly on the covers or labels of promo records.

STICKER STAIN
Term used if there are stains of adhesive left after the removal of a sticker.

STICKER RIP-OFF
If the sticker removal causes superficial damage to the cover, it’s called sticker rip-off.

CRACKED LAMINATION
Depending on how a laminated record was stored and handled, its lamination can be in superb condition or irreparably cracked.

DOG-EAR
Referring to bends on cover corners.

WARPED VINYL
For crooked records, we use the term "warped vinyl." Normally, the warp doesn’t affect playing. A strongly warped record may skip. The skipping will be mentioned additionally.

SKIPPING
If a record skips, the location of the crack is described with "skipping on side A/on track 1," for instance.

PROBABLY WATERPLAYED
In the 70s, the wet playing system from Swiss manufacturer Lenco was introduced. While playing, cleaning liquid was transmitted onto the record, which significantly reduced friction and crackling. However, debris from the liquid collects in the grooves, so if played on a normal turntable, crackling is stronger.