Buying rock records: pressings, labels and what collectors look for
In short: The Vinyl Room currently has 1,967 rock records. Two focal points shape the stock: originals from the sixties and
seventies – from the Rolling Stones and the Doors to Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath – and today’s indie and alternative.
Add krautrock and prog, plus plenty of Scandinavian rock – Thomas is based in Copenhagen – such as Kent from Sweden and Kashmir and Mew from
Denmark.
What makes rock on vinyl special?
Rock grew up with the LP. From the mid-sixties the album was no longer a collection of singles but a work in itself – with gatefold covers,
inserts and artwork that belongs to the music. Many of these editions only exist as original vinyl. An example from our Plattenparty stream:
the German first pressing of Alice Cooper’s “Billion Dollar Babies” (1973) with its embossed cover, perforated pictures and the sticker still
complete. ▶ Plattenparty video at 0:38:25 Exactly these extras are missing from many used copies – so we mention them in the description when they’re there.
Why are original pressings worth it?
Because the first run is often closest to the recording, and its country tells its own story: a German, UK or US first pressing can differ in
cover, label and sound. With seventies rock, the label design helps you place a record – such as the early “swirl” label on
Vertigo or the green Brain label on krautrock. An example from the stream: Birth Control, “Backdoor Possibilities”, a
1976 German first pressing on the green Brain label. ▶ Plattenparty video at 0:14:41 What to look for is explained on our page “How to spot a first pressing”.
Krautrock and prog
Krautrock is Germany’s contribution to rock history – experimental, long-form, often electronic. In the stream, the two names you should know
come up: “There are two main krautrock producers – one is Conny Plank, the other is Dieter Dierks.” ▶ Plattenparty video at 0:23:37 Add British prog and
Italian prog, which Michael made a whole video about. Many of these records are rare – some Thomas has only ever had once.
Which labels matter to collectors?
- Columbia and Elektra – major US labels of the classics; The Doors released on Elektra.
- Vertigo – Philips’ progressive label from 1969, famous for its “swirl” label.
- Brain – Hamburg, from 1972: krautrock from Birth Control to Cluster.
- 4AD and Domino – London indie, from the Pixies to Arctic Monkeys.
From our stock
Psychedelic & classic rock
Krautrock & prog
Alternative & indie
Blues rock & hard rock
Browse by style: Krautrock · Prog rock · Psychedelic rock ·
Classic rock · Hard rock · Blues rock · Alternative rock ·
Indie rock
FAQ
How do I recognise a rock first pressing? By label design, catalogue number, runout engravings and cover together – everything must match a
documented first edition for a specific country.
What is krautrock? Experimental rock from Germany, mainly from the late sixties and seventies – often with long tracks and electronics.
Do inserts like posters and stickers matter? Yes. On many rock albums they’re part of the original edition. Complete copies are rarer and
usually worth more.
What is the Vertigo “swirl” label? Vertigo’s early label design with a black-and-white spiral. It helps place early pressings.
Do you have new rock records? Yes, some are new and still sealed – mostly indie and alternative. You’ll find them in the filter under
“Mint / Sealed”.
→ Grading explained · How to spot a first pressing · The Collector’s Room · Plattenparty on YouTube
