Outpost Record Shop

There’s so much more than just albums.

When most people think of vinyl records they think of albums. 12″ records with 5-6 songs per side. But there’s others that my be of some interest to you. As I’ve mentioned, my vice is 45’s. 7″ records with one song per side, this is because they were the ones that started my collection. They’re also the ones that I use in my jukeboxes. Yet there’s more that I’ll explain here. I’ll use the term RPM a lot in the descriptions…RPM=Rotations Per Minute.

Albums

Albums are the most common when we think of collecting records. The album cover art, 12″ record with 5-6 songs per side. These are definitely the most collected and desired forms of the medium. Albums play at 33 rpm.

12″ singles.

These are the same size of albums but they typically have one song per side. They may have 2-3 versions (Mixes) of the same song on each side. Occasionally they’ll have one song with a few mixes on one side and a different song with a few mixes on the other. Some play at 33 rpm and some at 45 rpm.

45’s

These got their name because they play at 45 rpm…usually. They are 7″ that have one song per side. They were most common in jukeboxes. They were also highly collected when you didn’t want to purchase the whole album, you could just purchase the one song that you liked. These first came out around 1950. 45’s where the best selling form on vinyl in the 50’s and 60’s.

10″ Albums

These are 10″ and usually have 2-4 songs per side. Sometimes referred to as a mini album. Some artists will release them as a novelty.

7″ 33 rpm singles

As the title suggests. They are 7″ with one song per side. These usually have a small center hole, like an album, and play at 33 rpm. They were used a lot in jukeboxes in the 50’s and 60’s

7″ 33 rpm EP

7″ vinyl records that played at 33 rpm. These usually have the small center hole. These are different because they may have 3-4 songs per side. They were used in the early jukeboxes…A great bargain to get 3 songs for a nickle.

78 RPM

78’s were the original pressings on vinyl and date back to the early 1900’s. They are usually 10″ and play one song per side at 78 rpm’s. The most collectible from this era are blues and rockabilly records.

I’m sure that I left a few variations out of this description. You’ll find some 10″ records that you assume are 78’s but they’ll play at 33 rpm. You’ll also find some 12″ singles play at 33 or 45 rpm. And some 7″ will play at 45 or 33 rpm.

I wrote this article to explain what it available on vinyl. I personally collect albums and 45’s. But when I find a certain 12″ or 78 that I’m interested in, then I’ll add it to my collection. Your collection is personal to you…I know people who only collect one type of record or one genre of record. Some collect 45’s that only have the original picture sleeve. Others are after the complete library of an artists and will collect their albums, 45’s, and 12″ singles. But it all goes back to the only thing that matters-Collect what you like, what you want, what you can afford, and what you’re going to listen to.