nomos
Administrator
Hve you ever looked closely at your vinyl and found little messages etched in near the label?
You'll usually find catalogue numbers etched in around the lock groove. Often there's some indication of which side is which. Sometimes the pressing plant will mark their work as well, either by pressing or etching their name (EG: Masterdisk).
But once in a while there's more to be found. Messages, tags, jokes. I don't know enough about the pressing process to guess who's doing this or at what stage, but I've long been curious.
Some things I've found:
Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force "Planet Rock" (Tommy Boy, 1983? pressing):
Herbie Jr Hi Angie and Winky It's a "High Powered Disco 12"
Freestyle Fellowship "Bullies of the Block" (4th and B'way, 1993):
C S B followed by musical notes
Funkmaster Flex presents the Flip Squad "Butterfly Style" (Wreck, 1993):
Side A - The British football team is wonkers
Side B - Flex get busy Fri/Sat
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five "Super Rappin' No. 2" (Enjoy, 1980):
Fancy initials followed by a happy face
Spymania Allstars (/Squarepusher) "AVIT" (Spymania, 1995/6?):
Side A - Diesel engine road vehicle
Side B - Ooh baby I like it raw
I've also got a one-sided EP by Jale where the B side is complelely covered in swirly lines and etched stars. Pretty.
I would offer up pics but words on shiny black vinyl are a little difficult to capture.
Can you tell I have work to do? Anyway, who's gonna get nerdy with me?
You'll usually find catalogue numbers etched in around the lock groove. Often there's some indication of which side is which. Sometimes the pressing plant will mark their work as well, either by pressing or etching their name (EG: Masterdisk).
But once in a while there's more to be found. Messages, tags, jokes. I don't know enough about the pressing process to guess who's doing this or at what stage, but I've long been curious.
Some things I've found:
Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force "Planet Rock" (Tommy Boy, 1983? pressing):
Herbie Jr Hi Angie and Winky It's a "High Powered Disco 12"
Freestyle Fellowship "Bullies of the Block" (4th and B'way, 1993):
C S B followed by musical notes
Funkmaster Flex presents the Flip Squad "Butterfly Style" (Wreck, 1993):
Side A - The British football team is wonkers
Side B - Flex get busy Fri/Sat
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five "Super Rappin' No. 2" (Enjoy, 1980):
Fancy initials followed by a happy face
Spymania Allstars (/Squarepusher) "AVIT" (Spymania, 1995/6?):
Side A - Diesel engine road vehicle
Side B - Ooh baby I like it raw
I've also got a one-sided EP by Jale where the B side is complelely covered in swirly lines and etched stars. Pretty.
I would offer up pics but words on shiny black vinyl are a little difficult to capture.
Can you tell I have work to do? Anyway, who's gonna get nerdy with me?