I have questions about a "For Promotion Only" label on a NOS LP's Jacket.

[390FE]

Today I just got an 1984 vintage NOS LP I won off E-Bay. It has the below info printed on the back of the Jacket (see attached pics).

5811

5812

5813



What I want to know is this:

Does ANYONE know what if any difference there is between the "Promo" version LP's & the consumer/store bought verson of the same LP's?

Does one have better sound quality? Or slightly different versions of the songs? Or one have more info (like liner notes) then the other? Or is one worth more then the other?

[BlazeES]

Promo LP's were ones provided to radio stations and distribution channels, usually ending up at selected record stores. They were funneled through the record labels manufacturer representative - generally. Other than being limited in availability and bearing the special promotional markings, there isn't anything better in terms of pressing quality to be had. Many came in a plain vanilla (white) jacket because the final album cover was either in last minute adjustments (to artwork or liner notes) or simply subject to production delays.

I own a really nice box set of Aerosmith albums that are promotional releases.

Promo albums in VG+ to Mint condition can have significantly higher collector value, depending on the title.

[no1maestro]

BlazeES has is basically correct. I have many promos, many of them from salesmen who showered me with them when I was running a record department in the 60s. The large majority of them are either first or very early pressings due to the fact that they were made early on in the life of an lp. Most folks prefer early pressings due to wear on later "pressers". Value can go either way but I have found most promos to be clean copies.(And they will probably not come out to your house and take it back.LOL)
P.S. I almost forgot to tell you that some promos have a different colored label and are marked differently. Others, like the one you show, usually are the standard label and cover with the promo stamped outside.

[Naknut]

Gold stamped promos came out late in the game when vinyl was prevalent and were nothing but regular releases with gold stamping. In the early days promos were usually indicated by white labels and with the type For Promotion only. These white label promos are usually very desirable as the thought was that they were early stampers as no1meastro says.

Some but not all promos were marked by a white strip on the jacket with radio play timings. Although true promos can be quite valuable such as a white label Led Zeppelin not all of them are.

[hakka26]

Yep, seen a number of the gold stamped "Promo Only" albums. They all had bar codes on them *sarc*

[Larry N]

Got to looking through some records I bought a while back. Two Gold Letter ones Cory Hart and Sparks. Those also have the bar codes as hakka26 stated. Then two others, one has a white label and the other has a large seal stating promotional.

[stuwee]

Got to looking through some records I bought a while back. Two Gold Letter ones Cory Hart and Sparks. Those also have the bar codes as hakka26 stated. Then two others, one has a white label and the other has a large seal stating promotional.

That Sparks Lp is great fun *yes*!!

[Larry N]

It is a great sounding promo vinyl for sure. That record was put out in 1984. Listening to it right now on the Zenith console. Sorry true audiopiles, thats the kind of stuff I like. *Hi5* stuwee

[stuwee]

It is a great sounding promo vinyl for sure. That record was put out in 1984. Listening to it right now on the Zenith console. Sorry true audiopiles, thats the kind of stuff I like. *Hi5* stuwee

Right On Larry! You got got me in a mood too! Some 'Indiscreet' spin'n, it's also one of my favorite Sparks Lp covers *devil*. Those brothers were sooo twisted.

[Kent T]

In general, Promo copies are usually made early in the pressing run. Sometimes they also are made on better quality vinyl (WEA labels at one time used Quiex II for their promo copies). In record collecting, there are two types of Promos. There are Designate Promos (they have gold stamping, stickers, or cut notches but no special Promo record label design). True promos in collector parlance have special promo labels with promo markings.

[Flick]

Aside from the higher quality due to a promo being an early pressing or made from better grade materials they are usually cleaner copies because they started life in the hands of adults who very likely took care of them. Some of them were played only a few times and then stored in a record library until they were sold to used record stores or donated to places like Goodwill. (When radio stations switched to CDs tons of great vinyl became available in good condition at excellent prices) The chances of a promo copy having spent a lot of time out of the cover under some kid's bed are pretty slim and it's been my experience they are generally in better condition when compared to their commercially available cousins.