Introduction

I have always had a fascination with records cut in shapes other than the standard circular format.  In one sense, this is a pointless endeavour, given that the playing area must remain round, but aesthetically, the results are very pleasing to me.

Earliest shaped records were objects such as 'playable postcards', where an oblong clear flexi-disc would be stuck on top of a postcard.  This was around as early as 1910 as an extremely low-fi oddity.  However, the shaped record as we know it was introduced in the late 70s, when singles marketing exploded with coloured vinyl, picture discs and unusual sleeves trying to attract the public's attention.  In the USA, A&M Records released promotional picture discs for The Police, in the shape of police badges.  Meanwhile, in the UK, a number of coloured vinyl shaped disc were produced for artists such as John Cooper Clarke and Horslips.

As the 80s got into swing, shaped discs became a common gimmick particularly in the United Kingdom, usually in the form of picture discs.  Some small American labels also produced coloured vinyl shaped discs.  Heavy metal and hard rock bands were especially fond of this format.  However, in the 1990s, production was largely phased out, as the CD single became a dominant format (although a handful of shaped CDs were also produced).  However, vinyl's resurgence in this century meant that the format re-appeared in a big way towards the middle of the 00s.  Today, however, shaped vinyl is again a rarity, as vinyl buyers prefer LPs these days, and vinyl singles of any kind are rare.  Usually a handful of shaped discs slip out on Record Store Day, but otherwise, there's little action.  As a singles lover, I find this development very sad.  But nonetheless, this blog will celebrate the days when physical formats were more colourful and collecting vinyl was more fun (before the audiophile bores ruined everything)....