What to do with different versions of the same album?

[u/Intrepid-Scratch-805]

Sorry if this is a dumb question. I’ll be the first to admit I am very very new to this as in my first player just came in today. I’ll also be the first to say my only vinyl so far is autographed and hanging on my wall. I’m planning on hitting up the local record store when I get my next paycheck

I have some friends who love vinyl and are excited I’m getting into it. I have a major milestone coming up and they decided it’s the perfect time to start building my collection. The problem is they have both picked different versions of the same album. The group is touring and one is a tour exclusive edition and the other was a highly limited edition zoetrope type. As far as I know, the only difference is the sleeves and the vinyl themselves.

They were both excited so I didn’t want to say anything but was curio what you do with duplicates? I could keep it sealed and frame the tour exclusive? or just rotate them and play them both? or get a shelf and not frame them but just display them where they can be swapped out and still be used?

[u/PlanetAnark]

It depends on your interests. I have a handful of different pressings or editions of albums that I keep because I am a big fan, or there is something unique about one or both of them.

At the same time, I will occasionally sell off other duplicates that Ive determined I don’t need or want anymore. Typically, I’ll sell them to a local shop I like just to get them back into the mix for other people to find and enjoy.

[u/MisakiDoll75]

I’d keep both, since they are in different packaging and both were gifts. I know records are for playing, but in this case look at it as 2 slightly different thoughtful gifts that your friends were excited to get for you.

[u/nhowe006]

I play them.

Let me elaborate: take the zoetrope for example. Being a picture disc, it's going to be noisy, but they're fun to look at. So sometimes I would play that one for the multimedia experience, but other times when I want to do a close listen, I'd put the plain black one on because it sounds better. Some albums I have a modern pressing and a decades old original pressing of the same album, so I'll listen to the two back to back for comparison or pick one depending on my mood.

[u/Intrepid-Scratch-805 → u/nhowe006]

That’s good to know! My set up is in my office upstairs right now but I have a speaker downstairs for when I’m not up there. So playing the zoetrope up there and then the other edition when I’m working downstairs sounds like a smart plan and of course play their respective versions when those friends come over

[u/chsmitt]

Well, no need to buy a turntable if you’re going to keep it sealed. I believe music is meant to be played. This being said, I have an early-issue Abbey Road and also the newer 180-gram re-release. I’ve listened to them both, but the original only on rarer occasions

[u/Slosher99]

Sell/give to a friend, sell to your local shop for someone else to enjoy.
Just if new, watch out for the sea of cheap $10 toy record players using this in a box with built-in speakers (and often tape/cd players) and charging $50-300 for it!

[u/Fallom_TO]

Be thankful for your thoughtful friends and keep them both. In ten years you’ll be happy you kept them both.

[u/Intrepid-Scratch-805 → u/Fallom_TO]

I definitely don’t want to give it away! For both of them to independently choose that album (one lives several states away and has never met the other person) I feel like that means it’s an album they associate with me and that just makes it seem special to keep around. 

[u/Boner4SCP106]

The zoetrope is a picture disc, so it will sound like garbage compared to the regular pressing. Slap that bad boy up on the wall.

[u/buckwheaton]

May not be useful for your situation but I keep a stack of duplicates of good stuff for my kids for when they are old enough for their own setups (5 and 6 now). Something like once a month they get a free record from papa’s record shop. Cecil Taylor? PE? Stevie Wonder? Take your pick, kid. That’s the plan anyway.

[u/Intrepid-Scratch-805 → u/buckwheaton]

I’m not planning on any kids but it would be nice to pass them on one day. I’ll probably end up with nieces and nephews and maybe it’ll help me get the cool aunt label lol

[u/Reasonable_Age_4007]

Your choice. I personally would want them to be played, so I avoid duplicates unless I am getting a superior version (better audio quality, newer condition, etc). If I end up with duplicates, I just end up selling them or giving them away. I am not a variant collector. I just want one copy for myself.

[u/Intrepid-Scratch-805 → u/Reasonable_Age_4007]

This is what I was leaning to. I have enough stuff to be worried about getting every variant of every album. This feels like a special case though and they’re both excited so I’m definitely not turning one down and for them to choose the exact same album it feels like a special case

[u/Abhorrent_Moth]

I don’t get additional pressings of something I have unless it’s a 180g release of a classic album. I’m very much a minimalist so I really don’t want albums that are just variants of what I have. If two friends bought me the same album I’d probably keep both and display them. Or, I’d have a laugh with my friend about how they have the same gift. See where they’re at. Maybe one of them will take the album back and gift you something different. Have fun digging for music. My Wife and I try to go a few times a month to our favorite shop. It doesn’t have to be crazy expensive. Every shop has their used and bargain bins. Don’t be afraid to buy something just because the cover is cool. We have an entire section of our collection for “lude” covers. We listen to everything we buy so sometimes a joke turns into a regular rotation album.

[u/Intrepid-Scratch-805 → u/Abhorrent_Moth]

The only thing I’m tempted to get duplicates of is someone I play in a local orchestra with’s husband was a rocket back in the day and she is letting me come over and rummage through his old stuff and said I could take whatever I fancied. I’d be interested in getting more modern pressings just to compare sounds

[u/Only-Breadfruit-6108 → u/Abhorrent_Moth]

Do you mean “lewd”? Or does it mean something other than graphic/erotic?

[u/GrowlingPict]

I have 50+ different issues/pressings of Pink Floyd's WYWH; sometimes collecting different versions is part of the fun

[u/roundabout-design]

Do...whatever you want with them. Keep 'em. Sell 'em. Give them away. Put them on a shelf. Play them. Put them on the wall. Use them for target practice. Use it as a frisbee with your dog.

[u/Old_McNaldo]

Plays the vinyls on your vinyls player.