Promo/Demo Records

[monkeyking]

I've been finding a lot of records in my jazz labeled for promotional use or demonstration copy. Anybody know the background on these? Pressed any different or sequenced differently? Or was it just to keep the DJs from selling the records? (My dad apparently just kept them.)

[Celt]

Most were sent directly from the manufacturer to radio stations and record stores for in-store play.

[KeninDC]

Generally, promo copies are original pressings and fetch a premium for their sound.

[no1maestro]

As a working college student, I worked at the local music store and the record salesmen always had lots of goodies to give me or trade for other promos; at times I got them by the box. Added to that one of my best friends was a local jock and he dumped all of the classical and jazz titles to me as well. I still love free records!!

[Zadok2112]

As a working college student, I worked at the local music store and the record salesmen always had lots of goodies to give me or trade for other promos; at times I got them by the box. Added to that one of my best friends was a local jock and he dumped all of the classical and jazz titles to me as well. I still love free records!!

Yep. Probably 1/3 of my collection are promos from working at record stores and in radio.

[Scorpion8]

I've got a bundle too, as lots of the local stations seem to be disbursing themselves of LPs these days.

[vinyl1]

I've been finding a lot of records in my jazz labeled for promotional use or demonstration copy. Anybody know the background on these? Pressed any different or sequenced differently? Or was it just to keep the DJs from selling the records? (My dad apparently just kept them.)

It depends on the label and era.

There were not many promo jazz records back in the 50s and early 60s, at least at the serious labels. They could hardly sell a small pressing, and had little money to throw around free samples.

The majors, of course, were a different story. You may well find Columbia WLPs in the jazz records from this era.

[Mr. Lin]

They're often a lot cheaper because a lot of collectors don't want them.

[Mystic]

They're often a lot cheaper because a lot of collectors don't want them.

The exception being promo collectors who routinely pay huge sums for certain items. Count on it.

[jcmjrt]

When I see promos there's usually a premium to be paid for it. Understandable as the companies wanted a great copy to be played for the public to motivate purchases. If I can pick up promos, I usually do. I wish that I had some connection but alas it's just a matter of occasional luck.

[similost]

A big chunk of my LPs are promo's too.. just kinda happened that way, not on purpose...

I always wonder though, when I see written in them, Property of, and Not for sale, if they really legally are still property of what ever company, and if by reselling them, if technically you are breaking laws...

Kinda like with beer kegs that belong to AB which most of us have kept.. I mean $12 is a cheap price for a deep fryer or mash barrel :D

[monkeyking]

I knew you guys would know. I was kinda wondering about the legality part of it too, but I think most of these came from radio stations that ceased to exist about 30 years ago.

All I know is they sound really good to me!

Thanks everybody.

[IXLR8]

I knew you guys would know. I was kinda wondering about the legality part of it too, but I think most of these came from radio stations that ceased to exist about 30 years ago.

All I know is they sound really good to me!

Thanks everybody.


As a rule the promo albums have always been a good choice. Have always felt they have a sound edge unless they got played in heavy rotation back in the wilder days of live records on radio - then all bets are off. Have quite a few that got played hard at a college radio station that did not get transfered to cart. Ran into a DJ selling off his collection and all of his looked as though they never saw a platter. Bought a few and indeed they sounded great.

[BULLWINKLE]

I have heard that promo's were usually pressed earlier in the batches therefore better pressings, and as stated above, 1st pressings usually.

[Mr. Lin]

The exception being promo collectors who routinely pay huge sums for certain items. Count on it.

Hmm, in my area all the record stores are filled with radio promos - I'm talking about the ones with stickers or, more often, some form of cutout - and they're always dirt cheap. I try not to be extremely picky with vinyl selection, but I don't care for cutouts. I do have a few though.

[saltwater]

I got a BTO 33 thats a promo... nothing grate on it... its packed away, cause im moving.. but i got one! the only one...

[MikeCh]

Hmm, in my area all the record stores are filled with radio promos - I'm talking about the ones with stickers or, more often, some form of cutout - and they're always dirt cheap. I try not to be extremely picky with vinyl selection, but I don't care for cutouts. I do have a few though.

Cutouts and stickered covers aren't necessarily the same as a white (or lot's of other colors) label promo. When the album label specifically says "not for promotion" or any of the other many slogans specifying the promotional intent, the lp's were run as a specific batch during the pressing at the factory....often times first as mentioned. Cutouts, stickers or embossed covers were just that, an afterthought to the standard run.

Mike