I bought a "rare" red vinyl Rush Hemispheres from the auction site. Its in great condition, still has the photo/poster insert with it. the cover is a bit lacking but hey...

my question is, is this made to be played? I'm playing it but the vinyl is semi transparent and really seems light.

I have a copy previously on regular black vinyl so, i have trax to listen to anyway.

just wondering.

I play my colored disks... I've only recently played a picture disk, and was surprised it actually sounded good..

i have a rod stewart picture disc but i've never thought about playing it.

its the blonds have more fun disc

I've had a Styx ~ Pieces of Eight in gold-colored clear vinyl. Sounds great. I always thought they were meant to be played, but that was when vinyl was everywhere.

I recall in the pre-CD days most if not all of the audiophile/hi-fi mags were uniformly harsh when it came to the sound of picturediscs vs normal black vinyl. Maybe I just have a "tin ear" but I was never able to hear any appreciable difference.

Typically, the older pictures discs from the 70's that replicate the album cover are very noisy and basically sound like ass. The picture element was added to the vinyl surface and then music was grooved in. The newer picture discs are pressed differently with the picture element sandwiched in between two clear vinyl layers. These can actually sound quite good.

The marbled vinyl pressing I have of Dave Mason's Alone Together sounds awful. But the translucent yellow vinyl of Grand Funk's We're An A American Band sounds quite good.

I guess it can be a crapshoot.

Typically, the older pictures discs from the 70's that replicate the album cover are very noisy and basically sound like ass. The picture element was added to the vinyl surface and then music was grooved in. The newer picture discs are pressed differently with the picture element sandwiched in between two clear vinyl layers. These can actually sound quite good.

The marbled vinyl pressing I have of Dave Mason's Alone Together sounds awful. But the translucent yellow vinyl of Grand Funk's We're An A American Band sounds quite good.

I guess it can be a crapshoot.

I have that same Dave Mason album... damn does it pop and snap and sounds like it had milk poured on it... I even washed it several times in the sink.. I think the pops are caused by where the divverent colors of vinyl meet...

I do have another album, can't remember the band, but it's called black and white, and doesn like the Dave Mason album, only in black and white only, and it sounds really clean and clear.. go figure..

Colored vinyl is meant to be played as vinyl is actually clear color from what I remember reading awhile back. Pix vinyl is different as it is actually a pix that is between layers and they usually sound like crap although I have a few decent sounding ones. I actually have the Dave Mason LP and it sounds excellent so you may have actually had a bad or heavily used pressing.

I have that same Dave Mason album... damn does it pop and snap and sounds like it had milk poured on it... I even washed it several times in the sink.. I think the pops are caused by where the divverent colors of vinyl meet...

I do have another album, can't remember the band, but it's called black and white, and doesn like the Dave Mason album, only in black and white only, and it sounds really clean and clear.. go figure..

I have that Black and White album and it's by The Stranglers. Great LP :yes:

I have several copies of the red vinyl Hemispheres as well as the black version. They sound the same to me.

Not sure why these idiot fleabay sellers always peg this album as rare. You can find a dozen copies on any given day :screwy: