Vinyl Finds #7: The Great Shrink Wrap Debate!

[@royceinthehouse842]

Hi Trent Good show I'm doing a quick scan before work when BAM, I see Disraeli Gears the Cream and the brakes go on. The first 8 track tape (along with CCR's Bayou Country) I purchased for my 55 chevy in early 69.

[@trentsrecords]

Hahaha that’s awesome! Bayou country is also great. Big CCR fan. Cheers man!

[@jnagarya519]

Most early LPs were actually compilations of previously released 78s/45s.

[@ilyapisman818]

Great finds Trent! I tend to remove all newer shrink but leave shrink on older records purely for the value factor. That said, I have come across a number of albums on my want list on which shrink shrunk a bit tighter over the years (perhaps sitting in a hot garage or what not) and warped their jackets vertically by squeezing them top to bottom. So I have become a bit more aware of that situation and look any warp in older shrunk copies just in case. Thanks for the great video!

[@trentsrecords]

Hey Ilya, totally understandable! I’ve taken shrink off some records where the jackets were warping as well, luckily none of the jackets were permanently warped!

[@deancronin6934]

I will leave the shrink on the following: - new albums - if the shrink has a hype sticker - is not a gatefold I’ve always appreciated our vinyl forefathers who left the shrink on so I will carry on with this hallowed tradition lol

[@trentsrecords]

Hey Dean, I totally get it man! For a little while I always kept it on, but I guess as time has gone on, if it doesn’t have a sticker I just don’t care that much and have begun taking them off. Guess I like feeling the jacket and how the colors look justttt a little bit deeper. I’m just a weirdo like that lol, cheers man!

[@EzSasuke]

Some of my old albums that had shrink wrap I started to notice the shrink adhering to the artwork, so I ended up removing them carefully. There is one record in shrink that was so stuck to the cover it actually tore off some of the cover when I tried to take it off. (Beware) All albums I bought that were in opened shrink were never warped, but I've had ones that were sealed as late as the 2010's warped. I feel like shrink does more damage than it does good. It's just cheap plastic in the end. Nowadays we have plastic outer sleeves that protect our albums just fine and won't stick to the album cover.

[@trentsrecords]

I absolutely understand that! I’ve had some sealed records and I don’t think I’ve had any major problems with warping, but have never heard of shrink adhering to the jacket! That’s kind of a scary thought hahah. I outer sleeve and inner sleeve every album so they’re still taken care of well

[@rodshard8605]

I wouldn't get too hung up about it. You'll end up having to see a shrink. For me it's the condition of the vinyl and the sleeve. I notice on US eBay sellers stating "still in shrink" but go to the condition and it's VG. So big f*****g deal. If you like the Bobo "Always there" track check out Side Effect cut of the tune. LL Smith "Expansions is nice too especially title cut. I think your channel is the best of "look what I picked up cheap" videos. Quite envious living in the UK seeing what is still around out there. I used to go over there a lot from 79 to 94 picking up soul 45s and albums. A large collecting scene here for that genre.

[@trentsrecords]

@@rodshard8605 Hey Rod, thanks for the comment and kind words! Definitely try to find deals whenever I can, gotta stick to a budget! Haha, but also wanna showcase that good music can still be had for cheap. Especially in local shops, and not just online. I agree about sellers price gouging just because there’s shrink, if the record isn’t clean then what’s the point?? I want the damn music to sound good lol. LL Smith’s Expansions is awesome though!! I rarely see his earlier Dutchmen work but I’m always on the look out, such great funky stuff. But there’s still a big community for soul 45’s in the US too, especially private press northern soul stuff out of Detroit and such. Those fetch crazy crazy prices, but it’s nice that some of them are getting reissued and can be had for affordable prices. Cheers Rod! Take care

[@rodshard8605]

I used to do it for a living. I obviously kept some but had to sell most to pay bills. Don't tend to buy re-issues unless it was previously unreleased like the 45 box sets and CDs of Motown stuff. Looking over here is a thankless task nowadays. Hardly ever find anything because there's so many soul and reggae collectors plus general sellers who thanks to eBay and discogs now know what to pick up. Same in USA I gather. A funny story. Wife and I went down to the Forest of Dean recently to see her sister. My wife says to me we're going to Chepstow so you can have a look round for records. Pointless I reply, dealer/collector Adey P. lives near there and no doubt loads of other bloody fans. So Saturday and I'd found an antique store with loads of records. Most I'd seen for a while but as usual invariably rubbish. I'm looking through and a couple walk in and starting looking through as well. After 10 minutes or so guy asks me what I'm looking for. Soul, reggae I reply. Oh he says I'm into that and so is my dad. You may know him. Adey P ? Jesus H. Ch..... !

[@mazzysmusic]

What store on the East side ? I love More. Cool pick ups. ✌🏻

[@trentsrecords]

It’s called Vortex music and movies in Kirkland. Can be hit or miss sometimes, but whenever Daren buys new collections it’s always fun to dig in there. Always some unique things popping up And thanks Mazzy!

[@ItsOnlyRockAndRollPODCAST]

Its funny how much I've agonized over whether or not to leave the shrink on an album. One time I purchased a 2nd pressing MONO Meet The Beatles and the shrink was kinda yellowed and tattered. SO the decision was easy - and man once it came off, I was now holding a Near Mint copy of Meet The Beatles, with striking contrasts, rich blacks, really white whites, and overall just beautiful. It looked like it came from the store in 1964, except of course for a 1/8th" strip of yellowing at the mouth of the sleeve where the shrink had pulled away a bit. So yeah, I say remove the shrink and expose the mint!!!!

[@trentsrecords]

Hahaha I am slowly starting to become this way. The jackets just look soooo nice when you take them off. The colors instantly pop because there’s no more dusty shrink on there anymore. It’s great!

[@kopprecords1450]

I leave my new albums in the shrink wrap with hype stickers. If it is a gatefold the shrink wrap goes. Great Channel🤘😊🔥

[@trentsrecords]

Thanks man! But totally understand about the gatefolds, just wanna see that beautiful inner cover!

[@dankennelly9761]

Very cool video Trent. WRT to shrink wrap, I take it off as soon as I get the records home. If there is a hype sticker or an OBI strip, I save them and put them in the outer jacket. Why do I save them? I don't know. I guess just to remind me about how, where, when I bought it. I have never purchased a record and paid more because it was still in the shrink. I agree with you, there is no correct answer to the question; shrink or no shrink? It's just personal preference. Long may you run... cheers!

[@trentsrecords]

Well everyone is entitled to their own practices! Since it’s your collection you collect and store them however you want and you can save eh where you want! That’s kind of the beauty of it, but I also agree. I wouldn’t pay more for an album in the shrink. I think that’s quite ridiculous and shouldn’t add value or at least not much. Thanks for the comment Dan, cheers!

[@SOUPENE]

i keep the shrink on if its in pretty good shape and if it has a hype sticker or price tag then even better but if its half way gone or torn up than its getting removed .

[@trentsrecords]

I’ll always keep the shrink on if there’s a hype sticker. I love hype stickers a lot! But I agree that if it’s torn up a little bit then I’ll prolly take it off. I usually take it off gatefolds, but not always

[@chandlerdickson3993]

Been getting back into the 70’s classic rock like crazy, been buying Thin Lizzy, Zep, Foghat,

[@trentsrecords]

Thin Lizzy doesn’t get talked about too much, but I love that band. Have ever since I was a kid

[@chandlerdickson3993]

@@trentsrecords it’s hard to find there stuff

[@jnagarya519]

I always kept by LPs in their shrink wrap. It preserves the collectability.

[@KcEverythingg]

Just found your channel. Digging the style and I just hit the subscribe.

[@trentsrecords]

Hey thanks man! I appreciate that. I just subscribed back too

[@KcEverythingg]

@@trentsrecords thanks brotha

[@kas6345]

i do the same, I listen before i buy some vinyl, i look it up on Discogs as well to see values

[@007KrausBean]

I typically leave the shrink on them just because that is one more layer of protection as far as I'm concerned. If it is pretty haggard I then will take it off, but otherwise I don't mind it on the jackets.

[@trentsrecords]

Totally fair, some people care about it and some don’t, and that’s ok! Cheers Croz and thank you!

[@chillepalmerz]

for me with the shrink it depends on how well the shrink is on. If it's kind of loose and ripping I take it off, if it's real tight on I'll sometimes keep it on. If there's a hype sticker I definitely keep it on

[@trentsrecords]

That’s how I tend to feel about it, but sometimes I’ll do a purge where I’m like why not just take it off? Let it breath a lil lol

[@marktubeie07]

Ahh NOOOO, bud don't take off the shrink! I took the shrink of some rare imports some years ago and regretted it. Ha, just what I think. The PF 'More' is a very underrated album, it's excellent. Great vid sir!

[@trentsrecords]

Hahaha I’ve taken it off a few of my albums! But I do enjoy the way the sleeve looks and feels without the shrink as well…

[@iblamesummers]

I use 4mil outer sleeves so the shrink wrap has to go period.

[@mazzysmusic]

I only keep on shrink if there’s a hype sticker. 🖐🏻

[@EmbryonicRobot]

Some cool finds. I tend to leave the shrink wrap on, unless it's a gatefold. It's an extra layer of protection. The only issue I ever had was with a 12" single housed in a very flimsy sleeve. The shrink did certainly shrink and the record was bending, but this was after 35 years, or so. The record was fine when I removed the shrink.

[@trentsrecords]

Thank you! It was most definitely an interesting afternoon of digging, but I’ve found a few albums in the shrink where the shrink had started to bend the jackets and I definitely took it off in those cases, would much rather save the integrity of the jacket!

[@HaakonOdinsson]

Hi, may I ask why you take the shrink wrap off gatefold album please? Thank you….its 2yrs old, but I hope you see this

[@EmbryonicRobot]

@@HaakonOdinsson I take the shrink wrap off gatefolds so I can see what's on the inner gatefold (photos, lyrics, credits, etc.). I know I can look this up online, but I like to see if for myself. That's the only reason.

[@HaakonOdinsson]

@@EmbryonicRobot thank you for taking the time to answer. Yeah I do that too, and I understand what you mean. Same reason why I love physical media rather than streaming, mp3 etc etc. I love holding it and reading the info on the media. Thanks again, all the very best

[@bigedhaaheo]

Aloha Trent's Records, I was just watching a Video by Telegram Sam, & She ask us to check out & subscribe to your channel, So I'm your 175th subscriber. I Really enjoyed watching this video. Awesome Record albums you picked up this past 2 weeks, wow that was quite a bit. As far as shrink wrap goes, I personally, will keep it on if it has a hype sticker or price tag with the stores name on it. If it's just the shrink wrap, I'll keep it on only if it's an original shrink wrap, I'll check to see if the wrapping has perfect holes in it, corners aren't bunch up & so on. Haven't seen that Steamhammer Record album in years, such a score. Thanks again for such a great video. Looking forward to seeing your next & of course as time permits I'll be checking out your previous Videos. Mahalo Ed

[@trentsrecords]

Hey Ed! Firstly, thank you for subbing! I greatly appreciate that. Sam was super nice and awesome to shout out my channel like that, took me by complete surprise! As for the shrink, I’ll definitely take it off if there’s imperfections on it because what’s the point then? And the steamhammer is great, was still very stoked to get a copy even with the writing all over it. Still a cool promo copy. Thanks so much Ed! I appreciate all the kind words, cheers!

[@chopayrussell9660]

If you have albums that old in the shrink keep it on , especially if it is in good condition

[@VinylandKicks86]

in my opinion you can never have too many extra copies of a Jimi Hendrix LP especially if they're a earlier pressing/repress.i like having different pressings of the same album if can pick em up for cheap and they have different sonics that don't sound like crap. as far as shrink wrap some collectors would chose a LP with the shrink of a album of the same pressing and same condition over a copy without it. at the end of the day it's all about preference i prefer with shrink.

[@trentsrecords]

Well I don’t usually keep duplicates of anything so I’ll probably trade one of them! I’ll usually spend some time and go back and forth between whatever two copies I have and keep whichever one I like the sound of the best. But totally agree that is all about the preference! That’s all this hobby really is anyways, just preference to whatever you like

[@parecordguy]

More is a really cool Floyd album. That reaction label Disraeli gears is pretty odd, mine is like yours with stereo on top and has gold record award sticker. Funny that you found are you experienced in the shrink, my copy is an original that’s in the shrink as well, I was lucky to find it where I did. Two killer trippy blues rock records there essentials. I think finding them in the shrink is awesome and keeping them in it is the way to go, I think it’s a great sign that whoever owned it likely took care of it and appreciated it. Also agree with swapping jackets, if it fits another one better who cares if you mix and match. I always keep any new pressings I get in the shrink to preserve as much as possible. Cool Chuck Berry comp. Nice video man 🤙🏼

[@trentsrecords]

Right? That bootleggy Disraeli gears is so odd. It’s rare and judging on the want/have ratio on Discogs people want it too?? Weird. But believe it or not the jackets may have been nice on those records but the wax itself was not that nice on either, always interesting when I see that. But thanks man! Appreciate it

[@BOBBRADLEYCHANNEL]

Trent solid finds, I only remove the shrink if it’s dirty between it and the record. Cheers

[@trentsrecords]

Cheers Bob!

[@kas6345]

I keep shrink wrap on, especially if it has a hype sticker, no nasty finger smudges

[@trentsrecords]

I definitely keep it on if there’s a sticker. I love hype stickers!

[@stevecarlsonvinylcommunity9147]

The shrink wrap controversy has raged for decades with no winners. I have gone on both sides but ultimately decided shrink wrap does not warp an album. If it is on real tight, then it may but otherwise leave it on, extra protection. I never had an issue. Again, a controversial topic in the record collecting community. Lol. Nice snag on Cream and PF.

[@trentsrecords]

It is most definitely a controversial topic! Even though, like most things with this hobby, it’s just personal preference hahaha. Sometimes I get impulsive and will take shrink off and sometimes I do not. To me, it just depends on the album I guess! Thanks for the comment and Cheers Steven, love your channel by the way!

[@twofromthetrunk9932]

The Beach Boys album is a good listen. I’m kind of a fan. I don’t get to wild about the shrink. If it has it on I’ll probably keep it. If it doesn’t that’s fine too. I sleeve inner and outer most of my albums.

[@trentsrecords]

I sleeve them too so that’s why I was just like well I’ll take it off, they’re still protected. So not a huge deal to me as long as there’s some protection there!

[@johncrabb4053]

I don’t have any opinion on the great shrink wrap debate. I take the off. Great finds.

[@trentsrecords]

See that’s where you’re wrong, taking it off is your opinion! Haha, thank you John!

[@johncrabb4053]

@@trentsrecords you got me on that one.

[@ianbalentine6950]

It depends, I have a bunch that has it. I guess I keep the shrink on if it's a single sleeve with no gatefold, new or original pressings.

[@trentsrecords]

That’s totally fair. I’ve got a couple new releases that are gatefolds that I haven’t taken them off of, but a few single sleeve originals with them on still too. We will see what I end up doing

[@big_burly_bro]

I'm pro shrink wrap.

[@primeanalogrecords]

Shrink wrap generally hasn't ever been OK for records since when opening no longer do you have pressure on all 4 sides which would in time result in warping! That said if you dont keep the record in the jacket there is no harm done! The only way I'll keep shrink on the cover is if it has great hype stickers! For instance I just got an Are You Experienced new! It had a hype sticker saying this version was approved by the Hendix family! BTW it is quiet and great Marino mastered version! Refuse to pay for the UHQR as really too much hype and wont pay that for packaging! Plus I also just purchased the same album on Music On Vinyl label mastered by Bernie Grundman!

[@trentsrecords]

Nowadays I’ll only keep it on for stickers too! But only if they’re original. Don’t care too much to do it for new albums, unless I really like the stickers. But I’ve just got the original tri-color label for now. I also didn’t get the UHQR, just felt I’d rather spend my money on various other original pressings and such. Cheers!

[@primeanalogrecords]

@@trentsrecords Also congrats on the OG's!!!

[@trentsrecords]

@@primeanalogrecords Thank you!!

[@victorbloom8286]

I have a Sonic Press of Sticky Fingers still in the Shrink . Its staying in the Shrink . The Beltbuckle has not been Punched out . And it will stay in the Shrink .

[@trentsrecords]

More power to ya! Never seen one in the shrink, that’s really cool!

[@thibs2442]

Ahh shrink wrap. I kind of go both ways on it. If it's preserved a record older than me and isn't bending or warping the jacket then I'll leave it on. Especially if it has a cool sticker. It's not detrimental to leave on and removing it does cause a jacket to deteriorate faster than leaving it on. Most if the time if the shrink is too tight I won't even remove it I will just cut some holes along the seams to relieve the pressure so it can stay on. The only time I will 100% remove the shrink is it is very dirty and is obscuring the record jacket. The people that are 100% for removal of the shrink all the time are crazy though. The shrink definitely does preserve the jacket and it also definitely increases the value of a record when sold so there is not really ever a valid reason to always remove it unless you just love to watch the world burn haha.

[@michaelmihlo1208]

Great finds. I leave the shrink on mine. I like the original look with the shrink. Peace.

[@trentsrecords]

Totally fair Michael! I’ve got some I’ve kept on and some I’ve taken off

[@danielbrodowski8446]

Sorrychoiceoflps

[@danielbrodowski8446]

Loveyourcpiceoflps