Roots Archives Forum

Greetings,

I do collect reggae music but not on LP formatt.Its either CD or mp3.However i do search for LP scans on internet and marry them with my mp3 collection.Would LP collectors help me what they mean by:

1.Double A side
2.7",10" & 12" (Do they mean the length of the track?..but the track's length is in min. & secs.)
3.Dubplate
4.EP

Love - Kandi.

answers could get lengthy (especially for 2 & 3), but off the top these all (primarily) refer to vinyl record formats other than the LP.

2. these are just size of record. But length and content are not standardized at all. Usually 7" has a vocal on the A side and version on the flip. Could be vocals on both sides, and then both may be labelled as side A or side 1.

The bigger ones could be the same as 7" for the same tune, or have extra content. Some variations include:

Vocal + DJ / one or two versions
Vocal + dub / one or two versions

Dub and versions are similar. I like a version with most of the vocals taken out (but not much remix) followed by a nice dub.

Or there could be separate tunes on each side, either vocal only or with DJ and/or dub. Even some with Vocal + DJ + dub all on one side.

After all that there are the exception cases like labels with wrong artist, title or no information and records where the version tune doesn't match with the vocal.

Double A-side - When a vinyl single (12", 10" or 7") is released they usually mark one side as A and the other as B. Or one side 1 and the other 2. Double A-side is mostly a way of saying that both songs are of equal importance and that none is to be regarded as less importance.

The second question refers to the size of the record as vtov says. A 7" are those small record often with a large center hole. 10" are larger but still they are smaller than 12". 12" is the format almost all full length albums are in. In reggae a lot of singles are also available as discomixes (ie. vocal with dub and/or deejay following) in the 12" format.

Dubplate is something that hasn't been released officially. Some dubplates get official releases later on. Dubplates can come in various formats but most often they used to be presses in one-off acetates (they most often look like 10" vinyl records). Nowadays a lot of dubplates get played through computers, CD-R's or DAT's. Due to it being cheaper and more durable than pressing an acetate (that can't get played too many times).

EP means extended play and means something with more songs than a single but less than an LP (long play). The distinction between a single and an EP can be blurry as well as an EP and an LP.