Today we are taking a look at our top 10 shaped records - all of the records in this article have passed through our hands and have been through our unique four-stage system, with some still being able to purchase through our online store.
1 - ‘Live it Up’ - Mental As Anything
This unique, banana shaped picture disc was released in 1985 under Epic Records. It features the title track on the A side, and ‘Good Friday’ on the B side. Even though this record is technically classed as a 7” single, it plays at 33rpm.
We love the design of this record, the colours are surprisingly sharp and detailed. It is also great to see such a random choice of shape for a record, with the band not just opting to release on a shaped disc that relates to the song they are trying to promote.
2 - ‘Smalltown Boy' - Bronski Beat
Released in 1984 by the Forbidden Fruit label, Bronski Beat opted for the more angular, jagged approach when promoting their latest single Smalltown Boy. We love this shaped release as it is incredibly vivid and descriptive - we tend not to see too many shaped discs leaning into the sharp, pointy style very often.
You'll probably notice that our copy in the pictures has some brown discolouration. This is something that has, unfortunately, affected quite a number of originally transparent records.
The B side of this shaped record plays ‘Memories’, which was released in the same year as Smalltown Boy - but this record’s title track was the biggest hit for Bronski Beat.
3 - ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas’ - Band Aid
This Christmas classic was released as a guitar shaped picture disc back in 1985 and plays just like a regular 7”. This picture disc also features the track ‘One Year On’, in which Bob Geldof and Midge Ure can be heard providing updates on how the public’s donations have helps those in need across Africa.
4 - Shooting From the Heart’ - Cliff Richard
Released in 1984, ‘Shooting From the Heart’ was one of two singles from the album ‘The Rock Connection’ by Cliff Richard; the other being ‘Heart User’. It was only fitting that Cliff would then release this single as a heart-shaped picture disc.
5 - ‘Catch a Falling Star’ - Gary Holton
Another release from ’84 sees Gary Holton release this particular single in the form of a star shaped picture disc with the disc also playing the track ‘Angel’. Naturally, we wouldn’t advocate throwing any records at any time, but especially not this one…
6 - ‘Paradise City’ - Guns ’N’ Roses
A personal favourite of all of us at Atlas Records - released in 1989, the iconic gun shaped picture disc from Guns ’N’ Roses is one of the more valuable pics on our list with clean copies being relatively hard to come by. We are fortunate enough to have a near mint copy of it available to purchase on our website right now!
7 - ‘All Around the World’ - The Fraggles
What may look like an ordinary, rectangle-shaped picture disc could potentially harbour a childhood’s worth of nostalgia - it certainly did for us when it came in to be processed and pictured! This Fraggle Rock-inspired record is printed on its reverse in the form of a postcard addressed to the character ‘Gobo’ from the hit ‘80s show.
8 - ‘Berserker’ - Gary Newman
This shaped picture disc is almost bust-like in appearance, with Newman’s head-shot taking up the entirety of the record’s A side. The B side reveals the rest of Newman’s outfit as well as the rack listing details for the record itself. The B side plays the track ‘Empty Bed, Empty Heart’.
9 - ‘Nightrain’ - Guns ’N’ Roses
Another entry on this list from Guns ’N’ Roses, and another record of theirs that was released in 1989. This satchel-shaped picture disc features incredible detail, showing all of the gun’s holster detailing, as well as the age-effect colouring on the satchel itself. The B side of this picture disc plays the track ‘Reckless Life’. Uncut versions of this shaped record exist on the secondary market and can fetch hundreds of pounds.
10 - ‘Kissing With Confidence’ - Will Powers
One of the more symmetrical entries on this list, this 1983 release of ‘Kissing With Confidence’ features the same picture design on both the A and B sides, with the only notable difference between the two being that the B side details the track information and release credits of the record. I am confident in saying that this is the only shaped picture disc that we’ve seen at Atlas Records that is shaped to look like a giant pair of lips!
Do you own any of these records, or is there another one you'd like to share?
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