Tool Vinyl Buyers Guide

June 11, 2010

This guide is a buyers/sellers guide for tool vinyl. I have put together all the information you will need to find the correct official tool vinyl. It sickens me how much money bootlegers are making on Ebay from dodgy bootlegs and rip off- reissues which are actually just bootlegs also. Here are some tips to ensure you get the right vinyl.

Tip 1 - Know what year the vinyl was first pressed

Tip 2 - Know what the catalog number is

Tip 3 - Know what the original artwork looks like

Tip 4 - If buying online, particularly on Ebay ask sellers questions - with all the information you have in this guide you should be able to ask the sort of questions that will ensure you get official vinyl. What is a catalog number? Can I see a photo of the label or inlay?


Opiate - Vinyl, 12", EP

Released: 17 Sep 1996

  • A1- Sweat 3:47
  • A2- Hush 2:48
  • A3- Part Of Me 3:17
  • B1- Cold And Ugly (Live) 4:10
  • B2- Jerk-Off (Live) 4:22
  • B3- Opiate 5:22

Catalog#: 72445-11027-1

These first pressings should still have "PARENTAL ADVISORY" stickers on the front of the jacket (unlike later repressings that have it printed on the jacket.) Side B is double cut, e.g. if you nudge the needle over on Cold & Ugly (B1), you hit a second groove, which plays the hidden track The Gaping Lotus Experience.

Catalog#: 61422-31027-1 - Reissue

This Volcano reissue uses a sleeve that still contains the Zoo logo. The label says Volcano. Because of that, the old Zoo cat# of 72445-11027-1 is in small print on the back, however, the vinyl contains the new cat#. Side B is double cut.

  • Etching: Side A: 72445-11027-1-A1 (some copies state: 61422-31027-1-A1 instead) Side B: 72445-11027-1-B1
  • Label: ℗ & © Volcano Entertainment 3, L.L.C. Manufactured by Zomba Recording Corporation. Printed in the U.S.A.
  • Back of vinyl: ℗© 1992 BMG Music. Manufactured and distributed by BMG Entertainment. Barcode: 6 1422-31027-1 9

Catalog#: 61422-31027-1 - Mispress

This mispress plays side B on both sides. This Volcano reissue uses a sleeve that still contains the Zoo logo. The label says Volcano. Because of that, the old Zoo cat# of 72445-11027-1 is in small print on the back, however, the vinyl contains the new cat#.

Differences from the correct pressing:

  • The spine does not contain the name of the EP or the band.
  • The copyright information is a slightly different font and colour.
  • The Parental Advisory is not part of the sleeve, it is a sticker.
  • Both sides are double cut.

Etching: 72445-11027-1-A1 on both sides.

Opiate Vinyl on eBay:

Tool Opiate Sealed copy Perfect Tool Opiate Sealed copy Perfect Paypal 1 Bid US $.99 3h 57m
Tool Opiate EPvinyl record perfect circle Tool Opiate EPvinyl record perfect circle Paypal US $12.95 1d 9h 13m
TOOLOPIATE REMASTEREDADVISORYLP TOOLOPIATE REMASTEREDADVISORYLP Paypal US $12.55 2d 31m

Undertow - 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album

Released: April 6, 1993

  • A1- Intolerance 4:54
  • A2- Prison Sex 4:55
  • A3- Sober 5:06
  • B1- Bottom 7:13
  • B2- Crawl Away 5:29
  • B3- Swamp Song 5:31
  • C1- Undertow 5:21
  • C2- 4° 6:02
  • C3- Flood 7:45
  • D1- Disgustipated 15:47

Catalog# 72445-11052-1 -Original Issue 1993

Catalog# 72445-11052-1 - Repress 1996

This is a repress of the Undertow album, released in 1993.This one comes with printed inner sleeves and a parental advisory sticker on the front of the vinyl jacket.

  • Etching: Side A: 72445-11052-1-A , Side B: 72445-11052-1-B, Side C: 72445-11052-1-C , Side D: 72445-11052-1-D
  • Label: ℗ & © BMG Music. All rights reserved. 72445-11052-1-RE
  • Back of vinyl: ℗© 1993 BMG Music. Manufactured and distributed by BMG Entertainment. Barcode: 6 1422-31052-1 5

Catalog#: 61422-31052-1- Repress 1999

1999 re-issue Sony BMG Music Released in the original Zoo sleeve,

Catalog#: 61422-31052-1-Repress 2004

Most common on eBay in 2010.

Undertow Grey Promo 12" Vinyl

Catalog#: ZP11052-1

  • For Promotion only not for resale.
  • Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Music, New York, NY. Printed in the USA.
  • Published by Toolshed Music [ASCAP].

Undertow Clear Green Promo 12" Vinyl

Catalog#: ZP11052-1

  • For Promotion only not for resale.
  • Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Music, New York, NY. Printed in the USA.
  • Published by Toolshed Music [ASCAP].
  • 72445-11052-1 On labal

Neither of the promotional vinyls included the final track "Disgustipated" so that the entire album could fit onto one disc.

Undertow Vinyl on eBay:

Tool Vinyl 12 Opiate Undertow Record 1st printing Tool Vinyl 12 Opiate Undertow Record 1st printing Paypal 2 Bids US $1.04 1d 22m
TOOL UNDERTOW NEW SEALED 2LP SET TOOL UNDERTOW NEW SEALED 2LP SET Paypal US $21.99 1d 6h 55m
TOOL  grey Promo Vinyl LP  Undertow TOOL grey Promo Vinyl LP Undertow Paypal US $134.99 1d 16h 19m

Sober 12", Picture Disc, Promo, UK

Released:1993

  • A - Sober 5:06
  • B1 - Prison Sex 4:55
  • B2 - Intolerence 4:34

Catalog#: 74321220431

Prision Sex White Vinyl UK - Promo

Release: 1993

  • 01- Prison Sex
  • 02- Undertow (live)
  • 03- Opiate (live)
  • 04- Prison Sex (edit)

Catalog# 74321 19432-1

If you are lucky you will find one with the big fat lady art card.

Sober 12" Promo Vinyl

Released: 1994

  • A1- Sober
  • B1- Intolerance (Live)

Catalog#: ANGST 1

Black Promo

Prison Sex - Vinyl, 12", Promo, Single UK

  • A1- Prison Sex
  • B1- Jerk-Off (Live)

Catalog#: TOOL 002

Housed in black sleeve. Barcode and Other Identifiers: Matrix Number (Stamped): TOOL A-1-1-1, TOOL B-1-1-1

Tool Sober -  Vinyl, 12", Promo, Single UK

  • A1- Sober 5:06
  • B1- Intolerence 4:54
  • B2- Opiate  5:22

Catalog#: TOOL 001

Housed in black sleeve. Original release came with 8x10 glossy photo of the band and a press release from BMG and is housed in a die cut black sleeve.

Aenima - 2 x Vinyl, Album, LP, Gatefold

Released: 17 Sep 1996

  • A1 - Stinkfist 5:11
  • A2 - Eulogy 8:29
  • A3 - H. 6:03
  • A4 - Useful Idiot 0:39
  • B1 - Forty Six & 2 6:03
  • B2 - Message To Harry Manback 1:53
  • B3 - Hooker With A Penis 4:34
  • B4 - Intermission 0:56
  • B5 - Jimmy 5:24
  • C1 - Die Eier Von Satan 2:17
  • C2 - Pushit 9:56
  • C3 - Cesaro Summability 1:26
  • C4 - Ænima 6:40
  • D1 - (-) Ions 4:00
  • D2 - Third Eye 13:47

The track "Useful Idiot" features the sound of the end of a gramophone record gaining more sound and gets louder as the track progresses. The track was set at the end of side 1 of the vinyl versions of Ænima as a joke to fool those who owned the version.

Catalog#: 72445 11087 1

Release has four black labeled sides, other than the runoutgrooves there are no side indications. Side A ends in a locked groove. This jacket has smaller "TOOL AENIMA" and "Zoo" logos. Its barcode is larger and has a VERY faint catalog number on the bottom of the spine (it may be hard to see.) Back bottom reads: "The BMG and Zoo Entertainment logos are trademarks of BMG Music • ℗ © 1996 BMG Music • All Rights Reserved • Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Entertainment, New York, NY • Printed in U.S.A. • 72445-11087-1"

Catalog#: 61422 31087 1 and 61422 31145 1

It has a larger, more blurred "TOOL AENIMA" print on spine, only Zoo logo on back (no BMG logo) smaller barcode, catalog number on spine 61422-31087-1. Also a larger Zoo logo on spine (as compared to the 72445-11087-1 pressing.) The vinyl labels are significantly different as well. The back bottom reads: "The Zoo Entertainment logo is a trademark of Volcano Entertainment. • ℗ © 1996 Volcano Entertainment LLC 1540 Broadway New York, NY 10036 • Warning All Rights reserved • Unauthorized Duplication Is A Violation OF Applicable Laws • Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Entertainment, New York, NY • Printed in U.S.A. • 61422-31087-1"

Aenima Vinyl on eBay:
*Watch out for fakes - I can't control what specific auctions eBay show.

TOOL AENIMA TOOL AENIMA Paypal 3 Bids US $19.16 19h 57m
SEALED TOOL AENIMA ZOO BMG ORIG REL 1996 2XLP SEALED SEALED TOOL AENIMA ZOO BMG ORIG REL 1996 2XLP SEALED Paypal US $499.00 1d 3h 29m
TOOL AENIMA 2 X LP COLOR VINYL W INSERT TOOL AENIMA 2 X LP COLOR VINYL W INSERT Paypal 4 Bids US $20.50 1d 15h 56m

Selections From Ænima

Released: 1996

  • A1- Stinkfist 5:10
  • A2- H. 6:07
  • A3- Useful Idiot 0:39
  • B1- Forty Six & 2 6:03
  • B2- Intermission 0:56
  • B3- Jimmy 5:23
  • B4- (-) Ions 3:58

Catalog#: Tool 001

Cesaro Summability 12", Promo, Picture Disc, Limited Edition

Released: 1996

  • A1- Cesaro Summability 1:26
  • A2- Ænima 6:40
  • B- Third Eye 13:47

Catalog#: ZP17666-1

Ænima promotional picture disc limited to 5000 copies. Comes in a clear "collectors" sleeve (some with a Tool postcard/sticker promoting the release of the album).

Etching: Side A: L-47140 ZP17666-1-A Gateway LC, Side B: L-47140-X , ZP17666-1-B

Stinkfist 10", Picture Disc, Promo

Released:01 Oct 1996

  • A1- Stinkfist
  • A2- Opiate
  • B1- Sober
  • B2- Prison Sex

Catalog#: ZP17211-1

This picture disc 10" was given away with the first copies of Tool's newly released (at the time) album Ænima.

Barcode and Other Identifiers:

  • Barcode (on sticker of sleeve): 6 1422-31721-1
  • Other (Etching): Side A: ZP 17211-1-A and L 47261
  • Other (Etching): Side B: ZP 17211-1-6 and L 47261-X

Lateralus 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Picture Disc, Limited Edition, Gatefold

Released:26 Aug 2005

  • A1- The Grudge 8:36
  • A2- Eon Blue Apocalypse 1:04
  • A3- The Patient 7:13
  • A4- Mantra 1:12
  • B1- Schism 6:47
  • B2- Parabol 3:04
  • B3- Parabola 6:03
  • B4- Disposition 4:46
  • C1- Ticks & Leeches 8:10
  • C2- Lateralus 9:24
  • D1- Reflection 11:07
  • D2- Triad 8:46
  • D3- Faaip De Oiad 2:39

Catalog#:61422-31160-1 LP and 61422-31160-1 LP

The catalog numbers are etched into the vinyl close to the centre - in a hand-writing like font. 250-300 copies were hand-signed by all four band members and sold through the band's website.

  • On back: ℗ & © 2000 Volcano Entertainment II, L.L.C. Manufactured in the United States by Zomba Recording Corporation Printed in the United States.
  • On Disc: ℗ & © 2001 Tool Dissectional, L.L.C. / Volcano Entertainment II, L.L.C.
  • On sleeve: ℗ & © 2003 Tool Dissectional, L.L.C. / Volcano Entertainment II, L.L.C. Manufactured in the United States by Zomba Recording Corporation.

Lateralus Vinyl on eBay:

Tool Lateralus 2x LP Picture Disc Vinyl SEALED Tool Lateralus 2x LP Picture Disc Vinyl SEALED Paypal 4 Bids US $21.35 14h 41m
TOOL LATERALUS ULTRA RARE VINYL MINT RARE COVER TOOL LATERALUS ULTRA RARE VINYL MINT RARE COVER Paypal 0 Bid US $29.33 19h 14m
TOOL LATERALUS LP PICTURE DISC MINT TOOL LATERALUS LP PICTURE DISC MINT Paypal 4 Bids US $16.51 1d 16h 13m

Lateralus LP, Picture Disc, Promo, Limited Edition

Released: 2005

  • A1- The Grudge - 8:34
  • A2- Eon Blue Apocalypse - 1:05
  • A3- The Patient - 7:14
  • A4- Ticks & Leeches - 8:07
  • B1- Lateralus - 9:22
  • B2- Reflection - 11:08

Catalog#:LATER1-1

Tool Vinyl Artwork