Tool Vinyl Buyers Guide

166

Updated: December 2018

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. Each vinyl has photos and identifiers to ensure you get the correct vinyl and not get ripped off. If you are buying online, I highly suggest you use the information in this guide to ask sellers questions. If you find any information you believe to be incorrect in this guide, get in touch via the contact page and I will investigate.


Opiate – Vinyl, 12″, EP

  • A1- Sweat 3:47
  • A2- Hush 2:48
  • A3- Part Of Me 3:17
  • B1- Cold And Ugly (Live) 4:10 / The Gaping Lotus Experience (2:21)
  • B2- Jerk-Off (Live) 4:22
  • B3- Opiate 5:22

72445-11027-1 – 1996 Original Release

These pressings have the Zoo cat# 72445-11027-1 printed on the back cover, inner sleeve and labels. PA “Explicit Lyrics” sticker (a bigger one) is placed on cover (under shrink). Sealed in old style with vertical shrink overlap visible on back. Inner sleeves are printed and contains the cat# on front bottom center of sleeve (printed in white). The labels are black.

61422-31027-1 – Volcano Reissue – 1997

Notes: 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#. These 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. Manufactured By – Zomba Recording Corporation, Distributed By – BMG Music – Phonographic Copyright (p) – Volcano Entertainment III

Identifiers:

  • Barcode: 6 1422-31027-1 9
  • Matrix / Runout (Side A): 61422-31027-1-A3 RE
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B): 61422-31027-1-B4 RE

Back of sleeve: The BMG and Zoo Entertainment logos are trademarks of BMG Music, ℗ © 1992 BMG Music • All Rights Reserved, Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Entertainment, New York, NY • Printed in U.S.A. 72445-11027-1
On vinyl sticker: ℗ & © Volcano Entertainment 3, L.L.C. Manufactured by Zomba Recording Corporation All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A., 61422-31027-1

 

61422-31027-1 – 2007 Reissue 

Most recent release in 2017, very common, has white labels, *Track B1 is double-cut with “The Gaping Lotus Experience.” When one track is playing, bump the needle over to play the other. That’s why the track looks like it’s 7 minutes.

Labels: ℗ & © Volcano Entertainment 3, L.L.C., Manufactured by Zomba Recording Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 61422-31027-1
Back cover: ℗ © 1992 BMG Music, Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Entertainment, New York, NY Original Cat. # of 72445-11027-1 included on back cover under barcode (see photo below).

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.

Catalog#: 61422-31027-1 – Undertow Mispress

All of the labels and cover suggest this album is Opiate, however it’s actually a misprint tracks from Undertow A1-Intolerance, A2-Prison Sex, A3- Sober, B1-Bottom, B2-Crawl Away, B3-Swamp Song. The cover and type of sealing are identical to 1997 Reissue, so the only way to know if you have one is to listen to the album. 

Opiate Vinyl on eBay:


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

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. Both the Clear Green and Grey releases were in 1993.

Catalog# 72445-11052-1 -RE – 1996 release with printed sleeves 

This is the first full release of the Undertow with all tracks. This one comes with printed inner sleeves and a parental advisory sticker on the front of the vinyl jacket. Has very faint catalog number on bottom spine. Zoo logo and BMG logo on back sleeve, barcode (1 ¼” L x 5/8” h), barcode is 61422-31052-1, Has Parental Advisory Sticker on bottom right of front sleeve,  Shrink wrap sealed from front top to bottom center of back sleeve side.

How to Identify: Printed inner sleeves rather than generic white sleeves like the later versions, “x-ray” labels. “Parental Advisory” sticker on shrink wrap that is larger and has more white, see photo below.

  • 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: “The BMG and Zoo Entertainment logos are trademarks of BMG Music • ℗ © 1993 BMG Music • All Rights Reserved • Manufactured and Distributed by BMG Entertainment, New York, NY • Printed in U.S.A. • 72445-11052-1-RE”

Catalog#: 61422-31052-1- Repress 1999

1999 re-issue Sony BMG Music Released in the original Zoo sleeve. This Volcano reissue uses a sleeve that still contains the Zoo logo. The label says Volcano and Tool Dissectional. Because of that, the old Zoo cat# of 72445-11052-1-RE is in small print on the back, however, the vinyl contains the new cat#.  This sleeve has a Parental Advisory sticker on the cover.

How to Identify: Generic inners, plain white labels, “PA” sticker, back of sleeve has Sony BMG logo.

  • Etching: Side A: 72445-31052-1-A1, Side B: 72445-31052-1-B1, Side C: 72445-31052-1-C1, Side D: 72445-31052-1-D1
  • On label: ℗ & © 1993 Volcano Entertainment II, LLC.  Manufactured in the United States by Zomba Recording Corporation. Printed in U.S.A. 61422-31052-1
  • On sleeve: ℗© 1993 BMG Music.  Manufactured and distributed by BMG Entertainment. Barcode: 6 1422-31052-1 5

Catalog#: 61422-31052-1-Repress 2006 

The 2006 repress is very generic. There are generic white inners, the PA sign is printed not snickered. The back sleeve no longer has the Sony BMG logo, they are Tool Dissectional and volcano logos.

How to Identify: Generic inners, white labels, “PA” printed, not stickered

Undertow Vinyl on eBay:


Sober 12″, Picture Disc, Promo, UK

Released:1993

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

Catalog#: 74321220431

Artwork and lyrics pictured on both sides. Barcode: 7 43212 20431 5, Label Code: LC 6410 , Rights Society: BIEM/GEMA , Matrix / Runout (Side A (Etched)): 74321-22043-1-A1, Matrix / Runout (Side B (Etched)): 74321-22043-1-B1

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. Contains the original version of opiate from the opiate ep/, original version of all other tracks from the album undertow. Live versions of undertow and opiate recorded live at lollapalooza ’93 on the following dates: 7/20, charles town,wv; 7/21, burgettstown,pa; 8/6, irwindale,ca.


Sober 12″ Promo Vinyl

Released: 1994

  • A1- Sober
  • B1- Intolerance (Live)

Catalog#: ANGST 1

Black Promo -Housed in a die cut black sleeve. Intolerance recorded at Lollapalooza, Charles Town, WV, 20 July 1993.


Prison Sex – Vinyl, 12″, Promo, Single UK

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

Catalog#: TOOL 002

TOOL Prison Sex UK promotional-only vinyl 12″, also including a Live Version of Jerk Off, in plain black die-cut 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 8×10 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#: 61422 31087 1 Pressing A (1stPressing) (17 Sept – 1996)

It has a larger, more blurred “TOOL AENIMA” print on spine, only Zoo logo on back (no BMG logo) smaller barcode (1 ¼” L x 5/8” h), barcode is 61422-31087-1, catalog number on spine 61422-31087-1. Also a larger Zoo logo on spine(logo is ¼” diameter) (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”, Has Tool Aenima sticker front top left of shrink wrap, Has Parental Advisory Sticker on bottom right of front sleeve, Shrink wrap sealed from front top to bottom center of back sleeve side, Some copies have cut-out indicating promotional copy.

Catalog#: 72445 11087 1 – Pressing B (2nd Pressing) (17 Sept – 1996)

Release has printed labels, although very faint (look at photos below). 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” (the logo is 1 1/4″” long) and “Zoo” (13/8” L x 7/8” h) 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 number on bottom spine 72445 11087 1, Large barcode (13/8” L x 7/8” h),  All vinyl have 72445-11087-1-A1 REI on them, Has Tool Aenima sticker front bottom center of shrink wrap, Has Parental Advisory Sticker on bottom right of front sleeve, Shrink wrap sealed from front top to bottom center of back sleeve side, Some sealed copies have over barcode sticker – 614224 11441, Comes with printed inner sleeves

Catalog#: 61422 31145 1– (3rd Pressing) (24 Jan – 1997)

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 61422-31145-1 and larger Zoo logo on spine. Sticker on shrink wrap reads: TOOL ÆNIMA 72445-11087-1 (different to spine + back bottom). Track A4 ends in a locked runout groove. The sound it contains, also continues on the run-in groove of side B. 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. • 61422-31145-1”

Aenima Vinyl on eBay:
*I can’t control what specific auctions eBay show, so check to make sure you don’t bid on fakes.


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 –The cover is holographic, and it is a picture disc as shown in the photos below. There are counterfeit copies floating around, so make sure you look at the photos. Legit copies that are new will have the sticker, and the counterfeit copies have are scans rather than actually being holographic.  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:


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


166 Comments

  1. I”ve bought today a double picture disc of lateralus today but i can not find it on the internet. Such a pitty i can not post any pictures here. Would love to find out what exactly i boughy

  2. Hi, I’ve found an offer on discogs for Tool-Aenima and I was wondering if it’s an original press or a good fake.
    I already asked for many pictures and they all seem to match the guide, but still I’m not sure if it’s an original press. All those bootlegs make me suspicious about the listed offers online.
    So here is what this offer is giving:

    The bottom of the back 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” ; next to the text is a small ZOO-Logo and next to that a small BMG-Logo ; in the right corner on the back is a barcode with the number ‘6 1422-31087-1 1’ underneath. My doubt here is that all descriptions of the vinyl, that I’ve seen online, say that the catalog number is VERY faint and may be hard to see. But on the pictures the barcode and the number are pretty sharp.

    The seller took some photos of the sleeves. There is no missing out, we have the Eye, the Blue Man, the Doctor and the sleeve with the 36 (?) pictures.

    He/She also send a picture of a piece of shrink wrap that was kept with the stickers. Here is one thing that I’m confused about, the Parental Advisory Sticker is quite on the same height as the Tool-Aenima Sticker. Is this how it was stuck on the original one?

    The other thing is the code that is engraved in all vinyl. The photos say the number ‘72445-11087-1 A1/B1/C1/D1 RE1’ is on all vinyl. That is also what the guide says, but on the pictures of the guide and on many other websites I’ve seen some faint paintings or pictures in the center of the vinyl disc. The given photos of the sellers don’t seem to have them. It looks just silver/metallic.

    So, here I’m asking for some advice on whether it’s real or a bootleg.

    Greetings.

  3. I bought an undertow vinyl with a grey UK promo sleeve. And the vinyl is red and black marble. Is this an official promo or a bootleg?

  4. Hi. Very informative and nice site!
    Two questions. How about Salival? No official release, only bootlegs?
    This overview, does it only consider US releases, not European, Asian etc?

  5. That is correct..no official Salival. In terms of question 2…the guide is not an attempt to be a complete guide of all releases across all regions… it’s an attempt to provide obvious identifiers of the main releases to avoid counterfeit copies…and to be able to tell the difference between the original pressings and reissues. There are also various miss pressings and test pressings which I haven’t touched on.

  6. There was a bit on a blog earlier this year about a remaster and reissue of their albums on vinyl, (presumably) including 10,000 Days. Any word on that?

  7. I’ve got an opiate vinyl, it looks pretty legitimate, however the gaming lotus experience isn’t on a second groove, but instead it’s after a long period of silence, just like on the CD. Is it a bootleg?

  8. @Lui
    I bought a new version of Opiate and it looks exactly like the one a friend of mine got for his Birthday. My new version has no second groove and the song is at the end of Opiate. But my friend´s EP has the song in a second groove. I don´t know which way it was meant to be but your version should be legit.

  9. I have a copy of Lateralus on vinyl and sides C and D are exactly the same. They are both side D. Has anyone heard of this before?

  10. So…. in all honesty, I’d really love to have a copy of Aenima, 10,000 Days and Salival in my record collection, but I’m not going to spend $300 to $1,000+ for an original.

    Does anyone have either of these, and could you testify to the audio quality of them?

    – aenima gatefold, black vinyl single art-sleeve with Chet Zar eye/b+photos, without bill-hicks/third-eye man sleeve.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/264243999119?ViewItem=&item=264243999119

    – 10,000 days gatefold, black vinyl, photo-sleeves, alex grey gatefold art

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/TOOL-10000-DAYS-DOUBLE-VINYL-LP-Gatefold-new/183736593544?hash=item2ac78dec88:g:IckAAOSwD~Fb4KSq

    $50 or so isn’t too shabby, especially considering the fact that the bootlegs are now kind of a cult-status in their own right….. but if the audio sucks, then they wouldn’t be worth anything. Should I just wait to see if the rumors are true that TOOL is planning to issue/reissue these?

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