You can find info below. I have records, 8 tracks, CD's and even
cassettes with cutout holes for returns that were resold, some of the
cassettes and 8 tracks shells themselves even a hole in them! A local
used record store here had its own version in the late 1970's, they
would put a magic marker "X" on them. He was buying out stores and big
collections at the time and had a gigantic 50 cents rack for the common
overflow. Many good items there, a roommate of mine a couple of times
was able to remove the X mark if new enough, and some were worth good
money to others(Rolling Stones "Satanic Majesties Request" w/ the 3-d
cover for example), he even resold one or two back to the same store for
a higher price after cleaning them up!!!
Cut-out (recording industry)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the recording industry, a cut-out refers to a deeply-discounted or
remaindered copy of an LP, cassette tape, Compact Disc, or other item.
When LPs were the primary medium for distribution or recording,
manufacturers would physically cut the corner, punch a hole, or add a
notch to the spine of the jacket of unsold records returned from
retailers; these "cut-outs" might then be re-sold to record retailers or
other sales outlets for sale at a discounted price. A special section of
a record store devoted to such items was known as the cut-out bin or
bargain bin. As tapes and CDs supplanted LPs, the mechanisms for
indicating a cut-out changed. On cassettes, a hole tended to be punched
or burned through the case and through its printed insert. On CDs (a
practice that continues today), a section of varying size is taken out
of the spine of the jewel case and its paper track listing.
Also see:
http://foetusized.org/cdcutouts.html
http://www.moremusic.co.uk/links/features/cut-out.htm
Retrieved from
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cut-out_%28recording_industry%29";
Robert Wasserman
Robert.Wasserman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sound Archives Proj. Asst./Lead Tech.
Wisconsin Historical Society
608-264-6473
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rod Smear
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 10:54 AM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ARSCLIST] lp, cassette, 8-track cut-outs?
Can anyone explain why certain LP's used to have a "cut-out hole" in
them, usually in the upper right or left portions of the album cover?
Did this also apply to 8-track tape cartridges as well?
Rod