Showcase of some cool looking shaped picture discs

Made for looks rather than actual listening, shaped picture discs combine the properties of custom shaped vinyl and picture discs. They are constructed like a sandwich, consisting of a vinyl core, a printed label, and two thin layers of clear plastic films, that make the images visible under the playable area. The grooves are then pressed into this outer PE foil and the record is shaped into various geometric shapes using a cutting tool. Sound quality is inferior to regular vinyl, due to the material it's made of and the depth that the grooves can be cut to. Mostly considered rare collector's items, we won't argue the sound quality or the necessity of these records, so here's a showcase of some cool looking shaped picture discs released in the last 40 years, along with a video showing the production process of regular picture discs.

• AC/DC Danger Rare, limited edition picture disc featuring a color cartoon fly. The record features "Danger" and "Back In Business" both taken from AC/DC's "Fly On The Wall" album. (Discogs...)
• Anti Flag Bacon Hand numbered, bacon strips shaped picture disc, limited to 500 copies. Released by A-F Records and pressed at Pirates Press in 2012, it features two unreleased tracks by Anti-Flag. Same media on both sides. (Discogs...)
• Balzac w/ Tropical Gorilla & Not Rebound T.W.I.M Bomber Kid die-cut head shaped picture disc limited to 500 copies. (Discogs...)
• Balzac Deep Blue Shaped picture disc featuring a die cut rendering of Balzac's iconic skull mascot on side-A and a full color band photo on side-B. Limited to 500 copies, includes non-album versions of the songs "Deep Blue" and "Alone". (Discogs...)
• Beastie Boys No Sleep Till Brooklyn Limited edition, crashed aircraft shaped picture disc featuring two classic cuts from the "Licensed To Ill" album. (Discogs...)
• Briar Edge Of A Broken Heart Rare, anatomical heart shaped picture disc, featuring a cover version Bon Jovi's track and "Don't Forget Me When You're On Your Island" on the B-side which was written by Jonathan King. The release came with an included bandana. (Discogs...)
• Corrosion Of Conformity King Of The Rotten Limited edition, 3-track promotional pig-shaped vinyl single, also including non-album tracks "Fuel [Jam-box Tape]" and "I've Heard It Before". (Discogs...)
• Danzig Mother Limited edition, skull shaped vinyl single, featuring a live version of "Mother" recorded at Irvine Meadows, California on October 31st 1992. (Discogs...)
• Devo Beautiful World Limited edition, 2-track die-cut picture disc in the shape of an astronaut mask. Also includes non LP track "Nu-Tra Speaks". (Discogs...)
• Dj Shadow Vs. Radiohead The Gloaming Picture disc with a likeness of US ex vice-president Dick Cheney with horns and smoke coming out of his nose. Limited to 2,000 copies, most were given away to DJs and peers, while a few hundred were given for free to those who ordered $22 or more directly from the official DJ Shadow store. (Discogs...)
• Dr. Lektroluv Live At Lowlands Head shaped picture disc with Dr. Lektroluv's logo limited to 400 copies. It features three tracks taken from his Live At Lowlands mix-cd. (Discogs...)
• D.R.A.M. Broccoli Record Store Day, Black Friday 2016 exclusive, broccoli shaped custom die-cut vinyl limited to 2,000 copies. (Discogs...)
• Fat Boys Fat Boys RSD Black Friday 2012 picture disc vinyl re-issue of the New York trio's 1984 debut album. Limited to 2,000 copies, the record has realistic pictures of the top and bottom of a pepperoni pizza. Housed in an actual Fat Boys-branded cardboard pizza box, the release also included a 20-page liner notes booklet and download card for bonus materials. (Discogs...)
• Fat Boys Wipeout Rare 1987 shaped picture disc, featuring a photograph of the band inside a hamburger on the A-side, with track informations and a still from the video on the reverse. Also includes the track "Crushin'". (Discogs...)
• Fat Larry's Band Stubborn Kind Of Fellow / Changes Shaped vinyl released in 1983 by Virgin Records, featuring a cartoon image of Larry James. (Discogs...)
• Gang Green We'll Give It To You / Skate To Hell Rare shaped picture disc in form of a skateboard with a Budweiser look alike sticker, released in 1987. Sticker reads: "Skate all day, drink all night, drunk and disorderly in Boston, MA". (Discogs...)
• Gary Glitter Love Comes Rare 2-track limited edition star shaped picture disc, which also includes "Boys Will be Boys".
• Guns N' Roses Paradise City Very rare, 1989 UK Geffen label limited edition 2-track gun shaped picture disc in clear vinyl. Comes in a special 'collectors edition' embossed leather effect flipback holster pack picture sleeve. Also including "Used To Love Her". (Discogs...)
• Heavy Pettin' Love Times Love Hard to find, guitar through the heart shaped picture disc single, also including "Shout It Out". (Discogs...)
• Helloween Halloween Promo only shaped vinyl, featuring the image of a pumpkin on one side and an image of a woman jumping over a pumpkin on the other. Both sides play the Edited Version. (Discogs...)
• Iron Maiden Fear Of The Dark Rare, mispressed picture disc single of a manic bass playing Eddie cut to shape. The title track was recorded live at the Ishallen in Helsinki on the 5th of June 1992, the b-side is listed as "Hooks In You - Live", but it plays "Tailgunner" instead. (Discogs...)
• Iron Maiden Wasted Years Limited edition shaped picture disc single featuring a Derek Riggs computer console image with Eddie's face on the main monitor. Also including the track "Reach Out". (Discogs...)
• J Dilla Fuck The Police Police badge shaped Record Store Day 2015 release of J Dilla's classic, out of print for over a decade. Both the vocal and instrumental were remastered from original mix-downs that Dilla himself created. (Discogs...)
• Jeru The Damaja The Dirty Rotten Demos Limited edition die-cut 10" picture disc limited to 500 copies. It features the original 1991-1992 Dirty Rotten demos from Jeru The Damaja, entirely produced by G.U.R.U. (Discogs...)
• Jonathan King Space Oddity / Major Tom Limited edition 2-track astronaut shaped picture disc single, with a medley-type cover track with David Bowie's "Space Oddity" mixed together with Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)". Also features "I'll Slap Your Face", the theme to "Entertainment U.S.A". (Discogs...)
• King Kurt Banana Banana Limited edition 2-track pealed banana shaped picture disc single, also featuring "Bo Diddly Goes East". (Discogs...)
• Little Angels Ninety In The Shade Limited edition, 3-track 'devil with angel wings' shaped picture disc single, also including "Big Bad World" and a live version of "England Rocks". (Discogs...)
• Madonna Crazy For You 1st issue limited edition 'Madonna in white basque' shaped picture disc single, also including Sammy Hagar's "I'm Fall In Love Again". Both tracks taken from the movie soundtrack "Vision Quest". (Discogs...)
• Michael Austin Out Tonight Limited edition 'Austin on bike' shaped picture disc siingle, also featuring the song "Down Down". (Discogs...)
• Mike Post Feat. Larry Carlton The Theme From Hill Street Blues Limited edition 2-track police car shaped picture disc single, featuring the theme from the TV series plus "Aaron's Tune". (Discogs...)
• Motorhead The One To Sing The Blues Limited edition 2-track shaped picture disc single, featuring lyrics and February 1991 UK tour dates on reverse. Also includes the track "Dead Man's Hand". (Discogs...)
• New Order People On The High Line Individually numbered, shaped picture disc limited to 2,000 copies. Features two exclusive edits not available on other formats. (Discogs...)
• Nick Heyward Love All Day Two-track radio shaped picture disc single, featuring three colour photographs of Nick on the reverse. Also includes "Night Summer Stream". (Discogs...)
• No Way Jose Tequila Tequila bottle shaped vinyl featuring Espanol and Instumental versions. (Discogs...)
• Prince & The Revolution Paisley Park Limited edition 2-track 'Boy & Balloon' shaped picture disc single, also including "She's Always In My Hair". (Discogs...)
• Quasimoto Talkin' Shit Quasimoto X-ray shaped picture disc, featuring "Planned Attack" from the album Yessir Whatever, and the previously unreleased "Talkin' Shit" on the flip side. The backside of the record, shows the insides of Quasimoto. (Discogs...)
• Queensryche Jet City Woman Limited edition cut-to-shape picture disc, also including a live version of "Empire". (Discogs...)
• Ratt You're In Love Limited edition 2-track 'rat & heart' shaped picture disc, also including "Between The Eyes". (Discogs...)
• Ray Parker Jr. Ghostbusters Limited edition 2-track Ghostbusters logo shaped picture disc, featuring the theme song from the soundtrack album, backed with the instrumental version. (Discogs...)
• Rush Countdown Space shuttle / fire hydrant shaped picture disc single, also including "New World Man". (Discogs...)
• Shirley Walker Superman The Animated Series Single sided, die-cut Superman logo shaped vinyl, limited to 500 copies. It features the intro and ending themes of Superman: The Animated Series, plus themes from The New Batman Superman Adventures as an added bonus. (Discogs...)
• Simple Minds Don't You (Forget About Me) Special limited edition picture disc single, featuring a bold full colour band logo cut to shape, also including "A Brass Band In Africa". (Discogs...)
• Spinal Tap Bitch School Stonehenge shaped 3-track picture disc single, including "Springtime" and "Talk With Tap Part 1" and a fold-out poster. (Discogs...)
• Stan Bush & Weird Al Yankovic The Transformers The Movie Transformers original movie soundtrack picture disc, featuring the toy box art for G1 Superion. Includes "The Touch" by Stan Bush, and "Dare To Be Stupid" by "Weird Al" Yankovic. (Discogs...)
• Survivor Burning Heart Boxing glove shaped picture disc single, with the theme from "Rocky IV", also including "Feels Like Love". (Discogs...)
• Talk Talk Living In Another World Limited edition 2-track picture disc, featuring a full colour butterfly design cut to shape. Taken from the album "The Colour Of Spring", also includes "For What It's Worth". (Discogs...)
• Tewz Helix Ep Die-cut, 12" head shaped picture disc limited to 500 copies. Initially scheduled for 1,000 copies, the run was shortened after switching pressing companies. (Discogs...)
• The Beloved Your Love Takes Me Higher Hand-shaped picture disc single, also including "Pablo". (Discogs...)
• The Dream Academy The Love Parade Limited edition flower shaped picture disc, also including "Girl In A Million". (Discogs...)
• The Farmer's Boys Muck It Out Limited edition 2-track 'Pig with Boombox' shaped picture disc, also including "Funky Combine John". (Discogs...)
• The Police Message In A Bottle Limited edition star badge shaped picture disc single, including a previously unreleased live version of the title track. Housed in a 'leather-effect' black cardboard wallet sleeve. (Discogs...)
• The Rolling Stones She Was Hot Rare, limited edition iconic tongue logo shaped picture disc single, also including the track "I Think I'm Going Mad". Girl hugging a candle image with tracklisting credits on the reverse. (Discogs...)
• The Simpsons Do The Bartman Limited edition Bart shaped picture disc single, featuring the 7" House Mix/Edit and the LP Edit. (Discogs...)
• The Stranglers Always The Sun Limited edition picture disc single featuring an "Aztec Sun" image cut to shape, with lyrics on the reverse, also featuring "Normal Normal". (Discogs...)
• The Untouchables Free Yourself Limited edition 2-track gun shaped picture disc single, also including the track "Lebanon". (Discogs...)
• Thompson Twins Sister Of Mercy Limited edition jet shaped picture disc single, also including "Out Of The Gap". (Discogs...)
• Thompson Twins Watching Limited edition 2-track picture disc single cut to the shape of the band's three heads, also including the track "Dancersaurus". (Discogs...)
• Toto Africa Limited edition shaped picture disc featuring the map of Africa, also including the track "Rosanna". (Discogs...)
• Toto Rosanna Limited edition gramophone shaped picture disc single, issued after the single & the album "Toto IV" won seven Grammy Awards. Also features "It's A Feeling". (Discogs...)
• UGK Feat. Outkast Intl Players Anthem Record Store Day Black Friday 2016 exclusive, Texas shaped vinyl, limited to 1,750 copies. The record has a 6" playing area on a 12" disc. (Discogs...)
• Van Halen Dreams Limited edition picture disc single featuring the "Golden Arrow" land speed record racer from 1928, also including the track "Inside". (Discogs...)
• Venom Manitou Rare limited edition 2-track 'horned man' shaped picture disc single, also including "Woman". (Discogs...)
• Via Marconi Serious Dancing Limited edition shoes shaped picture disc single, also including "What A Joke". (Discogs...)
• Wu Tang Clan C.R.E.A.M. Record Store Day Black Friday 2014 release on special die-cut vinyl in the shape of the group's iconic "W" logo and backed with the original B-side "The Mystery Of Chessboxin". (Discogs...)
• Y & T Mean Streak Limited edition snake shaped picture disc single, also including "Straight Thru' The Heart", taken from the group's "Mean Streak" album. (Discogs...)
• Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction Planet Girl Limited edition cross shaped picture disc single, also featuring the song "Dog Face Driver". (Discogs...)