Depending on your favorite artist, some may have their entire canon on CD. Most of the vinyl I have purchased is Connie Francis whom I will use as a reference point. This will not be easy considering she has the largest output by any female singer (over 13,000 single tracks recorded).

Vinyl Grading

Many sellers grade visually--this is NOT a guarantee of a good copy. Vinyl on the surface can look perfect,  listening is in the eye of the beholder. It is best to go with sellers whom have played the desired recording. All grading following standard guidelines are (M) mint, (VG) very good, (G) good (I would not purchase anything below good). Each grade can also have a + or a - next to the grade: Example VG-. Covers are also graded using the same standard. If you are looking for original recordings always remember one rule of thumb know your favorite artist's output! Prolific artists such as Ms. Francis can become compliated. She recorded for MGM and her earlier recordings were pressed with a yellow label with black letters. Also many of her releases were reissued on the black and multi color or blue/gold label. Her first Lps were reissued with different covers (several saw as many as 3 or 4 changes). This is why it is important to know your favorites' catalogues if you are looking for original pressings.

Ms. Francis had many foreign releases in English as well as 8 other languages and finding originals is an overwhelmingt task, as her international output today still exceeds the US. So I will confine this review to US releases as much as possible.

"Vintage Vinyl"

If your favoritre artist dates to the 50's or prior, the first singles were released on 78 RPM. This was not a very good format, sound wise although very collectable). It was replaced in the late 50's with the advent of 45 RPM. The quality was better and the more successful artists had singles with picture sleeves. These early releases are rare and can be highly collectable--as well as valuable!

Successful artists in the 60's saw many 45's housed in picture sleeves. With Ms. Francis the black/multi-colored label was used for many years until 1967 when the label changed to a more modern blue/gold label and all releases were in stereo. DJ copies varied and were either white or yellow. Some labels also released "Collector Series" or "Hits" depending on the label. These were all reissues of singles containing hit songs on both the A and B side and should not be confused with the original release. To find stereo copies for singles would be difficult if you look at the catalogue number. This is usually stated on LPs. MGM used the series E denoting MONO. SE is STEREO. Other labels used similar but not quite as distinquishable catalogue numbers.

For many years labels held their own and many of the larger ones had subsidiary labels until all were taken over by the major recording/distribution groups Universal and Sony/BMG. The music industry was always interested in profits and in today's market, it has virtually driven many famous artists into retirement because they refused to comprise their artistic integrity with commericalism, or have chosen touring live because they do not generate the massive record sells they once commanded.

Therefore, if your favorite does have reissues on CD, many times it will be in limited quantities. Nostalgia still sells but not with the hype and media coverage of the current popular singers (whom all sound alike to me).

Bidding/Purchasing Vinyl On Line

When in doubt always ask the seller any questions you have. If you do not receive a response, I would suggest you move on and find a similar item with a more communicative seller. A great deal of the vinyl today is unfortunately graded visually due to the fact that turntables are outdated and expensive to buy. Only Lps will be sealed. This is usually, but not always a guarantee you will get a great product. It depends on how carefully this vintage vinyl has been stored. Cut outs will mar the cover with either a drill or bullet hole and a corner cut off which destroys the value of the cover (and sometimes the cover is worth more the the recorded material it encases). If unsealed, carefully note the grading of the cover. Check for excessive yellowing, ringwear and fading. This is usually a sure sign of poor storage handling and possibly an erroneously visually graded recording. However, some aging is to be expected.but if it is extensive, I would shy away from this product. Successful artists will usually have more than one copy available for auction or sale. And I will state this again ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS! Scans of the item can be deceiving. In other words, what you see is not always what you will be getting. ASK QUESTIONS FOLKS.

Buying vinyl takes a great deal of experience and sometimes, getting burned until you learn the ropes. Not all sellers are completely honest and the reputable ones will usually offer refunds if you are not satisfied. Always look for this tag line when bidding or purchasing. They will also always answer your questions. Many sellers are out there just to make money. The earmark of a good seller is one that is sensitive to the potential buyer's need and is always eager to please. Once you have found a quality seller (and you may find one who specializes or is a fan of your singer), stick with them. I have made many friends with these great sellers and have never been dissapointed.

Before on line selling, we had to rely on magazines and place bids through mail. This was always a gamble. With the advent of the computer age, the large magazines sellling oldies have been replaced with a much more reliable form of buying. Despite this convenience, the product is only as good as the seller's word.

Bootlegs

These are tempting and expensive and the sound is horrible (99% of the time). The covers are usually inferior but one of the lures is the colored vinyl. Many boots comes from Asia. And remember bootlegs in any format (vinyl, CD, DVD) deprives the artist of their just royalties and is illegal! The Federal government has been cracking down on illegal pressings so bear in mind if you knowingly buy a recording that is not Public Domain (the copyright has not been renewed) the buyer is just as guilty as the seller and if caught can be prosecuted.

Bidding

It is a good rule of thumb to wait. Most sellers list for 7 days. Wait to bid on the last day. This is when activity is the strongest. Place the amount you are willing to pay but never place more than you can afford to pay. A high bid will be reduced by the final bid and you may save money.Much sought after items will usually involve heavy bidding activity. Hang in there. Place the item of interest in "My Ebay" then during the last minutes of bidding keep the item open and hit the refresh button to ensure you are not being outbidded. Seconds can count and it is very easy to be outbidded in the last minute of the auction. Don't get discouraged. Sometimes you have options. The seller may have a duplicate or the winning bidder may bow out and if you are the next highest bidder you are given a second chance to buy at your final bid. And then--the item can be listed at a later date. Unless you have money to burn, do not get caught up in frantic last minute bidding (which is easy to do) and overbid in order to win, especially if it doesn't fit our budget.

SUMMATION

A handy guide to remember when buying vintage vinyl:

1. Know your artist and their catalogue (you can avoid rip off, illegal bootlegs).

2. Always ask the seller a question if item is visually graded. Do not rely on their gradings or how it looks on screen.

3. NEVER buy at face value. #2 cannot be emphasized enough.

4. Avoid overly expensive shipping and handling charges. The seller is usually making a profit off the postage.

4a. Always inquire how fragile vinyl is packaged for shipping to avoid damage.

5. Be sensible. Don't get entangled in bidding wars when an item is coming to an end.

And have a wonderful but cautious time buying vintage vinyl by the iconic great singers.

Happy hunting. I hope this short review will be helpful for beginners. I have purchased vinyl for many years. Don't get discouraged. It takes practice and a little luck. Enjoy the experience, but don't overpay.