Unusual types of gramophone records

The overwhelming majority of records manufactured have been of certain sizes (7, 10, or 12 inches), playback speeds (331⁄3, 45, or 78 rpm), and appearance (round black discs). However, since the commercial adoption of the gramophone record (called a phonograph record in the U.S., where both cylinder records and disc records were invented), a wide variety of records have also been produced that do not fall into these categories, and they have served a variety of purposes.

Common variances from standard records include pigmented vinyl, disks filled with a substance such as oil, or unusually shaped records. These can alter the appearance and sometimes playability of a record. This is done for a variety of reasons, including as a method of promotion for limited-release albums.