Vinylore · Lore Tracer, the obscure records archive

Thirteen real releases that circulated in small numbers in their day, then resurfaced along routes nobody planned. Each card carries Discogs data, digital footprint, a sourced timeline, and a claim check.

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A side-by-side comparison using the Obscurity Index weights currently active. Deltas are recomputed whenever the selection or the weights change.

Release A

Release B

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The Obscurity Index is a 0–100 score combining three signals. The weights can be changed. The whole archive, sort order, comparison, and value calculator recompute instantly.

Signal weights

Collector scarcity · 45

Number of Discogs collectors who own this release. Log scale from 10 collectors (score 100) to 100,000 (score 0).

Digital gap · 30

100 minus the Apple Music availability index: 100 if present in both the US and Japan stores, 70 if in one, 0 if in neither.

Online dilution · 25

View count of the most-watched YouTube upload found for this release. 1,000 views = 100, 50 million = 0.

Formulas used

scarcity    = 100 − 100 × log10(discogs_collectors / 10) / 4
digital_gap = 100 − apple_music_index   (US and Japan 100, one store 70, none 0)
dilution    = 100 − 100 × log10(youtube_views / 1000) / log10(50000)

Obscurity Index = (wS·scarcity + wD·digital_gap + wG·dilution) / (wS + wD + wG)

Value estimate =
  lowest_discogs_price
  × disc_grade_factor           (Mint 1.75 … Poor 0.14)
  × sleeve_factor               (Mint 1.18 … no sleeve 0.50)
  × matrix/stamper_factor       (first stamper 1.45 … reissue 0.42)
  × (1 + extras_total)          (obi 0.22, insert 0.12, promo stamp 0.18)
  × (0.75 + Obscurity/100 × 0.60)

Displayed range = estimate ±18% (observed auction spread).

Tiers: 60 and above Archive Fog · 45 and above Scarce · 35 and above Limited Circulation · below 35 Widely Circulated
(thresholds calibrated to the spread of 13 real releases, index 25 to 62)

The base price is the lowest price currently asked on Discogs when the data was fetched (September 13, 2026); its condition is unknown. Figures are indicative, not an official appraisal.

Myth Check rules

Every circulating claim gets one of three statuses: verified (supported by a document or a measurement that can be checked), unproven (no evidence for or against), and false (contradicted by the available evidence). Citations are written as they are, including when the source is weak. The archive does not upgrade a claim because it is popular.