The 12" single appeared in 1975, a promotional only format for disc jockeys, the wider grooves gave better range and volume in discos. In 1976 12" releases were sold to the public. The generic sleeves devised by the record companies and used for many 12" singles often reflect the musical style or the pretensions of the label. Sharp minimalist graphics for labels like Warp; bright lights for MCA's disco titles. Many 12" singles were issued on colour vinyl, a fact reflected in the Capitol sleeve. Thanks to techno, drum and bass and other more esoteric genres, the 12" single continues to be a popular format. The eight sleeves here span over twenty five years of the format and serve to show the sheer variety of designs. More focused collections will follow on the site.