7" Single or EP (Extended Play) Vinyl Records are an interesting record modality. They were used mainly as a test to release new artists on the market. They gave the new aspirant artist the opportunity to organize his or her image, create a repertory to a possible Long Play and define his or her artistic conception.
Other purpose of this media was to release a super hit before the LP should be released. Even after releasing the LP on the market, these hits on 7 inches remain selling because of the price: they were cheaper than 12 inches record.
Usually the record companies released a small quantity of these singles or EPs (except when it was a Hit), what makes them so rare and, as a rule, more expensive than LPs. For Collecting Vinyl Records, please refers to our information page at http://www.brazilcult.com/collecting-vinyl