Pictures and scans of original release: Steve Belt
Pictures of bootleg release: Adel A.
Pictures of 2022 release and 92-93 picture discs: Kamil Kaznowski and Maciej Stańczak

12" Erotica [W0138TP] withdrawn picture disc is the most expensive vinyl record in the entire Madonna's catalog. Manufactured by Orlake pressing plant in the UK in September 1992 and cancelled in the very last moment, before it was sent out to the records' stores. The reasons of cancellation are almost as legendary as this vinyl, and the most thrilling legend is that 138 copies survived (the rest wast destroyed) what is exactly the same as catalog number of this 12" single. Sounds great, isn't it?

After 30 years 12" Erotica picture disc was finally released with original artwork by Rhino / Warner Records on October 21st, 2022 as a part of Erotica album 30th anniversary celebration, but next to these two official releases there is also unofficial bootleg release which can be found in various second-hand stores. Here you can find precise descriptions and pictures of all releases. We hope that these information will be helpful before you decide to spend a lot of money for... counterfeit.

12" Erotica - original 1992 withdrawn release

Side A brighter scan	Side A brighter scan + matrix	Side A darker scan	Side A darker scan + matrix

Backcard + Vinyl	Backcard	Side B	Backcard

Side A matrix	Side B matrix

And a little bit of history by Alex Harris who worked for Warner Music UK in 1992 (from Record Collector):

I have a particular interest in your Top 200 Rarities feature (RC382), with special reference to the entry at number 24, the Madonna Erotica 12” picture disc (right, valued at £2,500). I was working in the distribution operation for Warner Music at the time of its release and was subsequently responsible for destroying the remaining copies that didn’t leave the Alperton warehouse. My memory is that we received an initial delivery of around 2,000 copies. The process was then that a number of these would be sent off to various directors and sales and marketing staff.

The story we heard was that Rob Dickens, then Warner Music MD, took one look at the disc and said: “There’s no way we’re letting that go out”, as it looked, well, downright pornographic. The remaining copies were wrapped up in clingfilm and left on a pallet somewhere in our Bulk Store and stock-checked daily. Word started to go round that these could be very valuable but before long we were told that they had to be destroyed. I was instructed to arrange for a lorry to come in and take the pallet, accompanied by me and a security guard, to the refuse tip, where we destroyed all deleted (and other) product. Before that, I managed to (legitimately) get my hands on a copy, for which I obtained written authorisation to take home for safe keeping.

I can’t remember the exact number we destroyed, although I think the story about the actual number that were leaked out (138) deliberately coinciding with the catalogue number is a bit of a myth. As I was probably the last person to legitimately get hold of a copy, and was also at the heart of its initial distribution, there was no hint of any such “stage management” taking place.

So, one gloomy day, I headed off to a waste tip near Heathrow in a 40-foot articulated vehicle with one pallet of Madonna 12-inch singles – and ONLY that – to be destroyed. And I stood and watched as what now turns out to be over a quarter of a million quid’s worth of vinyl was crushed beyond all recognition. A few years later I was out of work and sold my copy for the then going rate of around £300. And now I see it’s worth £2,500. Damn! If only, if only…

12" Erotica withdrawn picture disc is regularly mentioned in all list of the most collectibles items with average price between £2000 - £3000. Some examples from Record Collector below (various magazine issues from 2020 to 2022):

12" Erotica - bootleg

There are no confirmed information if unofficial bootleg release of 12" Erotica picture disc was manufactured more than once by different pressing plants. Release date is also rather rumored and probable date of releasing is 1994 (it's impossible to confirm).

Bootleg was not manufactured by Orlake in the UK, so there is no 'Orlake' written in the matrix section.

Side A	Side B	Backcard	Backcard

Original release and bootleg comparison

The first noticeable difference between the original release and the bootleg is the inscription 'Madonna Erotica' printed on the original release's backcard (upper left corner), and lack of this inscription on the backcard of the bootleg release.

Take a look at colors of both discs. Original release is dark blue, and bootleg is rather pale (more white color, picture is lightened).

Original vinyl has about 2 millimeters of wide black circle on the edge of side A. Bootleg has about 5 millimeters wide black circle on the edge of side A.

Original release details	Bootleg release details

12" Erotica - 30th anniversary 2022 release

released on October 21st, 2022
cat. number: RPD1 695258 / 603497837618
Rhino / Warner Records
pressed by GZ Media, mastered by Sterling Sound Nashville
Side A matrix: RPD1-695258/603497837618-A (1) JN-H STERLING 246804M1
Side B matrix: RPD1-695258/603497837618-B (1) JN-H STERLING 246804M2

Erotica PD 2022 01.png Erotica PD 2022 02.png

Erotica PD 2022 03.jpeg Erotica PD 2022 04.jpeg Erotica PD 2022 06.jpeg Erotica PD 2022 05.png

Below you can compare the colours of all three 12" Erotica picture discs releases:

Picture discs released between 1992 and 1993

Three pictures discs were released for singles released from Erotica album between 1992 and 1993. 12" Erotica would have been the fourth one if it had been released. Bad Girl, Bye Bye Baby and This Used To Be My Playground were never released on 7" or 12" picture discs.