It’s sort of sad that they no longer make the vinyl 45’s and LP’s we all used to buy before the CD came along. Sure, vinyl scratched easily, and, on those songs we played again and again there were pops and scratches, but that was all part of the life of an aging record.
The Beatles’ first
record: “My Bonnie”
Purists, or “stereophiles” as they are called, swear that no other source can beat the sound of a great piece of vinyl played on a high quality stereo system. They claim that some sounds just don’t translate on CD, and, therefore vinyl will always be the preferred.
The fact of the matter is that when it comes to record collecting, collectors consider the actual sound to be secondary. What they are after is rare, collectible vinyl; and according to experts it may not be too long before some exceptionally rare records may be commanding prices in the six figure range.
Record collecting is an intriguing hobby. It’s one where the biggest stars aren’t always the most valuable ones. It’s a hobby where virtual unknowns can command higher prices than superstars and where a single word on a label can make the difference between being valuable or value-less.
A Beatles album
worth $5-12,000
The first record I was curious about was That’s Alright Mama, Elvis Presley’s first release on Sun records. It’s the record that launched Presley’s career and which would forever alter the landscape of modern music.
In record collecting circles, this legendary 45 record is known as Sun 209. In mint condition, you can expect to pay nearly $20,000 for this record and in lesser grades, the range is from $500 for a dog to $8,000 for a higher grade copy. Even though there are thousands of 209’s in existence, prices, and demand, remain high. Experts in the field believe this disc is a good investment and I have to agree. After all, what could be better than the King’s first record?
Elvis and the Beatles, for obvious reasons, are the most collectible figures for record aficionados. And, while Elvis may be the “King of Rock & Roll”, The Beatles hold the “record” (pun intended) for the highest priced disc to ever sell publicly: $38,000 for a sealed copy of the “butcher cover.” The butcher cover is a legendary graphic that was originally produced for the mop top’s Yesterday and Today album. The photo depicted the fab four dressed in butcher’s coats with raw meat and naked dolls strewn about. The reaction from industry insiders was so strong that distribution was stopped and a new cover was glued over the offending one. Some, however, escaped with the original cover intact. These are the most desirable and sell for $8,000 to $12,000 in decent condition. Many of the glued on covers have been peeled of, and depending on the quality of the peel, these examples sell for between $500 to $1,000.
My Bonnie was the Beatles’ first record. Yet, if you go looking for a copy of the 45 bearing the group’s name, you won’t find it. That is because the record was issued under the name “Tony Sheridan and the Beat Boys.” I’d love to have that recording in my eclectic collection of memorabilia. But, I don’t know if I could bring myself to part with the $5,000 to $15,000 necessary to get My Bonnie into my mini-museum.
The thing that has amazed me the most about collectible records is that many of the extremely valuable recordings have been generated by virtually unknown artists. Take for example that “very famous” group Belle & Sebastian. (WHO?) If you can find a copy of their album, which sold only 1,000 copies worldwide, you can expect to pay $750 to $1,000. That’s more than a low-grade copy of Elvis’ first 45 will command! Another garage band, August, released 150 copies of their first album. Today, if you can find one, the album is worth from $3,000 to $4,000. According to many record collectors many obscure bands have produced incredible music. Some of those collectors have bootlegged copies of the music and created both fans and demand for these little known bands. As a result, once the popularity grows, so does demand for the original vinyl.
When it comes to the big names you may think that an artist like Johnny Cash, arguably the biggest name in country music and certainly the most successful in terms of record sales and contributions to mankind, would have the highest priced country records, right? Wrong! Johnny’s first album on Sun Records, Johnny Cash With His Hot and Blue Guitar is only worth about $125 in mint condition. Kelly Lawler of the premier record auction house, Good Rockin’ Tonight, explained that the value of Cash’s records has nothing to do with his importance as an artist. As a matter of fact, because his records have sold so well, there is no shortage of his discs, hence, the prices are relatively low.
Rolling Stones promo
worth $2-3,000
So, you may wonder, just who, holds the record for the most valuable country album? The answer is country crooner Gentleman Jim Reeves, whose first album can fetch between $1,000 to $2,000. Lawler says that he believes that country record collecting is starting to catch on and that he’s predicting an increase in prices and interest. So, hold on to those old country records.
Collecting records is a very involved and interesting hobby. I could write my next year’s worth of columns on the subject and still not scratch the surface. The good news is, that beginning next month, Good Rockin’ Tonight’s Kelly Lawler will write a monthly column on this very topic right here in Pop Culture Collecting. Kelly is a renowned expert in the collectable vinyl record hobby and I know you’ll appreciate the knowledge, insight and predictions he has to share.
Until next time, keep collecting!
Courtesy of Pop Culture Collecting Magazine
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