For many, collecting vinyl is a musically driven hobby based around building an extensive collection of records you enjoy listening to.
However, for some, crate digging and hunting online for vinyl records is far more than a past time, with legions of dedicated record hunters spending entire lifetimes chasing after valuable and rare records.
While most of us are probably just happy hitting up the bargain bin at our nearest wax dealer to belt out on our Crosley radio record player setup, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for some of these rare records out there – you never know what treasure you might dig up!
Nirvana – Bleach, 1992
After the world conquering success of Nevermind, Sub Pop released a limited-edition reissue of Nirvana’s debut album Bleach, pressed onto coloured vinyl and featuring an additional 7”. Only 500 copies were ever pressed, with prices tending to fetch around $2000 today.
The Saints – I’m Stranded, 1976
Regarded as one of the most iconic moments in Australian music history, the brunt of distorted guitars and brash vocals heard on The Saints debut single ‘I’m Stranded’ gave the world its first dose of punk rock – predating the likes of The Clash and The Buzzcocks by a full year. Released via the bands own label Fatal Records, only 500 copies of the 1976 single were ever made, and are estimated to be worth over $600.
The Sex Pistols – God Save The Queen, 1977
Another seminal collectable punk single, the original pressing of ‘God Save The Queen’ is regarded as being one of the most valuable and rare records of all time, with prices fetching well over $20,000. The Sex Pistols were infamously dropped from A&M Records only six days after being signed, resulting in the label destroying the majority of the 25,000 singles pressed, with only ten copies believed to still be in circulation.
Aphex Twin – Caustic Window, 1994
Electronic mastermind Aphex Twin was set to release his first LP under the Caustic Window alias in 1994, however, for reasons unknown, the album was abandoned, resulting in only five white-label copies being produced. When one of these rare records turned up on Discogs for $13,500 in 2014, Aphex Twin fans banded together and bought the LP to share amongst themselves online. The rare LP was later purchased by Minecraft creator Markus Persson for US$46,300.
The Beatles – Yesterday and Today, 1966
There are hundreds of rare Beatles LPs chased after by devout collectors out there, but none of them is as revered as the 1966 compilation album Yesterday and Today, featuring a gory album cover depicting the Fab Four draped in pieces of meat and decapitated baby dolls. The artwork caused widespread controversy in America and resulted in Capitol pasting a conventional cover image over the top of the original ‘butcher’ photo. Nowadays, original copies of these rare records are valued at $25,000.
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless, 1992
While you can find re-pressings of this seminal shoegaze LP in just about every record store around the globe, original copies of Loveless pressed on Creation Records and containing a printed inner sleeve are highly sought after by My Bloody Valentine fans, paying upwards of $300 for copies in good condition.
David Bowie – Diamond Dogs, 1974
Diamond Dogs is one of David Bowie’s most underrated albums from his prolific output in the 70’s, and features a painted cover by Guy Peellaert depicting the Starman as a grotesque human/dog hybrid. Upon first being pressed, the album artwork prominently featured Dog/David’s exposed genitals, and original copies were soon removed from circulation – if you manage to find one today, expect yourself to be about $6000 richer for these rare records.
Bruce Springsteen – Spirit In The Night, 1973
The Boss’s first single released on Columbia is apparently rare as hen’s teeth, with copies reportedly valued at up to US$5000. Make sure you check your dad’s collection for this one.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Willoughby’s Beach, 2011
Although they’ve flooded the vinyl market with five albums this year alone, Australian psych-rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard’s first release is the one most prized by fans around the world. Pressed onto yellow wax and hand-numbered by the band, only 500 copies of Willoughby’s Beach were ever released, and are now valued anywhere from $1,200 to $2000.
Robert Johnson – Kind Hearted Woman Blues, 1937
The story of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the Devil at the crossroads in turn for mastery over the guitar is one of music’s most enduring myths – only two photos of the blues extraordinaire exist, and his original recordings are just as rare. The first song ever recorded by Johnson, ‘Kind Hearted Woman Blues’ was originally released as a 78rpm by Vocalion in 1937 – today, they’re worth around $12,000.
That’s just a taste of some of the gold that lays out there for collectors! If you’re interested in rare collectables, get your self sorted with a quality record player and stand combo first to protect your collection.