Vinyl records have made a remarkable comeback in recent years, with sales reaching a 30-year high in 2021 ¹. As collectors and music enthusiasts rediscover the warm, rich sound of analog recordings, some vintage albums have skyrocketed in value.
If you’ve held onto your old records or inherited a collection, you might be sitting on a goldmine. Here are 11 vinyl albums that could fetch you a pretty penny if you’re lucky enough to own them.
1. The Beatles – “The Beatles” (aka “White Album”)
As mentioned above, a rare pressing of The Beatles’ 1968 self-titled album, featuring serial number 0000001, recently sold for nearly $800,000 at auction.
While most copies of the “White Album” aren’t quite as valuable, certain pressings and editions can still fetch a hefty sum. For example, a sealed, low-numbered U.K. first mono pressing in excellent condition sold for $15,000 in 2013.
2. Elvis Presley – “My Happiness”
Elvis Presley’s first-ever recording, a 1953 acetate disc featuring the songs “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin,” sold for a whopping $300,000 at auction in 2015. The recording was made at Memphis Recording Service (later known as Sun Studio) when Presley was just 18 years old.
3. The Quarrymen – “That’ll Be the Day”/”In Spite of All the Danger”
Before they became The Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison were members of a skiffle group called The Quarrymen. In 1958, the band recorded a single featuring covers of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be the Day” and a McCartney-Harrison original called “In Spite of All the Danger.”
The sole copy of this acetate disc sold for approximately $254,000 in 2015.
4. Bob Dylan – “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” (Withdrawn Version)
In 1963, Columbia Records pressed a small number of copies of Bob Dylan’s second album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan,” featuring four tracks that were ultimately replaced before the official release. These rare “withdrawn” versions feature different lyrics and mixes, making them highly sought-after by collectors.
5. The Velvet Underground & Nico – “The Velvet Underground & Nico”
The Velvet Underground’s debut album, featuring vocalist Nico, is considered a groundbreaking and influential release in the history of rock music. Though it initially sold poorly, original pressings of the album with the iconic “banana” cover designed by Andy Warhol have become incredibly valuable.
6. The Rolling Stones – “Street Fighting Man”/”No Expectations”
In 1968, The Rolling Stones released a limited edition promotional version of their single “Street Fighting Man” with a picture sleeve featuring a photo of police officers during the 1968 Chicago riots. The controversial image led to the single being quickly withdrawn, making it a rare and highly sought-after item for collectors.
7. Tommy Johnson – “Alcohol and Jake Blues”
Blues musician Tommy Johnson’s incredibly rare 1930 78 rpm recording of “Alcohol and Jake Blues” is considered one of the “holy grails” of record collecting. Only two known copies of the disc exist, one of which sold for $37,100 in 2013, setting a new record for the most expensive 78 rpm ever sold at auction.
8. Prince – “The Black Album”
Prince’s infamous “Black Album” was originally intended for release in 1987 but was suddenly cancelled and recalled by the artist just days before its scheduled launch. A small number of promotional copies had already been sent out, making them incredibly rare and valuable.
9. The Misunderstood – “Before the Dream Faded”
The Misunderstood, a psychedelic rock band from California, released just one single during their short-lived career in the 1960s. The original 1966 U.K. pressing of “I Can Take You to the Sun” b/w “Who Do You Love” has become a highly sought-after rarity among collectors.
10. David Bowie – “Diamond Dogs” (Promotional Pressing)
In 1974, a small number of promotional copies of David Bowie’s album “Diamond Dogs” were pressed with an alternate cover featuring a controversial painting by Belgian artist Guy Peellaert. The artwork was deemed too risqué and was replaced for the commercial release.
11. Sex Pistols – “God Save the Queen”
The Sex Pistols’ controversial 1977 single “God Save the Queen” was banned by the BBC and nearly every independent radio station in the U.K. upon its release. As a result, the original A&M pressing of the single is incredibly rare, with estimates suggesting that only nine copies remain in existence.
Source:
1. Far Out Magazine
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
