We’re still recovering from the feeding frenzy that was Record Store Day 2014, pulling our fresh shining piece of collectible wax from its sleeve in admiration. But hold up, if your prized vinyl purchase is still in mint condition, you could be holding onto an appreciating item.
Record Store Day 2014 witnessed a list of exclusive releases with many disappointingly missing out on the limited volume of titles. However, following suit from last year, many of these special Record Store Day releases have already popped up on eBay – just at a sickeningly inflated price.
Stereogum have pieced together a list of what they dub the top 10 selling exclusive records – and would you believe it, there’s an Aussie band featured on the top three podium – and it ain’t Tame Impala with their 9-track release, Live Versions.
Without too much of a surprise, the bluesy-garage guru Jack White lands at the #1 spot for Record Store Day re-sale profiteering, with his ‘World’s Fastest Record’ taking the gold. Tough White’s release is only a 7” single, a live cut of ‘Lazaretto’ recorded and released on Record Store Day, the grossly anticipated track has left its mark, one fan forking out US$649.99 to ensure they get their mitts on White’s latest production.
Would you believe that the second highest selling eBay sale so far belongs to the US indie rock band, Cake? It would appear the Sacramento’s exclusive Record Store Day release is certainly going the distance, the quintet’s 8-LP box set having sold over 80 times already, the highest at US$ 450. …Many of these special Record Store Day releases have already popped up on eBay – just at a sickeningly inflated price.
Cue drum roll, the Aussie group collecting the bronze medal is none other than psych-infused garage blood brothers, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, with their stellar release of 2013 epic single, ‘Head On/Pill’. The ‘Very Splattered 12″ Vinyl’ was auctioned off for a staggering US$381.93, if only the boys were able to cash some of this mark-up.
In fact, the mighty seven-piece wrote “this makes us sad” in a post on their Facebook page; “we do not condone this, if you have a copy keep it and enjoy it!!”
The re-sale of King Gizz’s shining wax edged out the closest competitor, New York City’s ultimately adored LCD Soundsystem. Releasing their final live performance at Madison Square Garden on a 5-LP set, The Long Goodbye was auctioned off for a cool US$349.99.
Continuing with the tinge of nostalgia, original college radio kings R.E.M released Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions, a 4-LP box set comprising of the band’s 1991 and 2001 unplugged sessions, for Record Store Day, and eager buyers meant this collection flew off the auction site for US$340.
Rounding out the Top 10 of inflated online RSD prices is Dave Matthews Band – Live Trax Vol. 4 at US$255, followed by – funnily enough – Camera Obscura’s 4AD Session, which sold for US$249.9 due to one desperate fan placing an advanced purchase of the press (the rest are selling for only $30).
Finally, indie gods Pixies with their return album, Indie Cindy, set sail for US$199, as too did The Folk Box 50th Anniversary, containing the likes of Leadbelly and lastly at #10 British quartet Fear Of Men for their debut, Loom.
The moral of this story – or immoral story in the spirit of Record Store Day – is that eBay arrives to the rescue if you’ve missed out on your desired piece of vinyl. You just need to be willing to splash hundreds of dollars to secure it…
Here’s that Stereogum Top 10 list in full:
- Jack White – ‘Lazaretto’ – US$ 649.99
- Cake – Vinyl Box Set – US$ 450
- King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – ‘Head On/Pill’ – US$ 381.93
- LCD Soundsystem – The Long Goodbye – US$ 349.99
- R.E.M. – Unplugged: The Complete 1991 And 2001 Sessions – US$ 340
- Dave Matthews Band – Live Trax Vol.4 – US$255
- Camera Obscure – 4AD Session – US$ 249.99
- Pixies – Indie Cindy – US$ 199
- V/A – The Folk Box 50th Anniversary – US$ 199
- Fear Of Men – Loom – US$ 199
