A list of the world’s most valuable records has recently been released, featuring old standards like The Beatles, and unexpected additions like Olivia Newton-John.
What’s the most valuable record in your collection? Maybe you’ve splurged on a collector’s edition of your favourite artist’s biggest record? Or maybe you’ve followed in my footsteps and paid hundreds for unopened copy of an overlooked Aussie single?
It’s no secret that records can bring in some big bucks, and with vinyl on track to outsell CDs for the first time in 33 years, folks are willing to spend big on sites like Discogs.
Now, Aussie life insurance provider NobleOak has offered up a list of some of the most “valuable records ever given a commercial release”, and it’s got some pretty interesting items on there.
Kicking things off with The Quarrymen’s ‘In Spite Of All The Danger/That’ll Be The Day’ single from 1958, the site notes that it’s worth $354,000, which is probably a bit of a steal considering that it’s the earliest recording from Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison.
The Beatles’ influence continues throughout the list of records, with the limited Christmas edition of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band fetching $123,900, while a low-number of The White Album sits at #7 with a value of $17,700.
There’s some other cool additions to the list as well, including The Sex Pistols’ A&M edition of ‘God Save The Queen/No Feelings’ and a promotional copy of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ from 1978. However, the most intriguing item on the list sits at #17, with a picture disc of Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Xanadu’ reportedly fetching $8,850.
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According to the site, “This picture disc was destined to be given away promotionally, but Newton-John found the main photo so unflattering that she pulled the release. Only 31 copies are known to exist, and each are very valuable.”
Check out ‘Xanadu’ by Olivia Newton-John:
NobleOak also gives their Aussie readers a bit of local flavour as well, noting the most valuable records on home soil.
While a New Zealand edition of AC/DC’s ‘Can I Sit Next To You Girl’ tops the list with $4,000, records by The Bee Gees, U2, David Bowie, and The Atlantics follow closely behind.
There’s also mention of the classic ‘Stamp Out Disco/Task Force’ by Razar, ‘Television Addict’ by the pre-Hoodoo Gurus act The Victims, and The Go-Betweens’ 1978 single ‘Lee Remick’. Needless to say, it’s enough to inspire you to take a look back at your collection to see if you’re sitting on a goldmine.
However, it’s worth taking this whole list with a grain of salt. After all, NobleOak haven’t given their sources for the value of these records, and they’ve listed an original copy of Prince’s The Black Album netting $5,310, while a copy sold for $42,000 in 2017.
Either way, it’s a good way to get pretty jealous of the folks with these sought-after records in their collections.
Check out ‘Television Addict’ by The Victims:
