The Top 100 Most Valuable Vinyl Records That You Must Own

Published Categorized as Vinyl Buyer Guides

Are you going through all your old records and wondering which of them are going to be worth something when you put them up for sale? Would it not be useful to have a list of the top 100 most valuable vinyl records arrayed for your viewing convenience? Would it not be even more convenient if the first 80 of those were listed in the descending order of the prices at which they were sold?

Then, boy, have we got the article for you! Strap in and get cozy, for today we will be exploring the top 100 most valuable vinyl records, how much they have been sold for, their average market price, the record labels that were released on, etc.

Top 100 Most Valuable Vinyl Records

Table of Contents

1. ‘God Save the Queen’ – Sex Pistols

Average sale price: $16000

Vinyl record famously sold for $16125.18 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7″ single

Record label: A&M Records

Soon moved over to the record company Virgin where they released their debut vinyl record album.

2. Supernatural Girl – Ferris Wheel

Average sale price: $15000

Vinyl record famously sold for $15007.77 in 2015

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP, Album, Mono

Record label: Nicro

3. ‘Love Me Do’ – The Beatles

Average sale price: $15000

Famously sold for $14845.17 in 2017

Vinyl record type: 7 inch promotional single

Record label: Parlophone

Judging by the Beatles legacy, this will be an immensely valuable record, almost more than any Beatles album in full length.

4. Ummagumma – Pink Floyd

Average sale price: $14000

Famously sold for $13845.84

Vinyl record type: Double LP Album

Record label: Odeon

Still attempting to find their feet after Barrett’s death, this album is notable to record collectors for being split equally between live and studio efforts.

5. Would You Believe – Billy Nicholls

Average sale price: $10000

Famously sold for $9851.06

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Immediate

Beguiling record companies with a watery and psychedelic sound.

6. Melody A.M. – Röyksopp

Average sale price: $8000

Famously sold for $8025.04 in 2001

Vinyl record type: Double Vinyl LP

Record label: Wall of Sound

With songs recorded in all manner of ways, this was a defining point for the late 90s/early 00s electronic music.

7. Yes – Pet Shop Boys

Average sale price: $7500

Famously sold for $7544.09 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 11×12 inch LP

Record label: Parlophone

80s great comeback in a big way on this side of the millennial divide.

8. ‘Love My Stuff’/’Jersey Bull Blues’ – Charley Patton

Average sale price: $7000

Famously sold for $7089.36 in 2017

Vinyl record type: 10″ mono single on shellac

Record label: Vocalion

A rare record by the late and great blues legend.

9. David Bowie – David Bowie

Average sale price: $6500

Famously sold for $6669.56 in 2016

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Philips

The eponymous album from the late and great Bowie understandably fetches a pretty penny.

10. The Love Cycle – Forever Amber

Average sale price: $6400

Famously sold for $6399.69 in 2017

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Advance

A long-forgotten psychedelic gem from Forever Amber, like other psych oddities, fetches a fair price today.

11. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin

Average sale price: $6200

Famously sold for $6250 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 4 x Vinyl LP

Record label: Atlantic

This particular record, though very much plagiarised, still earns a big buck.

12. ‘Gorilla Biscuits’ – Gorilla Biscuits

Average sale price: $6000

Famously sold for $6164.88

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Revelation Records.

Yet another record to fetch an obscene price tag when put on the market – you would think people would learn!

13. Chung King Can Suck It

Average sale price: $6000

Famously sold for $6138.33

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Revelation Records

Another hardcore punk release from fabled independent label Revelation Records at the forefront of the genre.

14. Growers of Mushroom – Leaf Hound

Average sale price: $6000

Famously sold for $6082.77

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Decca Records

Almost any psychedelic oddity from the original psych era is going to fetch a penny.

15. ‘You’re the Best’ – LaRom André Baker

Average sale price: $6000

Famously sold for $6000 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: The Record Company

A veritable dance classic from an original era of disco and funk.

16. ‘Love is Strange’ – Wings

Average sale price: $5500

Famously sold for $5624.99 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Parlophone

It is no white album and no doubt this would not be as much without McCartney’s face on it, not to mention the classic black Parlophone Records label.

17. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

Average sale price: $5500

Famously sold for $5500 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Columbia

Famous man of the people, known simply as ‘The Boss’, on one of his most famous recording efforts.

18. Overdrive – Phafner

Average sale price: $5500

Famously sold for $5500 in 2016

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Dragon Records

Another psychedelic rock nugget typically forgotten in the sands of time is brought to light by price.

19. ‘Heartache Souvenirs’ / ‘Chicken Shack’ – William Powell

Average sale price: $5500

Famously sold for $5449.36 in 2015

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Power-House Records

Oft neglected – ill seen, ill said.

20. ‘Ever Again’ / ‘Next to You’ – Bernie Williams

Average sale price: $5300

Famously sold for $5317.90

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Bell Records

Former baseball player Bernie Williams shows us the ropes of writing a top song.

21. Speed, Glue & Shinki – Speed, Glue & Shinki

Average sale price: $5200

Famously sold for $5217.68 in 2017

Vinyl record type: Double Vinyl LP

Record label: Atlantic Records

Close business partners with Capitol Records, it is shocking that they would have released something like this but we are all too thankful for it.

22. Black Album – Prince

Average sale price: $5200

Famously sold for $5203.47

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Warner Bros. Records

Legendary scrapped album from veritable polymath and critical and commercial darling Prince.

23. Metaphysical Animation – Metaphysical Animation

Average sale price: $5000

Famously sold for $5000 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Double LP

Record label: Self Released

24. Negative Approach – Negative Approach

Average sale price: $5000

Famously sold for $5000 in 2017

Vinyl record type: 7 inch EP

Record label: Touch and Go

American hardcore punk band make use of unsettling imagery from The Exorcist on their tainted album cover, and, fair enough, they get their dastardly point across.

25. ‘Equidity Funk’ – Mistafide

Average sale price: $5000

Famously sold for $4911.57 in 2009

Vinyl record type: 12″ single

Record label: Land of Hits

Such a label certainly has a reputation to live up to with a title like that, though they excel with flying colors.

26. Wil Malone – Wil Malone

Average sale price: $5000

Famously sold for $4910.66 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Fontana

27. ‘Equidity Funk’ – Mistafide

Average sale price: $5000

Famously sold for $4909.92 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 12 inch single

Record label: Land of Hits

Presumably, a different pressing of the single sees it fetch a similar price when put up for private auction, with the seller no doubt bowing down in mirth.

28. Led Zeppelin (Deluxe Edition) – Led Zeppelin

Average sale price: $5000

Famously sold for $4892.08

Vinyl record type: Quadruple Vinyl LP

Record label: Atlantic Records

29. Frutti Per Kagua – Capitolo 6

Average sale price: $4500

Famously sold for $4699.58 in 2017

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: It Records

A fine example of the oft neglected progressive rock music that flourished out of Italy in the 70s, in very much the same vein as a more popular band like Area.

30. Cold Cuts – Nicholas Greenwood

Average sale price: $4500

Famously sold for $4657.21 in 2014

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Kingdom Records

Another solid and warm example of some of the progressive rock that flourished through the UK underground in the early 70s.

31. Sahib Shihaband & The Danish Radio Jazz Group – Sahib Shihaband & The Danish Radio Jazz Group

Average sale price:$4500

Famously sold for $4597.30 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Oktav

32. Melody A.M. (Special Edition) – Röyksopp

Average sale price:$4500

Famously sold for $4534.47 in 2003

Vinyl record type: Double Vinyl LP

Record label: Wall of Sound

33. Monster Movie – CAN

Average sale price: $4500

Famously sold for $4499.99

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Music Factory

Though better known for their output from the third album onwards, this debut album featured very highly in people’s sights with regards to the price fetched at auction.

34. Meddle – Pink Floyd

Average sale price: $4400

Famously sold for $4400 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: EMI

Key transitional period for the band, between their previous psychedelic freakouts and their more conceptual progressive rock eventuality.

35. Love is the Key – Dynamic Five

Average sale price: $4250

Famously sold for $4250 in 2016

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: United Artist Records

A little-known example of the late period fusion of disco and funk to crown it off before people eventually got sick of it.

36. Growers of Mushroom – Leaf Hound

Average sale price: $4000

Famously sold for $4224.76 in 2016

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Decca

37. ‘I’ll Be on My Way’ – Bob & Fred

Average sale price: $4000

Famously sold for $4190.51 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Big Mack

38. Monster Movie (Made in a Castle with Better Equipment) – CAN

Average sale price: $4100

Famously sold for $4100 in 2017

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: United Artists

Only a few copies remain of this version of the release, with very few people actually having heard it in its full form.

39. Just Another Diamond Day – Vashti Bunyan

Average sale price: $4000

Famously sold for $4039.01 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Philips

Songs do not come much sweeter, so this will definitely be the most valuable record to many in terms of sincerity.

40. ‘Pay to Cum!’ – Bad Brains

Average sale price: $4000

Famously sold for $4000 in 2017

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Bad Brain Records

One of the original progenitors of hardcore punk, they paved the way for so many African Americans who wanted to live outside the box which society prescribed them.

41. Mammut – Mammut

Average sale price: $4000

Famously sold for $3913.77 in 2016

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Mouse Trick Track Music

A highly charged and original release from this seminal Icelandic rock band formed in the country’s capital Reykjavik.

42. ‘Liza Jane’ – Davie Jones & The King Bees

Average sale price: $4000

Famously sold for $3859.58 in 1978

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Decca

Adjusted for inflation, this album sold for around $17538.36. Yikes! Whoever owns this bad boy is surely laughing now, or at least spinning pleasantly in their grave.

43. ‘Liza Jane’ – Davie Jones & The King Bees

Average sale price: $3800

Famously sold for $3800.58 in 1964

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Vocalion Pop

What I presume is the original pressing of this tune fetches even more when, again, adjusted for inflation: $36,323.25. Woah!

44. Sex Drive – Necros

Average sale price: $3800

Famously sold for $3800 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch EP

Record label: Touch and Go Records

Another rollicking release from legendary hardcore punk label Touch and Go here fetching more than any hardcore punk fan can afford.

45. Analogy – Analogy

Average sale price: $3800

Famously sold for $3757.29 in 2015

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: DischiProduzioniVentotto

46. Pre-Flight – Room

Average sale price: $3800

Famously sold for $3729.74 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Deram

47. Monster Movie (Remastered) – CAN

Average sale price: $3700

Famously sold for $3698 in 2007

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Spoon Records

48. ‘I Beat You’ / ‘No No’s’ – Vicious Visions

Average sale price: $3700

Famously sold for $3684.71 in 2014

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Self released

49. Uganda Akira Ishikawa & Count Buffaloes

Average sale price: $3600

Famously sold for $3569.94 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Toshiba Records

50. An Ideal for Living – Joy Division

Average sale price: $3500

Famously sold for $3515.62 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch EP

Record label: Enigma

Original EP by the now legendary and tote bag touted post-punk band Joy Division. The album makes heavy use of Hitler youth imagery, heavily alluding to the original inspiration of the band’s name which came from a part of certain concentration camps dedicated to prostitution and the like. Yikes!

51. Song of a Gypsy – Damon

Average sale price: $3500

Famously sold for $3500 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Ankh

A psychedelic and country infused record that is often neglected, even despite the clearly interesting use of disparate genres and stylistic elements.

52. ‘Malted Milk’ / ‘Milkcows Calf Blues’ – Robert Johnson

Average sale price: $3500

Famously sold for $3500 in 2017

Vinyl record type: 10 inch shellac

Record label: Vocalion

This blues legend and progenitor needs no introduction, nor does this seminal record label.

53. ‘The Atrocity’ / ‘Good Procedures’ – Opus

Average sale price: $3500

Famously sold for $3500 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Catatonic Records

This is music and it sold for a ridiculous amount of money when put up for auction.

54. ‘That’s Why I Love You’ / ‘Did My Baby Call?’ – The Professionals

Average sale price: $3500

Famously sold for $3500 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Groove City Records

55. An Invisible World Revealed – Krokodil

Average sale price: $3500

Famously sold for $3500 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: United Artists Records

This is music and it sold for a ridiculous amount of money when put up for auction.

56. ‘Believe It or Not’ – Nabay

Average sale price: $3500

Famously sold for $3465.94 in 2017

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Impact Records

Logo is a bullet going through the name of the label, signifying impact. Nice!

57. Swaddling Songs – Mellow Candle

Average sale price: $3400

Famously sold for $3422.09 in 2017

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Deram

Presumably, another long-lost psychedelic and/or progressive rock nugget whose price might or might not be indicative of its worth as actual music.

58. ‘Lonely Every Day’ – The Golden Earrings

Average sale price: $3400

Famously sold for $3388 in 2015

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Polydor

59. ‘Endless Memory’ – Roy Panton

Average sale price: $3300

Famously sold for $4423.69 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Bronco

This is music and it sold for a ridiculous amount of money when put up for auction.

60. ‘Love Buzz’ / ‘Big Cheese’ – Nirvana

Average sale price: $3300

Famously sold for $3300 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Sub Pop

An original pressing of Nirvana’s first single was always going to fetch a pretty penny on the used records market.

61. Estrelando Embaixador – Tribo Massahi

Average sale price: $3300

Famously sold for $3300 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: River’s

Now reissued, the original still costs a veritable ton to purchase.

62. Mirkwood – Mirkwood

Average sale price: $3300

Famously sold for $3292.48

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Flams Ltd.

This is music and it sold for a ridiculous amount of money when put up for auction.

63. ‘I Really Love You’ – Jimmy Burns

Average sale price: $3300

Famously sold for $3285.78 in 2016

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Erica Records

Seriously, who wants a record enough to pay so much for it? Is it not boggling?

64. ‘Do You Get the Message?’ / ‘The Other Side’ – The Grey Imprint

Average sale price: $3300

Famously sold for $3267.76 in 2016

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Clear Hill Records

65. Ethiopian Modern Instrumentals Hits – Various Artists

Average sale price: $3300

Famously sold for $3267.72 in 2015

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Amha Records

It is quite tough to go wrong with Ethiopian music, lord knows the Ethiopiques compilations that have been coming out over the past few decades have shown us this.

66. ‘Be My Fortune Teller’ / ‘I Just Wanna Be’ – East ft. Prince

Average sale price: $3300

Famously sold for $3250 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Polydor

67. The Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd

Average sale price: $3200

Famously sold for $3242.31 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Harvest

Kind of remarkable that it has taken this long to surface, though it is one of the biggest-selling albums of all time, not exactly a rarity.

68. Music Emporium – Music Emporium

Average sale price: $3200

Famously sold for $3200 in 2016

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Sentinel

69. ‘Hand in Glove’ – The Smiths

Average sale price: $3200

Famously sold for $3166.86 in 2015

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Rouch Trade Records

Fantastic early single by the late and great exemplars of 80s indie pop, far better than the album version in my humble opinion.

70. ‘I Wanted to Tell You’ / ‘You Said’ – Little Nicky Soul

Average sale price: $3100

Famously sold for $3124.26 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Shee Records

71. ‘Anarchy in the UK’ – Sex Pistols

Average sale price: $3100

Famously sold for $3120.99 in 2017

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: EMI

Progenitors of British punk the Sex Pistols’s second single or so features far further down the list.

72. ‘A Man of My Word’ / ‘Linda’ – Salt & Pepper

Average sale price: $3100

Famously sold for $3100 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Heatwave

This is music and it sold for a ridiculous amount of money when put up for auction.

73. Tom Prehn Kvartet – Tom Prehn Kvartet

Average sale price: $3000

Famously sold for $3049.15 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: V 58

Some call this music, I call it overpriced.

74. ‘Baby Your Phrasing is Bad’ / ‘A Woman of Distinction’ – Caleb Quaye

Average sale price: $3000

Famously sold for $3007.85

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Philips

Like basically every other record on this list, it should not have sold for such a price, no matter how good the music is.

75. Through You – The Contents Are

Average sale price: $3000

Famously sold for $3000 in 2015

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Rok Records

One of the more infuriating band names on this list.

76. ‘Mouth A Massey’ / ‘Ska Beat’ – Alton Ellis

Average sale price: $3000

Famously sold for $3000 in 2015

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Pat’s Records

77. Mystic Beauty – Reggie Andrews and the Fellowship

Average sale price: $3000

Famously sold for $3000 in 2018

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: H.M.E.

Certain aspect of this release make it feel almost like a deep fake of an album. Weird!

78. ‘King of Fuh’ – Brute Force

Average sale price: $3000

Famously sold for $2926.02

Vinyl record type: 7 inch single

Record label: Apple Records

One of few releases that were ever sent forth into the world from the late Apple Records established by none other than the Beatles.

79. Damned Damned Damned – The Damned

Average sale price: $3000

Famously sold for $2920.57 in 2015

Vinyl record type: Vinyl LP

Record label: Stiff Records

Now legendary released from original British punk personalities the Damned.

80. Pleure et Applaudit – Jean Debuffet

Average sale price: $2900

Famously sold for $2883.40 in 2018

Vinyl record type: 10 inch

Record label: Galleria Del Cavallino Venise

This is music and it sold for a ridiculous amount of money when put up for auction.

Runners Up

Though not quite as valuable, these records are certainly going to fill your pockets somewhat

81. Kind of Blue – Miles Davis

Easily the biggest-selling jazz album of all time, it can still fetch a price, and is well worth a listen, replete with interesting ideas that are still an inspiration to many musicians operating today!

Top 100 Most Valuable Vinyl Records

82. The Who Sell Out – The Who

Seeing as only 1000 copies were originally made of the Who’s third album, this record will fetch at least a $1000 when put up for auction.

Get amongst it! There are many fine tracks on here too, well worth exploring even if you have no interest in bastardizing your finances for a copy.

83. Bleach – Nirvana

This band needs no introduction, though perhaps their neglected debut album does.

All too often the limelight falls on Nevermind, but there are still some interesting themes explored in the previous record Bleach, more inclined toward sludge than the sophomore’s polish.

84. ‘Science Friction’ / ‘She’s So Square’ – XTC

Now legendary pop band XTC first released this in the late 70s / early 80s in a limited run of 50. Pretty darn rare and worth a fortune if you can get your hands on a copy.

I personally prefer their work as the Dukes of Stratosphear (wherein their inhabited imaginary identities from a lost era) but that is just my own penchant for original-era psychedelia shining through.

85. ‘That’ll be the Day’ / ‘In Spite of All the Danger’ – The Quarrymen

The first recording project of the Beatles, need we say more!

86. Diamond Dogs – David Bowie

Mind you, only the original pressing featuring Bowie’s dog bollocks.

87. Reverbaration (Doubt) – The Thirteenth Floor Elevators

Some exemplary moments of the original era psychedelic are on display here in their most tectonic and atomic form.

88. Legacy of Brutality – Misfits

Allegedly only 16 copies exist of this legendary compilation album wherein lead singer Glen Danzig overdubbed over all of the instrumental parts of his bandmates so that he would not have to pay them royalties. Not very punk if you ask me.

89. Waltzes by Johann Strauss, Jr. – Century Symphony Orchestra

What might have been forgotten by the masses is saved by the fact that the cover art was drawn by a little-known artist called Andy Warhol, years before he would catapult into the upper reaches of cultural influence himself.

90. The Caine Mutiny – Max Steiner

Scrapped soundtrack record that scarcely saw the light of day.

91. ‘Pride (in the name of love)’ – U2

Ultra rare Australian edition of the single released in a batch of only 50.

92. Xanadu – Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra

Highly sought after picture disc vinyl of the soundtrack to the film of the same name that is otherwise universally slandered. This has no effect whatsoever on the price it fetches at auction, however.

93. Blue Note 1568 – Hank Mobley

A particularly rare version of this album bears a slight difference from the usual in that Blue Note allegedly ran out of labels when pressing it.

94. ‘Lafayette Blues’ / ‘Sugar Never Tasted So Good’ – The White Stripes

A rare swirly print single with a cover hand painted by the owner of Italy Records, Dave Buick. Being an early single, no one could have foreseen just how big the band would become from here on out.

95. Stonewall – Stonewall

Do not be afraid if you have not heard of this obscure psychedelic rock act from the 70s. Their only release was sent forth into the world without their knowledge by a label that was a tax scam operated by the mob.

96. Yesterday and Today – The Beatles

The original cover featured the band in butcher’s garbs holding bloodied effigies of headless baby dolls. This was soon scrapped after public outrage.

97. Street Fighting Man – The Rolling Stones

The original artwork for this was censored by the record label, featuring a police officer standing powerfully over an injured protestor, which caught flack because of a contemporaneous incident relating to police brutality and rioting.

98. ‘Stormy Weather’ – The Five Sharps

Most famous, perhaps, for being featured in an episode of Pawn Stars, this record still fetches an unholy amount at auction precisely because there are only three copies known to exist in the whole world.

99. The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico

Believed to be one of the most influential albums of the 20th century, original mono pressings of the record are, of course, going to fetch a big sum at auction.

100. ‘Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’ – Frank Wilson

Finally, this is one of the rarest of the so-called Northern Soul tracks in circulation. When all of the original pressings were ordered to be destroyed, two were kept and now only two originals remain.

Final Tones

So, there you have it!

Hopefully, you are now feeling a little more confident in navigating the top 100 most valuable vinyl records, able to discern and decipher which of yours will be worth the most money when you put them up for auction.

FAQs Top 100 Most Valuable Vinyl Records

What is the rarest 45 record?

Though there is not just one holistic record that is considered the absolute rarest, there are certainly some that, by the sheer lack of copies, are sure contenders for the title. Frank Wilson’s ‘Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’ is easily one of the rarest, for example. All of the original copies were ordered to be destroyed, though the person who was supposed to do the destroying saved two which are now the only ones known to exist.

What old vinyl records are worth the most money?

The ones that are the rarest typically. However, this is not always the case, for you could have an extremely rare release by a band that no one has ever heard of. Such a self-release would not be worth much despite its rarity because it would not be as sought after as an original pressing of a Beatles’ record. You will want a fairly popular album by a relatively well-known band from a pressing that is little known or little owned.

How do I find out what my vinyl records are worth?

A quick Google search through a database like Discogs is bound to bring you closer to the information that you seek. Often, you will get an intuitive sense of how much a record is worth purely from experience, accruing enough through exchange over time that you can feel it out yourself. Still, if you are looking to sell records regularly, you will want to be specific, which is where such databases can come in and be incredibly useful.

By Robert Halvari

My name is Robert Halvari - audio engineer and a total audiophile. I love vinyl because it has that natural character which brings music to life. I've been using and testing vinyl record players for around 15 years and I'm sharing my love and knowledge of vinyl by publishing all I know at Notes On Vinyl

6 comments

    1. Hey Alton, hope this finds you well.

      Correct me if I’m wrong, but Hey Nineteen is a song by Steely Dan, no? Pink Floyd never brushed so intimately with jazz fusion, at least to my knowledge, and I imagine they would be pretty upset to be associated with the kind of smooth soft rock that Steely Dan became known for. There are already three Pink Floyd records on this list anyhow: Dark Side of the Moon, Ummagumma, and Meddle.

      Your comment here has got me listening to Prince’s magnificent opus ‘Purple Rain’ once more and for this I am thankful.

      Thanks for stopping by,

      Robert.

  1. I Have a picture dic of the scorpions lonesome crow never been out of plastic never been played. I also have scorpions hot and heavy marked out of print in original jacket never been opened any idea if they are worth anything?thank you

    1. Hey there Ricky,

      Hope this finds you well. Having inspected Discogs, I can confirm that these discs will be worth a decent amount of money for you, though perhaps not as much as you would like. At best, you are looking at getting around $50 for Lonesome Crow and maybe $15-20 for Hot and Heavy. It seems these records were just pretty popular at the time, meaning there are more copies to drive down the sale price nowadays.

      Hope this has been of help and thanks for getting in touch!

      Robert.

  2. I just inherited an collection of 403 albums from my cousin.
    They are in pristine condition and haven’t been touched in 30 years. All with envelopes and jackets.
    I was also given her record player receiver and giant BOSE speakers from the late 80’s and a cabinet.
    She was proud of having never played her albums on a cheap player. It ruins the albums.
    The sound is crystal clear and there is nothing like it. She kept every manual that came with electronics.
    I feel so honored to have been given all of the music and accessories while shes still alive. Several doubles as her partner of 40 years enjoyed music too and sadly passed in 2022.
    My future son in law is itching to get the entire Beatles collection from me. I’m thinking he needs to sign a mother in law prenuptial. Ha!

    1. Hey Evonda,

      This all sounds very exciting! I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your cousin-in-law in 2022. It sounds like both he and your cousin were and still are proud audiophiles. Such pride in this technology felt like a dying thing for such a long time, so it’s nice to hear that this tradition has still been kept all these years. What’s your plan with the stereo? Are you into music yourself? Will you keep the stereo and use it as your own, or do you have your own already?

      Robert.

      p.s. Agreed about the prenuptial by the way – some of those early Beatles records are worth a killing now.

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