These Are the 10 Most Valuable Vinyl Records You Could Own
After taking a few decades off, vinyl has made quite the comeback in recent years. When's the last time you revisited your record collection? Now that demand is rising, you may want to dust off those old LPs. Or, if you're up for a hunt on a lazy weekend afternoon, search your local thrift store for hidden gems.
"The antiques market seems often heavily influenced by nostalgia and therefore whomever has the buying power at any given time directs the value of collectible items," John Neiheisel, Art & Antique Specialist at EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE (EBTH), tells CountryLiving.com. "Items that were cherished by the demographic which grew up in the '60s and '70s is at its peak currently, with items like Pyrex, rock LPs, modern furniture, toys, etc.—all of which are in high demand."
So if you held onto an original issue of your favorite rock record from back in the day, it could actually be worth something today.
"Rock albums are all over the place, but The Beatles is always highest," Neiheisel explains. "More or less, for anything outside of the top The Beatles albums that's signed by a member or all members of the band, you're talking a major increase in value, especially with some of the most iconic bands, such as The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Grateful Dead, Michael Jackson, etc."
Early and rare jazz pressings also do very well at antiques sales, he says. "In short, the more rare a record is combined with its relevance equals value."
Here's which albums (all originals) Neiheisel says are most valuable:
1. The Beatles, Yesterday and Today
Value: Original cover, first issue, $20,000-$45,000
2. The Beatles, White Album
Value: Original cover, first issue, $10,000-$20,000
3. Bob Dylan, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Value: Withdrawn varietal (has four songs not contained on subsequent releases), $10,000-$20,000
4. The White Stripes, Lafayette Blues
Value: Single EP (limited release of 15 numbered copies), $4,000-$6,000
5. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin
Value: Aqua lettering variant, $3,000-$5,000
6. Roland Kirk, Triple Threat
Value: $1,000-$5,000
7. David Bowie, Diamond Dogs
Value: $1,000-$5,000
8. The Misfits, Horror Business
Value: $2,000-$4,000
9. Prince, The Black Album
Value: $1,000-$3,000
10. Elvis Presley, Speedway
Value: $1,000-$3,000
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