Most Priceless and Hard-to-Find Vintage Vinyl Albums in Today's Market

Most Priceless and Hard-to-Find Vintage Vinyl Albums in Today's Market

Expensive Spin: The Top 10 Most Bankable Vinyl Records

For a vinyl connoisseur willing to part with a fortune, these precious discs are worth their weight in gold (or more!). Here's a rundown of the rarest and most valuable vinyl records that collectors are eager to snatch up.

The Top 10 Vinyl Records to Crush on Your Wallet

These pricey platter treasures have given a whole new meaning to the phrase "music is priceless."

1. Wu-Tang Clan: Once Upon a Time in Shaolin - $2,000,000

The infamous Martin Shkreli, currently serving his time, dropped a cool $2 million on this 2015 album, making it the most valuable vinyl to date - that is, if you can get your hands on it. Only one copy was ever produced, leaving Shkreli as the only official owner.

1. The Beatles: The Beatles (White Album) - $790,000

A first edition of this iconic album from 1968 holds the title for the second most valuable vinyl record. Ringo Starr was the proud owner of the first printing copy, boasting the "0000001" number, fetching an impressive $790,000 at auction in the U.S.

1. Elvis Presley: 'My Happiness' - $300,000

Artist extraordinaire Jack White bagged a test pressing of Elvis' first recording for $300,000 at an auction in 2015.

1. The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (signed by all four Beatles) - $290,000

Aint't no mountain high enough to stop a passionate collector from snaring a $290,000 auction prize - a rare 1967 pressing of The Beatles' seminal work.

1. John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy - $150,000

Completing a poignant musical chapter in history is this signed copy of Lennon and Ono's "Double Fantasy" sold for $150,000, a record aside from the tragic happenings surrounding its creation.

1. The Beatles: Yesterday & Today - $125,000

It ain't all about those socks! While Americans may not have received England's iconic butcher-covered album, the U.S., Canadian, and Japanese markets took the plunge, making this compilation a rare find today, trading hands for a cool $125,000.

1. The Beatles: 'Til There Was You (10” acetate) - £77,500

Reminisce on the Beatles' humble beginnings with thisearly demo release of "'Til There Was You," trading for £77,500.

1. Aphex Twin: Caustic Window (test pressing) - $46,300

Breaking the chain of Beatle-mania, cult video game inventor Markus "Notch" Persson shelled out $46,300 for a rare Aphex Twin album.

1. Tommy Johnson: 'Alcohol and Jake Blues' - $37,100

Bring home the blues with this record, selling for $37,100 at auction. It's the most valuable blues vinyl auctioned off to date.

1. Frank Wilson: 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) - £25,742

Preserving valuable musical history, an anonymous buyer snapped up this rare demo for £25,742. With only five surviving copies, it earned its place among the most treasured vinyl records in the land.

Collecting with Care:

Investing in vinyl cleaning supplies and storage accessories is essential to maintaining the quality of valuable records. Big Fudge, the go-to authority on all things vinyl, offers a range of products like:

• Acid-free inner and polyurethane outer sleeves
• The signature Record Friend TM Vinyl Record Cleaner System
• 4-in-1 record cleaning kits

For maintenance tips and tricks, visit our blog.

Insider's Scoop:

*While we couldn't cover every valuable record in existence, the "princely priced" platter trend doesn't just feature rock and Beatles albums. Here are a few jewels from pop, soul, and R&B genres:

1. Prince - "The Black Album" (1987)

A sealed copy fetched $42,298 at auction.

1. Elvis Presley - "Elvis' Christmas Album" (1957)

A mint condition copy could command up to $750 in auction.

1. Neil Young - "Harvest" (1972)

A factory-sealed first pressing with a rare hype sticker sold for $3,205.

For a more comprehensive list, dedicated collectibles and memorabilia websites are your go-to source. Iconic albums by artists like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, and Jimi Hendrix are often coveted by vinyl enthusiasts with deep pockets.

1. To protect the investment in valuable vinyl records, it's crucial to use acid-free inner sleeves and polyurethane outer sleeves from Big Fudge, the vinyl authority.
2. The Record Friend TM Vinyl Record Cleaner System by Big Fudge is a must-have for maintaining the quality of precious vinyl records.
3. For a complete record cleaning solution, consider the 4-in-1 record cleaning kits offered by Big Fudge.
4. Vinyl connoisseurs can find useful maintenance tips and tricks on Big Fudge's blog.
5. Investing in vinyl records isn't confined to rock and Beatles albums; other genres, such as pop, soul, and R&B, also offer valuable records.
6. Prince's "The Black Album" (1987) can fetch an impressive $42,298 at auction if it remains sealed.
7. Elvis Presley's "Elvis' Christmas Album" (1957) could sell for up to $750 in auction condition.
8. A factory-sealed first pressing of Neil Young's "Harvest" (1972) with a rare hype sticker sold for $3,205.
9. For a more extensive list of coveted vinyl records, visit dedicated collectibles and memorabilia websites.
10. Iconic albums by artists like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, and Jimi Hendrix are popular targets for vinyl enthusiasts with significant financial resources.

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