Vinyl records have made a sudden comeback to this music streaming world due to their heartfelt clarity to sound. Ironically, they have become the most luxurious records to date and music lovers are still in search to buy and keep such records. This article will give you more details on the most expensive vinyl records to date, providing the need-to-know basis of such records and places to buy the best vinyl record players.
The Wu-Tang Clan’s Once Upon a Time in Shaolin album is the most expensive vinyl record which was sold for $2 Million. However, there are about 10 of the most expensive vinyl records to date. The rest of the records sold were of the likes of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Aphex Twin, and Frank Wilson alike. The prices of the records were proof that even though these records were made decades ago, they are by far the most valuable and demanding to date.
The 10 Most Expensive Vinyl Records
- Wu-Tang Clan: Once Upon a Time in Shaolin – This is the most expensive vinyl record that was made by the Wu-Tang Clan, to date! It was sold to the former hedge fund and drug manager Martin Shkreli at a set price of $2 Million since it was the only copy that was created by the group and deemed more valuable than any other record. The record was their seventh album, which was secretly recorded and produced for 6 years.
- The Beatles: The Beatles (White Album) – So this is a funny story! Only the Beatles drummer named Ringo Starr owned the first record album, which had a uniquely printed sequence of 0000001. He decided some time ago to put the record up for auction and it was sold for $790 000 in the United States. It is surprisingly the highest price to be paid for a commercially released album.
- Elvis Presley: My Happiness – Historically, this was the first recording by Elvis inclusive of the hit songs ‘My Happiness’ and ‘That’s When Your Heartaches Begin. The vinyl record was bought by a Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Jack White for $300 000 in an online auction in December 2015.
- The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – This was the eighth album of the Beatles group which was historically topping charts in UK’s Record Retailer for 28 weeks and 15 weeks on the US Billboard Top LPs. Despite its impressive highlights, it was surprisingly sold for $290 500 compared to the expected price of $30 000, to an American buyer and it consisted of signatures from all four members of the group!
- John Lennon & Yoko Ono; Double Fantasy – This is the fifth most expensive vinyl record that was sold back in 1999 for $150 000, and is allegedly known to have been the last record signed by the late John Lennon since his death in 1980.
- The Beatles: Yesterday & Today – This was a sealed stereo copy that was auctioned for $125 000 and deemed the most expensive copy in record history due to its infamous ‘butcher’ artwork on the cover of the album. The unsealed copies were then sold for about $15 000 in comparison to their original.
- The Beatles: ‘Till There Was You’ – This record was released in 1963 alongside the second album entitled With The Beatles and was relinquished as the “Holy Grail” of the Beatles records. This 10-inch acetate copy was then auctioned in March 2016 where it was sold for £77 500 to an unknown buyer. The featured songs entitled ‘Hello Little Girl’ and ‘Till There Was You’ were valued at £10 000.
- Aphex Twin: Caustic Window – Richard David James, famously known as Aphex Twin released his album in 1996 which became an instant hit. As the first few test pressings to have been produced, Markus ‘Notch’ Persson, the founder of Minecraft bought the rare copy for $46 300 via eBay.
- Tommy Johnson: ‘Alcohol and Jake Blues’ – This album was released by Paramount Records in 2013 and was then sold on eBay for $37 100 by a buyer named John Tefteller from Oregan. He was thrilled to have bought the record as it was in a favorable condition as compared to his earlier copy and since master tapes were no longer available.
- Frank Wilson ‘Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’ – This single, which is said to have about 5 copies left, was released by the Motown label Soul. It was rumored that the demos of this single were ordered by the boss Berry Gordon to be burnt due to a producer launching a singing career outside of the label. The prevailed copies were then sold in May 2009, at an auction for $37 000 to an unrevealed buyer.
Top 10 Selling Vinyl LPS Of 2019
- The Beatles – Abbey Road sold 246 000 copies.
- Billie Eilish – When We All Fall, Where Do We Go sold 176 000 copies.
- Queen – Greatest Hits sold 139 000 copies.
- Soundtrack – Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 sold 123 000 copies.
- Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody sold 108 000 copies.
- Beach Boys – Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of the Beach Boys sold 107 000 copies.
- Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon sold 92 000 copies.
- Michael Jackson – Thriller sold 88 000 copies.
- Bob Marley and The Waller – Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wallers sold 84 000 copies.
- Fleetwood Mac – Rumors sold 78 000 copies.
The 5 Best Vinyl Record Players
- Rega Planar 3/Elys 2 – price ranges from $565 to $845
- Pro-Ject Primary E – available at $225
- Rega Planar 1 – price ranges from $225 to $565
- Technics SL – 1500C – charges from $845 – $1130
- Sony PS – HX500 – available at $340
Conclusion
Vinyl records are surprisingly making a comeback in this music-dominating world! As pricy as they are, it doesn’t seem to stop music lovers from competing in auctions or stores to own copies of treasured icons and the journey continues. What are you waiting for, get yourself a copy too!
