Are those old vinyl records gathering dust in your attic or closet? It might be time to take a closer look, as you could be harboring a hidden treasure. For some enthusiasts and collectors, certain relics are worth thousands, even millions of euros, with vintage vinyl records reaching record valuations since the 1990s, according to the Portuguese site Executive.
The Most Valuable Vinyl Records Ever Sold:
1. Wu-Tang Clan: Once Upon a Time in Shaolin – $2 to $4 Million
Created in 2015 as a protest against the devaluation of music in the digital world, only one copy was produced. Initially sold for $2 million to a pharmaceutical executive who was later convicted of fraud, the album was seized and sold by the U.S. government for $4 million.
2. Bob Dylan: Blowin’ in the Wind – $1.77 Million
A unique acetate record auctioned by Christie’s in 2022, featuring a sapphire and quartz gradient cover similar to the International Space Station to protect its delicate nature.
3. John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy – $850,000
An album autographed by John Lennon for Mark Chapman, the man who would assassinate the Beatles singer just hours later, on December 8, 1980.
4. The Beatles: White Album – $790,000
A classic upon its release in 1968, the first four editions were given to each of the Beatles. In 2015, Ringo Starr’s personal copy set a record sale price in the U.S.
5. Elvis Presley: My Happiness – $300,000
Elvis’s first recorded disc was purchased by Jack White of The White Stripes, who then produced an exact copy of the fragile acetate disc for reissue.
6. The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – $290,000
A copy of this iconic Beatles album, signed by all four band members, was sold to an American collector for $290,000 in 2013.
7. The Quarry Men: That’ll Be The Day/In Spite of All the Danger – $250,000
Recorded by John Lennon’s pre-Beatles band, this acetate disc featuring a Buddy Holly cover and an original song is considered the UK’s rarest record, fetching $250,000 at auction.
8. The Beatles: Yesterday & Today – $125,000
An early version of the album, featuring a controversial cover of the band covered in raw meat and dismembered dolls, sold for $125,000 in 2013.
9. The Beatles: ‘Til There Was You (10-inch acetate) – $97,800
Dubbed the ‘Holy Grail’ for many Beatles collectors and fans, the original 10-inch acetate sold for nearly $98,000 in March 2016.
10. Aphex Twin: Caustic Window – $46,300
The most recent album on this list, recorded in 1994 and considered lost until a test pressing surfaced. It was sold in 2014 to the creator of Minecraft.
These records not only signify the rich history and cultural impact of music but also underscore the potential value of what might just be collecting dust in your home.
