The Top 100 Most Valuable Vinyl Records | Striking Gold with Music

Imagine stumbling upon a dusty old vinyl record at a garage sale or in your grandparents’ attic, only to find out it’s worth thousands or even millions of dollars!

The world of valuable vinyl records is thrilling, with rare gems and fascinating stories.

From Wu-Tang Clan’s million-dollar record to The Beatles’ rare releases, let’s dive into the top 100 most valuable vinyl records that you don’t want to miss out on.

Key Takeaways

• Discover the top 100 most valuable vinyl records of 2024, including Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’, The Beatles’ rare releases and Prince’s hidden gem ‘The Black Album’.

• Limited edition treasures like Scaramanga Silk’s ‘Choose Your Weapon’ and iconic album art from Led Zeppelin & David Bowie are highly sought after by collectors.

• Genre specific rarities such as Sahib Shihaband & Miles Davis have become increasingly valuable to devoted fans!

• You can buy all of the best vinyl records here.

A List of The 100 Most Valuable Vinyl Records

1. ‘God Save the Queen’ – Sex Pistols

2. Supernatural Girl – Ferris Wheel

3. ‘Love Me Do’ – The Beatles

4. Ummagumma – Pink Floyd

5. Would You Believe – Billy Nicholls

6. Melody A.M. – Röyksopp

7. Yes – Pet Shop Boys

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

9. David Bowie – David Bowie

10. The Love Cycle – Forever Amber

11. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin

12. ‘Gorilla Biscuits’ – Gorilla Biscuits

13. Chung King Can Suck It

14. Growers of Mushroom – Leaf Hound

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

16. ‘Love is Strange’ – Wings

17. Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

18. Overdrive – Phafner

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

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

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

22. Black Album – Prince

23. Metaphysical Animation – Metaphysical Animation

24. ‘The Love Cycle’ – Forever Amber

25. Negative Approach – Negative Approach

26. ‘Equidity Funk’ – Mistafide

27. Wil Malone – Wil Malone

28. ‘Equidity Funk’ – Mistafide

29. Led Zeppelin (Deluxe Edition) – Led Zeppelin

30. Frutti Per Kagua – Capitolo 6

31. Cold Cuts – Nicholas Greenwood

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

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

34. Monster Movie – CAN

35. Meddle – Pink Floyd

36. Love is the Key – Dynamic Five

37. Growers of Mushroom – Leaf Hound

38. ‘I’ll Be on My Way’ – Bob & Fred

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

40. Just Another Diamond Day – Vashti Bunyan

41. ‘Pay to Cum!’ – Bad Brains

42. Mammut – Mammut

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

44. Sex Drive – Necros

45. Analogy – Analogy

46. Pre-Flight – Room

47. Monster Movie (Remastered) – CAN

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

49. Uganda Akira Ishikawa & Count Buffaloes

50. An Ideal for Living – Joy Division

51. Song of a Gypsy – Damon

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

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

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

55. An Invisible World Revealed – Krokodil

56. ‘Believe It or Not’ – Nabay

57. Swaddling Songs – Mellow Candle

58. ‘Lonely Every Day’ – The Golden Earrings

59. ‘Endless Memory’ – Roy Panton

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

61. Estrelando Embaixador – Tribo Massahi

62. Mirkwood – Mirkwood

63. ‘I Really Love You’ – Jimmy Burns

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

65. Ethiopian Modern Instrumentals Hits – Various Artists

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

67. The Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd

68. Music Emporium – Music Emporium

69. ‘Hand in Glove’ – The Smiths

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

71. ‘Anarchy in the UK’ – Sex Pistols

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

73. Tom Prehn Kvartet – Tom Prehn Kvartet

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

75. Through You – The Contents Are

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

77. Mystic Beauty – Reggie Andrews and the Fellowship

78. ‘King of Fuh’ – Brute Force

79. Damned Damned Damned – The Damned

80. Pleure et Applaudit – Jean Debuffet

81. Kind of Blue – Miles Davis

82. The Who Sell Out – The Who

83. Bleach – Nirvana

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

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

86. Diamond Dogs – David Bowie

87. Reverbaration (Doubt) – The Thirteenth Floor Elevators

88. Legacy of Brutality – Misfits

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

90. The Caine Mutiny – Max Steiner

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

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

93. Blue Note 1568 – Hank Mobley

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

95. Stonewall – Stonewall

96. Yesterday and Today – The Beatles

97. Street Fighting Man – The Rolling Stones

98. ‘Stormy Weather’ – The Five Sharps

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

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

List via https://notesonvinyl.com/

The Million-Dollar Record: 'Once Upon a Time in Shaolin'

In the realm of valuable vinyl records, Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’ stands unparalleled. This incredibly rare record is not only unique but has significant historical and emotional value attached to it. So, what’s the story?

Wu-Tang Clan created ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’ as a one-of-a-kind piece of music history. Possessing the title of the most valuable vinyl record ever sold, its uniqueness is underscored by the fact that only a single copy exists. This exclusive record was never commercially released, making it a highly sought-after item for record collectors and fans alike.

The record’s value skyrocketed not only due to its rarity but also because of the captivating story behind it. Wu-Tang Clan took a stand against the mass production of music by creating a single, priceless piece of art that could only be experienced by a select few.

This bold move has cemented its place in music history and made ‘Once Upon a Time in Shaolin’ one of the most valuable vinyl records of all time.

The Beatles' Rare Releases

Valuable vinyl records often include some of the Beatles’ rare releases, which command staggering prices at auctions and among collectors. From ‘Yesterday and Today’ to ‘Love Me Do,’ these Beatles records are highly sought-after due to their rarity and the iconic status of the band.

The most expensive and sought-after release from The Beatles is ‘Yesterday and Today,’ which sold for an astonishing $125,000 in 2016.

Another valuable record from the band is their self-titled ‘White Album,’ which has fetched impressive prices, including an original pressing that sold for $790,000.

The value of The Beatles’ albums, especially rare ones, is significantly influenced by their covers. Some of the most valuable Beatles album examples include:

• The 1966 “Yesterday and Today” compilation

• The pressing with the black and gold label of “Introducing…The Beatles”

• The rare stereo “first state” Butcher cover

Another record is the first pressing of ‘Please Please Me’, released by the band’s own record label, which also serves as their record company, with the potential value of tens of thousands of dollars, making it one of the most valuable records.

Dreams of discovering one of these rare gems are common among both Beatles fans and vinyl collectors. With their captivating stories and high values, the Beatles’ rare releases will always be sought after by collectors and music enthusiasts alike.

Prince's Hidden Gem: 'The Black Album'

As mysterious and intriguing as the artist himself, Prince’s ‘The Black Album’ is a hidden gem in the world of valuable vinyl records. Deemed “too dark” by Prince, he ordered the destruction of all copies of this unreleased album before its release.

However, a few copies survived, making it an extremely rare and valuable piece of music history.

One such copy of ‘The Black Album’ sold for an impressive $27,500 in 2018. This rare double LP with a promotional stamp and a parental advisory warning sticker is a collector’s dream, with only one copy ever sold on Discogs. The original cover art and the fact that it was self-released by Prince only add to its value.

The intrigue surrounding this album has led to its high value and desirability among record collectors and fans. With its dark history and limited availability, this record will forever remain a hidden gem in the world of valuable vinyl records.

Limited Edition Treasures

In the vinyl record world, limited edition treasures are the equivalent of unicorns. These rare vinyl records, such as Scaramanga Silk’s ‘Choose Your Weapon’ and The Rolling Stones’ ‘Street Fighting Man,’ have become highly sought-after collectibles due to their limited availability and captivating stories.

The story behind Scaramanga Silk’s ‘Choose Your Weapon’ is nothing short of astonishing. Released in a limited edition of 20 copies, each containing a CD-Rom, an art print, and a poem on acetate, it sold for a mind-blowing $27,500 in 2015.

The Rolling Stones’ ‘Street Fighting Man’ vinyl has an equally fascinating story. The original cover illustrated the harshness of police intervention during protests that year. It highlighted the struggle against such oppressive tactics.

However, it was ordered to be destroyed after the Chicago Democratic National Convention erupted into violent riots. At least 18 copies mysteriously leaked into the world, and one sold for a whopping $17,000 in 2011.

Controversial Classics

In the world of valuable vinyl records, controversial classics occupy a unique niche. Records like Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save the Queen’ and The Velvet Underground & Nico’s debut album have gained immense value due to their provocative nature.

Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save the Queen’ was a highly controversial song, and many record stores refused to stock it. This only added to its allure, and the limited availability made it highly sought after. In 2012, a copy of ‘God Save the Queen’ sold for an incredible $20,000.

The Velvet Underground & Nico’s debut album is regarded as one of the most influential releases in rock history. The album is particularly noteworthy due to its unique cover. A banana was printed as a peelable sticker with the enigmatic words ‘peel slowly and see’ accompanying it. An acetate copy of this album fetched nearly £20,000 (roughly $25,000 USD) at a 2016 auction. Not a bad sum at all.

Cult Favorites

Cult favorites, vinyl records that have earned a dedicated fan base, inherently gain value and desirability. Records like Dark’s ‘Dark Round the Edges’ and Mirkwood’s self-titled album have become valuable due to their rarity and the devotion of their fans.

Dark’s ‘Dark Round the Edges’ is the debut album of the progressive rock band Dark. With only 64 copies ever pressed, it’s no wonder that this record is highly sought after by collectors and fans alike. In 2021, an original vinyl pressing of ‘Dark Round the Edges’ sold for a staggering $16,000.

Mirkwood’s self-titled album is another cult favorite that has fetched impressive prices. In 2016, a copy of this record sold for $3292.48. The average sale price of Mirkwood’s self-titled album is $3300, making it a valuable addition to any record collector’s collection.

Cult favorites like these hold a special place in the hearts of their fans, and their rarity only adds to their value. With only a handful available, collectors and enthusiasts continue to seek them out, undoubtedly causing their prices to rise.

Unexpected High-Value Vinyls

Occasionally, the vinyl records of greatest value can be the ones that catch you by surprise. Records like Ferris Wheel’s ‘Supernatural Girl’ and Billy Nicholls’ ‘Would You Believe’ have fetched impressive prices at auctions, surprising collectors and music enthusiasts alike.

Ferris Wheel’s ‘Supernatural Girl’ is a lo-fi folk rock/psychedelic folk underground record that has become quite valuable. In 2015, a vinyl copy of this record sold for an astonishing $5449.36.

Billy Nicholls’ ‘Would You Believe,’ on the other hand, is valued at an incredible $10,000. The record’s value lies in its rarity, as only a few copies were ever made.

These unexpected high-value vinyls remind us that sometimes, the most valuable treasures are the ones that are least expected. As collectors and enthusiasts continue to uncover these hidden gems, the value of expensive vinyl records will undoubtedly continue to rise; so be sure to check your attic for every vinyl record!

Iconic Album Art

Additionally, the value of vinyl records can be significantly influenced by their album art. Albums like David Bowie’s self-titled release have become valuable not only for the music but also for their memorable and unique cover art.

For example, Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album has fetched impressive prices due to its iconic album art. A first issue copy of the album with turquoise lettering in the upper left corner of the cover has sold for a whopping $6,200. The most expensive Led Zeppelin vinyl record is the 2006 Classic Records compilation titled Led Zeppelin, which sold for just over $4,800.

David Bowie’s self-titled release also boasts iconic album art, with the memorable image of Bowie on the cover. In 2019, a rare limited run of just 50 copies of the album, alongside 15 other records, was released on blue wax. This was done to raise money for charity. One of these rare copies sold for a staggering $27,500.

Iconic album art adds an extra layer of value and desirability to vinyl records. Collectors and music enthusiasts alike will continue to appreciate and cherish these records for their unique visuals and memorable designs.

Hard Rock Collectibles

The thrill of discovering rare and valuable vinyl records from their favorite genre is unparalleled for hard rock fans. Records like Leaf Hound’s ‘Growers of Mushroom’ and Phafner’s ‘Overdrive’ have become valuable vinyl records for hard rock fans and collectors alike.

Leaf Hound’s ‘Growers of Mushroom’ is a prime example of a hard rock collectible that has gained significant value over the years. The record’s rarity and the band’s dedicated fan base have made it a sought-after item for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Phafner’s ‘Overdrive’ is another hard rock collectible that has become valuable due to its rarity and the devotion of its fans. This record has fetched impressive prices at auctions, with one vinyl copy selling for an astonishing $5449.36 in 2015.

Hard rock collectibles like these hold a special place in the hearts of fans and collectors, and their rarity only adds to their value. As more people continue to seek out these gems, their prices will undoubtedly continue to rise.

Genre-Specific Rarities

Valuable vinyl records often include genre-specific rarities, sought after by collectors and enthusiasts for their unique genre representation and rarity.

Jazz albums by Sahib Shihaband & The Danish Radio Jazz Group and Miles Davis’ ‘Kind of Blue’ are examples of genre-specific rarities that have become valuable vinyl records.

Sahib Shihaband & The Danish Radio Jazz Group’s albums are highly sought after by jazz enthusiasts due to their rarity and the unique sound they represent. Collectors are willing to pay top dollar for these rare jazz gems.

Miles Davis’ ‘Kind of Blue’ is another genre-specific rarity that has become incredibly valuable. This iconic jazz album has fetched impressive prices at auctions, with one vinyl record selling for $2,700.

Summary: The Top 100 Most Valuable Vinyl Records

From million-dollar records to genre-specific rarities, the world of valuable vinyl records is a treasure trove of captivating stories, iconic album art, and rare gems.

Collectors and music enthusiasts alike will continue to appreciate and cherish these records for their unique qualities and the history they represent.

As the vinyl revival continues to grow, the value of these rare and valuable records will only increase. So, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open – you never know when you might stumble upon the next million-dollar vinyl record.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where is the best place to buy vinyl records online?

If you want to start collecting vinyl records yourself, I recommend our dedicated article discussing the best options for buying vinyl records. Click here to read now.

Which 45 records are most valuable?

Frank Wilson's 'Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)'/'Sweeter as the Days Go By' 45 rpm record is undoubtedly the most valuable, a northern soul classic with a rich history - it's not hard to see why!

How do I find out what vinyl records are worth?

To find out what your vinyl records are worth, check record prices online and get a record price guide for reference. Additionally, consider the condition of the record, its rarity or limited-edition status, and compare it with similar listings on online vinyl marketplaces to get an estimate.

What is the most wanted vinyl record?

Pink Floyd's ninth studio album, "Wish You Were Here" (1975), is the most wanted vinyl record for collectors. Taking second spot is French electronic duo Daft Punk's fourth studio album, "Random Access Memories" (2013). Other iconic Pink Floyd albums, "The Wall" (1979) and "Dark Side of The Moon" (1973), round off the top four.

Which Beatles record is the most sought-after and expensive?

The most sought-after and expensive Beatles record is 'Yesterday and Today', fetching a whopping $125,000 in 2016!

What is Prince's rare and controversial album?

Prince's rare and controversial album is 'The Black Album,' a project famously deemed "too dark" and ordered destroyed by the artist himself.