These old vinyls could be worth cash with some records fetching $2,000,000
If you've got any old record lying around that you've not touched in years then you might want to check if they're on this list, as certain vinyls are going for between tens of thousands and several million dollars depending on their rarity.
Reports have claimed that 'music is back' in 2024 and a big part of that is the increased demand for vinyl records. Many of the biggest artists in the world are going all-out on the physical medium as younger audiences especially have dramatically increased sales for the once-forgotten format.
While this has resulted in an increased price for vinyl across the board, with most new releases breaching beyond the $30 mark, it's older records that have in fact seen the biggest price increase - often due to their scarcity.
If you happen to have one of these records gathering dust in your attic then you might want to rush it onto the market, as you could earn yourself a pretty penny from an enthusiastic buyer.
Dark - Dark Round the Edges (around $10,000)
Dark Round the Edges, released by Dark in 1972 is one of the rarest records that you can pick up on the market, and fetches a price of around $10,000 according to reports from A2D2 in the Daily Mail.
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The reason behind this - which will become a common theme as we continue through the list - is down to the fact that there were only 40 copies of the record product, so if you're one of the lucky ones then you could be in for some major profit.
Complex - Complex (around $12,000)
The same is true for Complex's self-titled album that released in 1971, as only 99 copies were pressed. Progressive rock fans have been dying to get their hands on this but it remains elusive. You might just have to pray that a repressing somehow happens, although pigs might fly first!
The Beatles - The White Album (around $12,000)
The White Album isn't just one of The Beatles' most celebrated albums but it holds massive critical acclaim beyond the context of the superstar group too. It's widely considered one of the best rock records to have released so its understandable that this has led to an inflated vinyl price, but you might be able to stretch up to $12,000 with a particular variant.
If you happen to own an original copy with a low serial number - especially if it's one with the original apple logo - then you're in luck as it'll fetch you thousands. It might be hard to convince big Beatles fans to part with such a holy grail though.
As revealed by HMV, the very first version of the album (serial number '0000001') was sold by Ringo Starr at an auction for $790,000, showing how far the price can really stretch.
Mozart - Mozart À Paris (1763-1778) ($19,152)
A vinyl boxset collecting 15 years of Mozart's Paris performances in the late 18th century has regularly featured on second-hand marketplace Discogs' monthly highest sellers, but one particular version that was 'Near Mint' in every way managed to be sold for $19,512.
This makes it the second highest price paid for a record in the decade so far, so if you're a classical lover you might want to keep your eyes peeled for this in the wild.
Choose Your Weapon - Scaramanga Silk ($36,585)
This is a classic case of rarity in play, as self-released single Choose Your Weapon by UK DJ Scaramanga sold for $36,585, likely due to the fact that only 20 numbered copies have ever been produced.
Many have even gone so far to claim that this particular vinyl is at the heart of money laundering schemes, so it goes to show the lengths at which people will go to justify inflated prices.
Aphex Twin - Caustic Window (test pressing) ($46,300)
A test pressing of IDM idol Aphex Twin's Caustic Window LP was sold for $46,300 at an auction in 2014, and it stands out as a rare addition to this list due to the fact it's not an old album.
What also adds to the story here is that the record was purchased by Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson, but the otherwise staggering vinyl price will likely not make a dent on the game creator's estimated $1.2 billion net worth.
The Beatles - Yesterday & Today ($125,000)
Another Beatles album makes the list here, and it marks the step up into the six-figure range. While the compilation album is desirable to fans of the group regardless, the reason why it's this expensive comparatively is due to the rare 'butcher' cover that early versions released in North America had.
This saw the quartet in white butcher's coats with meat and baby dolls draped over them, and this was quickly replaced with a comparatively tame shot of the group stood around an open suitcase.
A mint, sealed copy of the butcher variant broke records at the time, becoming the most expensive album ever sold when a buyer picked it up for $125,000 in February 2013.
Elvis Presley - My Happiness ($300,000)
Jack White of The White Stripes fame purchased Elvis Presley's My Happiness for a staggering $300,000 in 2015, which was definitely a predictable action of the musician who is a huge vinyl collector.
The reason why this is so desirable as it's the first ever recording from Presley, and White used the pressing to release a limited edition exact copy complete with pops, scratches, and even a brown paper sleeve for extra authenticity.
Wu-Tang Clan - Once Upon a Time in Shaolin ($2,000,000)
It'll take a very, very long time before anything even comes close to this at the top of the list, as the single-copy never-released 2015 Wu-Tang album is unique and notorious by design.
There has only ever been one edition of the album produced, and the buyer was obligated to sign a contract stipulating that it couldn't be sold or made money from for 100 years - although the door is open for the album to be released for free if they so desire.
Don't expect that to happen any time soon though, as the purchaser of the infamous record was Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli who became a villain to many after hiking the price of an anti-HIV drug by 5,000%, and has since been convicted of securities fraud and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Following Shkreli's sentencing the record was seized by federal authorities, and in May 2024 audiences were able to listen to the album for the first time through the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, Tasmania, as reported by the Guardian.