Top 30 Most Expensive Items Sold In The Discogs Marketplace For August 2018
When Pink Floyd is mentioned around these parts, it’s usually because Dark Side Of The Moon has topped this list or that list. It’s a pretty common occurrence. However, this is not one of those instances. The top seller of August 2018 isn’t that behemoth. It’s an edition of the 1969 double LP Ummagumma. It went for $13,953, and that massive sale price raised eyebrows for multiple reasons.
First of all, only one record sold for more in 2018 — the one-of-a-kind sealed Canadian copy of Prince’s Black Album, which went for an eye-popping $27,500. This month’s number one is also the fourth highest seller of the last two years, behind an unreleased version of God Save The Queen by the Sex Pistols and a promo copy of the first Beatles hit, Love Me Do, which routinely tops this list. Plus, last time a Pink Floyd release made it to the number top spot here, the price was nothing compared to this month. And that was for arguably Pink Floyd’s best record!
So now you’re thinking, “OK, why is a copy of Pink Floyd’s ninth best album worth $14,000? How can it compare to those other ultra-rare releases?” Yes it’s a Japanese promo copy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a lot. As always, our resident discography specialist Brent Greissle came to the rescue.
One consideration is the color. While something like red wax seems relatively commonplace these days, it wasn’t back then. In fact, colored LPs often weren’t meant for mass consumption. “The label used red vinyl for promos at the time, and the Ummagumma promo happened to get that treatment,” he pointed out. “Early 45s were all colored vinyl, and a few releases in the ’70s were entirely colored vinyl. But for the most part up until semi-recently, the majority of stuff is on black wax.”
There’s also the particular nature of this release. Oftentimes when crate digging, you’ll find one old promo copy after another. So many clipped corners! Not this time. “Given that it’s Floyd, I’d assume not many promo copies were made, given the lack of actual effort needed to promote it,” Brent reasoned. “I’d also assume that radio stations would have played their copies to death, so good, clean copies would be hyper-rare.”
That means even though it doesn’t have a captivating backstory like the Canadian Black Album or an unreleased God Save The Queen single, all the factors start compounding on one another to create a very specific type of rarity.
Now it’s time for you to dig into the rest of the top 30, where there are plenty more stories to be found — like the hand-decorated copy of Guided By Voices’ Propeller or the first single from a pre-Bowie Davie Jones.
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John And Philipa Cooper – The Cooperville Times
Sold for $1250.00 Label: Parlophone
Format: LP
Country: South Africa
Released: 1969
Genres: Rock, Pop, Folk, World, & Country
Styles: Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-8618929-1465259803-3430.jpeg.jpg)
Elvis Presley – The Complete Elvis Presley Masters
Sold for $1295.00 Label: Legacy, RCA
Format: 30xCD, Comp
Country: US
Released: 2010
Genres: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Styles: Country, Gospel, Rock & Roll, Rockabilly:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-8609350-1465059559-4825.jpeg.jpg)
David Bowie – The World Of David Bowie
Sold for $1298.00 Label: Decca
Format: LP, Comp, TP
Country: UK
Released: 1970
Genres: Rock
Styles: Folk Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4010409-1352278102-5288.jpeg.jpg)
Little Joe Hinton – Let’s Start A Romance / Your Kind Of Love
Sold for $1300.00 Label: Arvee
Format: 7″, Single
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: Soul:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-5965033-1407577970-5037.jpeg.jpg)
August Tide – Laurie / Far Away Places
Sold for $1300.00
Format: 7″
Country: US
Genres: Funk / Soul:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2476746-1372712943-3737.jpeg.jpg)
Ghost (32) – Elizabeth / Death Knell
Sold for $1315.00 Label: Iron Pegasus Records
Format: 7″, Ltd, Red
Country: Germany
Released: 2010
Genres: Rock
Styles: Blues Rock, Doom Metal, Classic Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-6392491-1518142634-6069.jpeg.jpg)
The Beatles – Meet The Beatles
Sold for $1315.00 Label: Capitol Records
Format: 7″, Jukebox
Country: US
Released: 1964
Genres: Rock, Pop
Styles: Beat:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-3749438-1406804423-6332.jpeg.jpg)
Pöbel – Es Lebe Hoch Die Perversion
Sold for $1358.00 Label: Panza-Platte
Format: 7″
Country: Austria
Released: 1981
Genres: Rock
Styles: Punk:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4077350-1374663986-3724.jpeg.jpg)
July (3) – July
Sold for $1394.00 Label: Major Minor
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: UK
Released: 1968
Genres: Rock, Pop
Styles: Psychedelic Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-3284206-1325821202.jpeg.jpg)
Melvins – Endless Residency
Sold for $1395.00 Label: Amphetamine Reptile Records
Format: 5×12″, Red + 3×12″, S/Sided, Red + Box, Ltd, HAZ
Country: US
Released: 2011
Genres: Rock
Styles: Alternative Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-724042-1510285933-3363.jpeg.jpg)
Ron B (3) And The Step 2 Crew – Stitch By Stitch / Live Entertainer
Sold for $1400.00 Label: Asiatic Records
Format: 12″
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genres: Hip Hop:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-453032-1300319409.jpeg.jpg)
Michael Garrick Septet – Black Marigolds
Sold for $1433.00 Label: Argo (2)
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: UK
Released: 1966
Genres: Jazz:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-12430392-1535136539-8379.jpeg.jpg)
Masayuki Takayanagi Quintet – Flower Girl
Sold for $1453.00 Label: Not On Label
Format: LP, Album, Ltd
Country: Japan
Released: 1969
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Latin Jazz:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4250984-1359739531-8893.jpeg.jpg)
Love Company (2) – Somebody Help Me Be Fair / Love Tempo
Sold for $1500.00 Label: SRO Records
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genres: Funk / Soul:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-805174-1364285537-7290.jpeg.jpg)
Mayhem – Deathcrush
Sold for $1500.00 Label: Posercorpse Music
Format: 12″, EP, Ltd
Country: Norway
Released: 1987
Genres: Rock
Styles: Black Metal:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-10882433-1505893119-9170.jpeg.jpg)
Eminem – Infinite
Sold for $1588.00 Label: Web Entertainment
Format: LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genres: Hip Hop
Styles: Hardcore Hip-Hop, Conscious:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-792457-1159312117.jpeg.jpg)
Don Rendell Ian Carr 5tet – Dusk Fire
Sold for $1802.00 Label: Columbia
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: UK
Released: 1966
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Modal:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-3756367-1343952802-1032.jpeg.jpg)
Raymond Harper & The Melody Makers (4) / The Enchanters (3) – Safari
Sold for $1818.00 Label: Doctor Bird
Format: 7″, Single
Country: Jamaica
Released: 1966
Genres: Reggae
Styles: Ska:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-1427976-1522249419-3844.jpeg.jpg)
Guided By Voices – Propeller
Sold for $2000.00 Label: Rockathon, Old Age / No Age
Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Num, W/Lbl
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genres: Rock
Styles: Indie Rock, Lo-Fi:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2399832-1443621283-6218.jpeg.jpg)
Blues Addicts – Blues Addicts
Sold for $2000.00 Label: Spectator Records
Format: LP
Country: Denmark
Released: 1970
Genres: Rock
Styles: Blues Rock, Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-8555396-1463950409-1611.jpeg.jpg)
Dangerous Rhythm (2) – No, No, No
Sold for $2099.00 Label: Orfeon
Format: 7″, EP, Mono
Country: Mexico
Released: 1979
Genres: Rock
Styles: Punk:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-6395224-1424450421-1728.jpeg.jpg)
Davy Jones – You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving
Sold for $2325.00 Label: Parlophone
Format: 7″, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1965
Genres: Rock, Pop
Styles: Pop Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-7357219-1476330344-7164.jpeg.jpg)
Gary Walker & The Rain – Album No. 1
Sold for $2325.00 Label: Philips
Format: LP, Album
Country: Japan
Released: 1968
Genres: Rock
Styles: Beat, Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Pop Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4302535-1396794779-5954.jpeg.jpg)
Lazy Smoke – Corridor Of Faces
Sold for $2500.00 Label: Onyx (5)
Format: LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genres: Rock
Styles: Psychedelic Rock, Beat:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-1350468-1377575562-1715.jpeg.jpg)
The Beatles – Please Please Me
Sold for $2558.00 Label: Parlophone
Format: LP, Album, Mono, Bla
Country: UK
Released: 1963
Genres: Rock
Styles: Beat, Rock & Roll:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-673680-1452396379-7386.jpeg.jpg)
The Smiths – Reel Around The Fountain / Jeane
Sold for $2763.00 Label: Rough Trade
Format: 7″, TP, W/Lbl
Country: UK
Released: 1983
Genres: Rock
Styles: Alternative Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-10935863-1506798435-8761.jpeg.jpg)
Jean Dubuffet – Pleure et Applaudit
Sold for $2905.00 Label: Galleria Del Cavallino Venise
Format: 10″, Ltd, Num
Country: France
Released: 1961
Genres: Non-Music, Classical
Styles: Spoken Word, Experimental, Free Improvisation, Noise:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-3729437-1346860196-5213.jpeg.jpg)
Opus (9) – The Atrocity / Good Procedures
Sold for $3500.00 Label: Catatonic Records (3)
Format: 7″, Single
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genres: Rock
Styles: Punk:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2706039-1353545590-5691.jpeg.jpg)
Davie Jones With The King Bees – Liza Jane
Sold for $3947.00 Label: Vocalion Pop
Format: 7″, Single
Country: UK
Released: 1964
Genres: Rock, Blues, Pop
Styles: Beat, Rhythm & Blues:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-6381232-1417848455-3118.jpeg.jpg)
Pink Floyd – Ummagumma
Sold for $13953.00 Label: Odeon
Format: 2xLP, Album, Promo, Red
Country: Japan
Released: 1970
Genres: Rock
Styles: Psychedelic Rock, Experimental, Classic Rock
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@xiphophilos , it’s none of your business what that individual does with their own money.
“Ninth best album”?!? Ummagumma is among my top 5 Pink Floyd albums, for sure… :-O
@groovatronics
There were no certificates of authenticity or provenance mentioned in the listing. While that might be part of why the seller listed it at such a high price, most collectors won’t purchase something this expensive without proof of authenticity. That makes me think the signatures aren’t as much of a factor as one might think at first glance.
Oh okay I just looked up the history, and here’s the description: “Original Japanese promo only red vinyl,Extremely rare. Complete with obi.Signed by all 4 members inside the gatefold cover”
Autographed. That makes way more sense. Surprised the discogs blogger didn’t mention it.
As with a lot of popular collectibles (Beatles, Dylan, Stones, etc.) there were hundreds and hundreds of versions for each record they put out. So, while bins are crammed with many “low-value” editions, there are also peculiar oddities like this one. For the wealthy collector with a severe case of “gotta catch em all” syndrome, these foreign editions are must-haves. Sometimes they are only marginally different, but some people feel that the only way to truly complete their collection is to have every single edition. I think that’s the only possible explanation for this Ummagumma price tag.
My question is how the hell did the seller come up with €12,000? It would make sense if this sold at an eBay auction or something. But they literally listed it at that price, and somehow found a buyer to bite the hook. That’s what strikes me as extra crazy.
@Heisenberg9383
Das Sammeln ist sicher kein Privileg der Reichen, aber das Sammeln von Alben, die zehntausende von Dollars kosten, ist es durchaus. Darum (um die “Sammlerhype”) ging es djworstcase, wenn ich ihn richtig verstanden habe. Discogs hat natürlich ein finanzielles Interesse daran, diese Art von Sammlerhype zu feiern. Zum Glück aber hast Du recht, die meisten Alben kosten so gut wie nichts, und darum ist unser Hobby weiterhin so ziemlich allen offen.
@djworstcase
Deine Meinung, wonach ein Sammler nicht gleichzeitig auch Musikliebhaber sein kann, ist nicht nachvollziehbar. Das Eine schließt das Andere doch nicht aus. Und wieso soll das Sammeln ein Privileg der Reichen sein? Ich muss ja nicht gleich Platten um 10.000 Euro kaufen. Und sollte sich jemand ein seltenes und teures Album nicht abzuspielen trauen, wie du vermutest, dann muß er deswegen doch nicht auf die Musik darauf verzichten. Als Sammler wird er das Album in mehreren Ausführungen haben.
[u=djworstcase] I agree with you, spending $13,793.10 for the Japanese promo version of a record is outright silly, especially when you can listen to the same music on an album in Near Mint condition for $5.00. But of course this is not about wanting to listen to music but probably a way of flaunting your wealth and showing off at parties. I only hope that someone who has that much money to throw away spends at least some of it on alleviating the lot of less fortunate individuals. I can think of lots of food pantries and homeless shelters that could do a lot with that kind of money.
Most I’ve every paid for a record was $70 USD for a 2xLP copy of “The End Of Silence” by the Rollins Band.
P.S.: Glaubt jemand von Euch das sich jemand eine 67.000$ Platte abspielen traut??? Ich denke eher nicht. Und was bringt eine Platte mit der schönsten, berührendste oder revolutionärste Musik der Welt, wenn man sie nur noch als Wertanlage betrachtet? Ehrlich, kann man den Waren Schatz darin, nämlich die Musik, die Kunst darin, die Hoffnungen, Träume, Gefühle u.v.m. die darin verborgen liegt mehr entwerten u. zerstören als auf diese Art? Meiner Meinung nach nicht.
Meine persönliche Meinung, dieser Sammlerhype, ist zunächst einmal ein Privileg der Privilegierten u. Reichen, was mir eigentlich egal wäre, wenn zum einen nicht dafür Sorgen würde das viele heutige Musikproduzenten immer mehr auf die Digitale Produktion umsteigen, da sich anscheinend Plattenfirmen immer mehr auf Sammler konzentrieren und dadurch die Wartezeiten für Veröffentlichungen extrem hinaus zögern. Ich als Techno (Vinyl) Dj leide unter diesem Phänomen, da im Underground wirklich nur sehr wenige Alben auf Vinyl gepresst werden. Was nicht nur aus Beruflicher Sicht extrem Schade ist, sondern auch aus persönlicher Sicht blutet mir da mein Herz. Denn man bedenke die Ironie darin, wie John Lyden wohl rameadiert hätte wenn ihm jeamand erklärt hätte das für seine “God Save the Queen” Version (und Parodie) jemand 20.000$ bezahlt hat, glaubt ihr er würde sich darüber freuen, das aus seiner Kunst die Großteils gegen das Establishment gerichtet war, ein Prestigeobjekt wurde??? Ob er das wollen würde? … Ich denke eher er rotiert in seinem Grab!
Vorallem kann in 40 Jahren niemand 15 od. 20.000$ für ne Erstpressung von Pattern J’s “That Night” zahlen. Warum? Weil nie eine erscheinen wird u. ich glaube kaum das MP3’s oder WAV’s jemals so einen Sammelwert bekommen werden. Und ganz zum Schluss, mir kann niemand eezählen das es da um die Liebe zur Musik geht, es geht mittlerweile nur um Prestige, bei diesen hohen Sammlerbeträgen. Ich bin Dj, ich liebe die Musik u. liebe den Klang von Vinyl’s u. liebe es mit ihnen zu arbeiten.
Doch meine Art ist vom Aussterben bedroht.