What causes a physical release to be highly sought after? What makes it valuable? Is it the music contained on the disc? Or is it something else?
We have been thinking about this quite a bit recently at Discogs HQ. Similar to how we discovered that the most collected doesn’t necessarily represent the best music, we have a sense that sorting by most wanted isn’t the most accurate way to determine highly-desired releases. So, we’ve been working on new ways to query the data available to find releases that are exceptionally desirable.
My method might be a rather rudimentary way of uncovering desirable releases, but it’s a first step beyond just using total Wantlist numbers, so bear with me a bit. By using a ratio of (Wants ÷ Haves), we can establish an index of “desirability,” referred to below as the Want/Have Index. My theory is: the higher this number is, the more desirable a record will be. I had to refine this a bit to cull releases that might just be in a very small share of collections, which were mostly loosely verified test-pressings. With that in mind, this list contains releases that are in at least 25 collections. So you can maybe see how this needs some work and if you are a wise data nerd with any ideas, please feel free to leave them in the comments or DM me using my Discogs profile link at the bottom of this post. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Using this method to uncover some of the most desired releases in 2019 has yielded interesting results. Unlike sorting by the most wanted releases of 2019, we get a much more nuanced view of some exceptionally rare releases from the last 12 months. Almost all of these are limited vinyl pressings, many of which are so rare they have never been sold on Discogs. The notes and comments often allude to why these releases are so highly-desired, whether it be low pressing numbers, one-day promotions or other truly bizarre causes (looking at you variant of Billie Eilish – Live at Third Man Records that features a blue paint-splattered sleeve that Billie “painted” and that may also have her footprints/handprints tracked on them.)
There are some genuinely astounding music releases in here that are exceptionally rare. The type of stuff that might make it into a Top 30 Most Expensive list in a few years. Dive in, explore some of the rarest and most sought after music of 2019 and don’t forget to listen with the YouTube videos on the release pages – there is a lot of truly exceptional music in this list that is worth enjoying even if you are unlikely to come across a physical copy.
2019’s Most Highly Desired Releases
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Eversines, Anderson, Adam Pits, Nella – Wex Special: Part 2
Want/Have Index: 9.5926
- Format: 12″, Ltd, W/Lbl
- Label: Wex
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Billie Eilish – Live at Third Man Records
Want/Have Index: 7.6207
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Blu
- Label: Third Man Records
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Lou Karsh – Phantom Structures
Want/Have Index: 7.3077
- Format: 2×12″, Album, W/Lbl
- Label: Furthur Electronix
-
Coil – The Gay Man’s Guide To Safer Sex + 2
Want/Have Index: 7.2813
- Format: LP, Album, TP
- Label: Musique Pour La Danse
-
Mystic Harmony – Night Over Egypt / Independant Lady
Want/Have Index: 6.4615
- Format: 7″, Single, Ltd, RE
- Label: Backatcha Records
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David Bowie – The Next Day
Want/Have Index: 6.0952
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Num, RE, Blu
- Label: ISO Records, Columbia
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The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis:Bold As Love
Want/Have Index: 5.9524
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Num, RE, Blu
- Label: Legacy
-
King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King
Want/Have Index: 5.5625
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Num, RE, Blu
- Label: Discipline Global Mobile
-
Skyf Connection – Ten To Ten
Want/Have Index: 5.4783
- Format: LP, MiniAlbum, RM
- Label: La Casa Tropical
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Kamasi Washington, Gregory Porter – Kai Alcé Interpretations
Want/Have Index: 5.4474
- Format: 12″, S/Edition, W/Lbl
- Label: Not On Label
-
Sly & Robbie Vs. The Roots Radics – The Final Battle
Want/Have Index: 5.1667
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd
- Label: Serious Reggae, Afro Records
-
Wendell Harrison And Tribe – Farewell To The Welfare
Want/Have Index: 4.8627
- Format: 7″, Num, RE, RM
- Label: Clap City Records, Tribe (3)
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Slowdive – Golden Hair (Live)
Want/Have Index: 4.8444
- Format: 7″, Ltd, Gol
- Label: Sonic Cathedral Recordings
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Bladymore Galaxy – The Impermanent Sensations
Want/Have Index: 4.7576
- Format: 12″, EP, TP
- Label: Elma rivaga
-
Billy Woods, Kenny Segal – Hiding Places
Want/Have Index: 4.6389
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Num
- Label: Backwoodz Studioz
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Still Woozy – Woozy Discography
Want/Have Index: 4.4483
- Format: LP, Ltd, Ora
- Label: Vinyl Me, Please. Rising
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Karen Young – Hot Shot (Remixed With Love By Joey Negro)
Want/Have Index: 4.4286
- Format: 12″, Ltd, Pin
- Label: High Fashion Music
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Mike Ash – Buggin’ With The Bleeps
Want/Have Index: 4.36
- Format: 12″, EP, Ltd, Num, Red
- Label: Super Rhythm Trax
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Phish – Kasvot Växt: í rokk
Want/Have Index: 4.2083
- Format: 2xLP, Album, Unofficial, Whi
- Label: Elektrisk Tung
-
Durand Jones & The Indications – Don’t You Know
Want/Have Index: 4.1667
- Format: 7″, Single, Ltd, Wax
- Label: Colemine Records
-
Jai Paul – Do You Love Her Now / He
Want/Have Index: 4.0682
- Format: 12″, Single, Num, W/Lbl, Sig
- Label: XL Recordings
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Shigeo Sekito = Shigeo Sekito – ザ・ワードII = The Word II
Want/Have Index: 4.0455
- Format: 7″, Single, RE
- Label: JET SET (3), Columbia
-
Steve Marie, Rukka, Arlanoa, HiLo – Itération EP
Want/Have Index: 3.9773
- Format: 12″, EP
- Label: Cymatique Records
-
James Shinra – Orbit EP
Want/Have Index: 3.9355
- Format: 12″, EP, Promo, TP
- Label: Furthur Electronix
-
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Want/Have Index: 3.88
- Format: LP, Album, Dlx, Ltd, Promo, Unofficial, Cle
- Label: Frank Ocean Promotions
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Blood Incantation – Hidden History Of The Human Race
Want/Have Index: 3.8519
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Sta
- Label: Dark Descent Records
-
Spice Girls – Spice
Want/Have Index: 3.8333
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Num, RE, RM, Blu
- Label: Virgin, Virgin
-
Blue Gas – Shadows From Nowhere
Want/Have Index: 3.7813
- Format: 12″, Ltd, RE
- Label: S.P.Q.R., Best Record Italy
-
Coil – Swanyard
Want/Have Index: 3.7419
- Format: 3xLP, Album, Ltd, Num, S/Edition + Box
- Label: Infinite Fog Productions
-
Nine Circles – The Early Days
Want/Have Index: 3.7391
- Format: 2xLP, Album, Comp, RE
- Label: OnderStroom Records
-
Co-op – Documentary Now! Presents: Original Cast Album: Co-op
Want/Have Index: 3.7308
- Format: LP
- Label: IFC (2), Broadway Video
-
Brannten Schnüre – Durch Unser Zugedecktes Tal
Want/Have Index: 3.6667
- Format: LP, Ltd, Num
- Label: Youdonthavetocallitmusic
-
Bob Dylan – 50th Anniversary Collection 1969
Want/Have Index: 3.64
- Format: 2xCD, Ltd
- Label: Columbia, Sony Music, Legacy
-
F.U.S.E. – Dimensions
Want/Have Index: 3.6098
- Format: 3×12″, Album, RE, RM, Whi + 2×12″, EP, RE, RM, Whi
- Label: Plus 8 Records, The Vinyl Factory
-
Sueño Sueño – Tapas!
Want/Have Index: 3.5652
- Format: LP, Album, RE
- Label: Mind Records (6), Spooky (2)
-
Avril Lavigne – Head Above Water
Want/Have Index: 3.5349
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Tra
- Label: BMG Rights Management
-
Len Lewis – Liquid Acid / Edge Of Life
Want/Have Index: 3.4583
- Format: 12″, EP, RE, RM
- Label: Physical Education
-
Alessandro Alessandroni, Giovanni Tommaso – Open Air Parade
Want/Have Index: 3.3793
- Format: LP, Ltd, RE, RM, 180
- Label: SR Records (6), Sonor Music Editions
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Black Curse – Endless Wound
Want/Have Index: 3.3077
- Format: Cass, Advance
- Label: Sepulchral Voice Records
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Stopouts / Klon Dump – Ahead Of Us / Do The Dump
Want/Have Index: 3.2778
- Format: 12″
- Label: A Colourful Storm
-
Marilyn Manson – Antichrist Superstar
Want/Have Index: 3.2759
- Format: 2xLP, Album, Unofficial, Bla
- Label: Nothing Records (4)
-
U2 – The Joshua Tree
Want/Have Index: 3.2308
- Format: 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Red
- Label: Island Records
-
Phineus II – Meridian Response
Want/Have Index: 3.2273
- Format: 3×12″, Album, TP, W/Lbl
- Label: Green Bay Wax
-
Various – Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Want/Have Index: 3.2071
- Format: 2xLP, Comp, Ltd
- Label: Columbia
-
A Gethsemani – Âme Triste
Want/Have Index: 3.2
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, RE, RM
- Label: Tunnel Vision Records (2)
-
DJ Krush & Muro – Diggin’ On Blue – Mixed By DJ Krush & Muro
Want/Have Index: 3.1905
- Format: 2xCD, Mixed
- Label: Blue Note
-
The Raconteurs – HEY GYP (Dig the Slowness)
Want/Have Index: 3.1333
- Format: 7″, S/Sided, Etch, Ltd, TP
- Label: Third Man Records
-
Lamp of Murmuur – Melancholy Howls In Ceremonial Penitence
Want/Have Index: 3.12
- Format: Cass, Album, Ltd, Num, Red
- Label: Death Kvlt Productions
-
Pharoah Sanders / John Hicks / Curtis Lundy / Idris Muhammad – Africa
Want/Have Index: 3.1071
- Format: 2xLP, Album, Ltd, RE, Ora
- Label: Tidal Waves Music
-
The Raconteurs – HEY GYP (Dig the Slowness)
Want/Have Index: 3.0909
- Format: 7″, S/Sided, Etch, Ltd, TP
- Label: Third Man Records
-
Eliane Radigue – Chry-ptus
Want/Have Index: 3.08
- Format: 2xLP, Ltd, RE, Cle
- Label: Important Records (2)
-
ASAP Mob – Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy
Want/Have Index: 3.0755
- Format: 2xLP
- Label: Nasty World Records
-
DJ W.E.B, Steve Marie, Vid Vai, Evano – Global Worms EP
Want/Have Index: 3.075
- Format: 12″, EP
- Label: PHI φ
-
Keety Roots – Soldier March
Want/Have Index: 3.0588
- Format: 10″, Single, Ltd, S/Edition, dub
- Label: Not On Label
-
slowthai – Nothing Great About Britain
Want/Have Index: 3.0476
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Tra
- Label: Method Records (4)
-
The Raconteurs – HEY GYP (Dig the Slowness)
Want/Have Index: 3.0385
- Format: 7″, S/Sided, Etch, Ltd, TP
- Label: Third Man Records
-
Fronzena Harris – Lovetime Guarantee
Want/Have Index: 3
- Format: 12″, Unofficial, Cle
- Label: Baltimore-Washington International Records
-
Fronzena Harris – Lovetime Guarantee
Want/Have Index: 3
- Format: 12″, Unofficial
- Label: Baltimore-Washington International Records
-
Bossa Electrica, Karyn Smith – Sunshine / Pillow Talk
Want/Have Index: 2.9833
- Format: 7″, Club
- Label: Ximeno Records
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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
Want/Have Index: 2.9744
- Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Num, RE, Blu
- Label: Bad Seed Ltd., Bad Seed Ltd.

I love the stat of the Want/Have ratio. Is there a way for Discogs members to see this with their own collection?
If not please put this at the top of the feature request list!
Cheers.