The Top 30 Most Expensive Items Sold in the Discogs Marketplace for April 2020
Running through the Top 30 list of the most expensive sold on Discogs this month, everything looks in order. We’ve got regulars like The Beatles, Burzum, Pink Floyd — wait a second. Where is the iconic prism cover from The Dark Side Of The Moon? What we are seeing at No. 25 instead is a simple, monochromatic cover.
This version of Pink Floyd’s most well-known album is from the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab label (also known as MSFL or MoFi) and was released as part of its Ultra High-Quality Record (UHQR) vinyl series. The series boasts eight classic titles released between 1981 and 1983, including Cat Stevens’ Tea For The Tillerman, Supertramp’s Crime Of The Century, The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and more. MSFL claims to be one of “few record labels that independently invests in research and development of audio technology.”
The verdict on how discernible the sound quality is depends on who you ask, but the series has some feverish fans. If audiophile quality is something you value and you’re looking for advice on how to find the best pressings, we can never stress the expertise of the Discogs community. If you’re want to learn more, check out the inserts in the images of the release page for details on how the label achieved its UHQR technical properties and definitely consult the forums.
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The Beatles – Please Please Me
Sold for $1275.00 Label: Parlophone
Format: LP, Album, Mono, Gol
Country: UK
Released: 1963
Genres: Rock
Styles: Beat, Rock & Roll:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2639150-1515228702-7674.jpeg.jpg)
Spice (27) – Let There Be Spice
Sold for $1300.00 Label: TSG Records
Format: LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: Soul:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-463014-1556412002-7947.jpeg.jpg)
Burzum – Burzum
Sold for $1304.00 Label: Deathlike Silence Productions
Format: LP, Album
Country: Norway
Released: 1992
Genres: Rock
Styles: Black Metal:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-1765729-1476632348-9404.jpeg.jpg)
Sarah Webster Fabio – Jujus / Alchemy Of The Blues
Sold for $1373.00 Label: Folkways Records
Format: LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genres: Jazz, Funk / Soul
Styles: Poetry, Jazz-Funk:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2363055-1279633816.jpeg.jpg)
Timeless Legend – I Was Born To Love You
Sold for $1382.00 Label: Dawn-Lite
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1980
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: Soul, Disco:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2318072-1413104905-4692.jpeg.jpg)
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon
Sold for $1406.00 Label: Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, Harvest
Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Num, RE, RM
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genres: Rock
Styles: Classic Rock, Psychedelic Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4144169-1468151894-8683.jpeg.jpg)
David Oistrakh*, Vladimir Yampolsky – Encores
Sold for $1413.00 Label: Columbia
Format: LP, Album
Country: UK
Genres: Classical
Styles: Romantic, Modern:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-3087067-1589290204-3603.jpeg.jpg)
Steely Dan – Can’t Buy A Thrill
Sold for $1450.00 Label: ABC Records
Format: LP, Album, Gat
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genres: Rock
Styles: Classic Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-5201665-1387311485-8415.jpeg.jpg)
Pet Shop Boys – Electric
Sold for $1470.00 Label: The Vinyl Factory, x2 (2)
Format: Box, Album, Ltd + 12″, Ora + 12″, Yel + 12″, Pin +
Country: UK
Released: 2013
Genres: Electronic, Pop
Styles: Synth-pop, House:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-5820537-1574202406-6677.jpeg.jpg)
Mudcrutch – Up In Mississippi
Sold for $1475.00 Label: Pepper (4)
Format: 7″, Single
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genres: Rock
Styles: Pop Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-371255-1550531720-7470.jpeg.jpg)
Black Flag – Nervous Breakdown
Sold for $1495.00 Label: SST Records
Format: 7″, EP
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genres: Rock
Styles: Punk, Hardcore:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-10527140-1574764549-5597.jpeg.jpg)
The Symphonies – That’s What Love Will Do / Need Someone To Love
Sold for $1500.00 Label: Carnival Records
Format: 7″
Country: US
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: Soul:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-1102218-1328400955.jpeg.jpg)
Sonny Rollins – Newk’s Time
Sold for $1500.00 Label: Blue Note
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1959
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Hard Bop:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-463597-1560369536-8302.jpeg.jpg)
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Sold for $1618.00 Label: Harvest
Format: LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1975
Genres: Rock
Styles: Prog Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-395931-1111444722.jpg.jpg)
Minor Threat – Filler
Sold for $1619.00 Label: Dischord Records
Format: 7″, EP, Red
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genres: Rock
Styles: Hardcore, Punk:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-6439006-1419247021-3988.jpeg.jpg)
Jack White (2) – Fly Farm Blues
Sold for $1631.00 Label: Third Man Records
Format: 7″, S/Sided, Etch, Biz
Country: US
Released: 2009
Genres: Rock, Blues
Styles: Blues Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-11988820-1548891786-9313.jpeg.jpg)
Kenny Burrell – Midnight Blue
Sold for $1648.00 Label: Blue Note, Classic Records
Format: 4×12″, S/Sided, Album, Ltd, Num, TP + Box
Country: US
Released: 2008
Genres: Jazz
Styles: N/A:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-12926691-1544680888-2797.jpeg.jpg)
Sasaki Hideto – Sekine Toshiyuki Quartet + 1 – Stop Over
Sold for $1687.00 Label: Smile (7)
Format: LP, Album
Country: Japan
Released: 1976
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Hard Bop:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-3382315-1328211742.jpeg.jpg)
Johnny Griffin – A Blowing Session
Sold for $1777.00 Label: Blue Note
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1957
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Hard Bop:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-2291594-1545079523-3247.jpeg.jpg)
Heart Attack (2) – God Is Dead
Sold for $1795.00 Label: Damaged Goods (3)
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genres: Rock
Styles: Hardcore, Punk:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4335042-1458924868-8099.jpeg.jpg)
David Bowie – David Bowie
Sold for $1829.00 Label: Deram
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: UK
Released: 1967
Genres: Rock, Pop
Styles: Pop Rock, Psychedelic Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-462916-1401757108-5967.jpeg.jpg)
V.P.’s* – E.P. Take One
Sold for $2100.00 Label: Bad Wreckors
Format: 7″, EP
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genres: Rock
Styles: Punk:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-5955578-1460501986-3672.jpeg.jpg)
Half Pint And The Fifths* – Orphan Boy
Sold for $2100.00 Label: Orlyn, Orlyn
Format: 7″, Single
Country: US
Released: 1966
Genres: Rock
Styles: Garage Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-5139670-1385568909-9210.jpeg.jpg)
Mulatu Astatke featuring Fekade Amde Maskal = ሙላቱ አስታጥቄ* ጋር ከፋቃደ አሞደ መስቀል* – Ethio Jazz = የካተት
Sold for $2108.00 Label: Amha Records
Format: LP, Album
Country: Ethiopia
Released: 1974
Genres: Jazz, Funk / Soul, Folk, World, & Country
Styles: Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk, African:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-418399-1205367481.jpeg.jpg)
The Misfits* – Bullet
Sold for $2150.00 Label: Plan 9
Format: 7″, EP
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genres: Rock
Styles: Punk:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-916851-1172528401.jpeg.jpg)
Michael Jackson – Smile
Sold for $2439.00 Label: Epic
Format: CD, Maxi
Country: Netherlands
Released: 1998
Genres: Pop
Styles: Ballad:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-5608318-1488995046-3211.jpeg.jpg)
J.S. Bach* / Johanna Martzy – The Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas Volume 1
Sold for $2717.00 Label: The Electric Recording Co.
Format: LP, Mono, Ltd, Num, RE
Country: UK
Released: 2012
Genres: Classical
Styles: Baroque:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-8606186-1464987784-1702.jpeg.jpg)
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II
Sold for $3000.00 Label: Classic Records
Format: 4×12″, Album, Ltd, Num, RM, TP + Box
Country: US
Released: 2008
Genres: Rock, Blues
Styles: Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-3922959-1388424362-3866.jpeg.jpg)
Le Sun Ra And His Arkestra* – Jazz In Silhouette
Sold for $3250.00 Label: El Saturn Records, El Saturn Records
Format: LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1959
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Hard Bop, Free Jazz:format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4960984-1386351573-5816.jpeg.jpg)
Meisenfloo – Meisenfloo
Sold for $3296.00 Label: Lagua Records
Format: LP
Country: Germany
Released: 1972
Genres: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Styles: Folk Rock
Two copies of the single For Real by Flowers sold in April – one for $2,500 and the other for $3,000 – yet they aren’t on this list? Anyone know why?
the sales could have not closed until May… checking on that.
In the last few years I have reached this list for a particular month 2 times. Once for Pugh’s Place-Live, and once for the ICP Box (International Composers Pool). I can assure that these were real sales for real money. I myself also sometimes spend serious money for top records (last week euro 1500 for Analogy). Music is art & I collect / invest in it.
I can assure you that these records DO sell for these prices! I have sold a few records for THOUSANDS of Dollars on here.. Early Floyd singles from Japan and Europe, UK Demos, UK Vertigo LPs.. Artists like Bowie, Zeppelin, Beatles of course and those obscure records that hardly ANYONE has heard of.. I think people are investing in vinyl, in the same way people invest in Art.. Most important of course is their condition..
If you follow the link to the Discogs entry and look at the sales history you can see why some of these records went for the money they did. That Steely Dan record was a sealed copy, evidently someone out there felt it was worth spending an extra $1150 on this rather than buying a $50 NM one (it says $1450 here but the price history says $1200, anyone know why?). Some people are nuts. I wanted that Sun Ra one, I would have probably ummed and ahhed over it if I found a nice copy at $100, maybe $200 and passed on it.
I am reading the comments here as I find them almost as entertaining (and bewildering) as the actual list. An impressive display of knowledge regarding obscure facts, folklore specialist like recall of history, capitalism (at it’s best/worst), envy, self promotion and lust, with a unifying appreciation for vinyl and music… quite the combination!
Can’t comment on other styles of music, but the soul 45’s generally go for the prices listed, but then the soul scene has a good source of price guides out there, so no real surprises.
I have sold albums for more than $1,000.00 here on discogs.com … there are private collectors wealthy enough to pay what may be ridiculous to some
Does anyone else see the irony of a Minor Threat release on this list?
I’m new to Discogs and this is the first such list I’ve seen.
Respectfully, this is transparently ridiculous. It seems pretty obvious what’s going on here.
So I have a Steely Dan record. I want to inflate the value. I open up a fake account and “buy” the record from myself at a hilariously inflated value, like the ones on this list. My hope is that this will move the needle on the market value of the record, and I will then be able to sell my copy (to an actual real live other person this time) for a higher price.
Nobody is paying $1400 for these records.
You really need someone (me?) to curate this. There’s no context, no information, nothing. It’s essentially a meaningless list of records without that.
I have Can’t Buy A Thrill, white label promo copy, M/M. Kept in plastic cover with a poly-lined inner sleeve, but with the original ABC-Dunhill inner sleeve, no tears. Kept in a smoke-free home. LOL.
A/B side dead wax#:
ABCX-758A-RE-1
ABCX-758B-RE-1
Just wondering …
I’ve said this before here, but I’ll say it again. The information populating this list is culled from a very
basic set of parameters that looks for certain numbers
within a date range and compiles a list of the data
from that query. It does not attempt to consider other
factors pertaining to each data module, such as follow
through. So this list should always be viewed with a
grain of salt, so to speak. When something pops up on
the list that completely defies what the marketplace
will usually bare for any given release item to the
point of absurdity, then it’s most likely a fluke.
In other words, it was in some way an incomplete
transaction, and payment at the original listed
price was never remitted. So as the old saying
goes, “when something sounds too fantastic to be
real, it’s because it’s not”
Oh come ON! Discogs. Honestly. VG-. We’re nerds. We need info. Just another copy of Steely Dan? Pink Floyd…? OK, what is so special about these particular records? :P :P
I too was wondering about “Can’t Buy a Thrill” as I have that album, first pressing, in near mint! The only thing I can see is that it was sealed and honestly if it’s sealed there is no way to determine if it’s a first pressing since the only tell is in the dead wax.
I’ll sell mine for a grand 😁
Would have been more interesting if there was a description about the qualities of the records sold that could justify the prices. The bare numbers just look ridiculous.. A UK press of Wish You Were Here ? big deal…
So is nobody going to clarify why that specific copy of Steely Dan’s “Can’t Buy A Thrill” sold for that much? It has a median of $16! $1450.00 is quite strange, and I would have expected something written about it in the article if it’s used in the image for all things considered!
Thanks for pointing that out, WolfXCIX, that got by me at time of writing but does indeed seem unusual. Looking into that now.
Anyone out there have an idea of what might be a reasonable market price for a LP MG V-2055 Oscar Peterson Plays The Duke Ellington Song Book with the jacket signed “Sincerely Oscar Peterson” by the late, great Oscar Peterson. It is an original album that I personally had him sign in the 1960s. Thanks
oh god
Some of you people have too much money.
This world is a sad and crazy farce, but we knew that before… go put on your favourite scratchy, budget records, have a cold beer and forget about capitalists having an investment problem in times of low interest rates.
Wow..some big bucks dropped on vinyl…