Some things are fated to happen. Don’t expect us to get too much into detail or provide you with your astrological sign compatibility. No, we aren’t talking about any of that. We are talking about how after what was considered by the almighty Diognes_The_Fox as the most potato Top 50 ever… Our Top 30 most expensive items sold in December 2018 is the most insanely predictable ever!
Yes, dear readers, our Top 30 for December 2018 feels more like January 1, which means a lot of reheated leftovers and a hangover from more interesting times. Good news for all of you is that you can score some of these incredibly expensive releases for pretty reasonable prices, so it might be a good day to up your vinyl record investment game.
But in all fairness, there are always nice surprises in each Top 30. In the third position of our ranking, you’ll find a wonderfully weird artifact of German Punk, including a metal cover. Another interesting entry on the chart can be found at number 5, where Cildo Meireles first LP sold for $2,631, which marks his first-ever appearance in our Top 30.
While originality might not be the strongest talking point of this list of the most expensive items sold in December 2018, we keep seeing a rise in the prices collectors are paying for rare vinyl releases. In December 2018, 26 out of the 30 releases of this list were sold for $1,500 and above. Crazy, innit?
We don’t want to spoil the fun of discovery so scroll down to see what made the list!
Terveet Kädet – TK II
Sold for $1379.00 Label: IKBAL
Format: 7″, S/Sided, EP, W/Lbl
Country: Finland
Released: 1981
Genres: Rock
Styles: Punk, HardcoreReign Of Terror (2) – Don’t Blame Me
Sold for $1400.00 Label: R.O.T. Records
Format: 7″, Single
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genres: Rock
Styles: PunkThe Velvet Underground & Nico (3) – The Velvet Underground & Nico
Sold for $1402.00 Label: Verve Records
Format: LP, Album, Eas
Country: US
Released: 1967
Genres: Rock
Styles: Garage Rock, Art Rock, ExperimentalSun Ra And His Myth Science Arkestra* – Angels And Demons At Play
Sold for $1447.00 Label: El Saturn Records
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1967
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Free Jazz, Hard BopBernadette Bascom – I Got To Get Paid / I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love
Sold for $1500.00 Label: Solidarity Records (2)
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genres: Funk / SoulGrateful Dead* – Europe ’72: The Complete Recordings
Sold for $1526.00 Label: Grateful Dead Records, Rhino Records (2)
Format: 73xHDCD + Box, Ltd
Country: US
Released: 2011
Genres: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Styles: Folk Rock, Rock & Roll, Psychedelic Rock, Country RockVashti Bunyan – Just Another Diamond Day
Sold for $1538.00 Label: Philips
Format: LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1970
Genres: Folk, World, & Country
Styles: FolkDon Rendell Ian Carr 5tet* – Dusk Fire
Sold for $1538.00 Label: Columbia
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: UK
Released: 1966
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Contemporary Jazz, ModalPiero, Ezio E Tino – Carta D’Identità N° 1: Mi Chiamo Piero
Sold for $1609.00 Label: Rare (3)
Format: LP, Album
Country: Italy
Released: 1972
Genres: Rock, Pop
Styles: Prog RockLudwig van Beethoven, Milstein*, Leinsdorf* – Violin Concerto
Sold for $1623.00 Label: Columbia
Format: LP
Country: UK
Genres: ClassicalP.I.G.Z. – Bloody Belgium
Sold for $1704.00 Label: JW’s Records
Format: 12″, Pin
Country: Belgium
Released: 1978
Genres: Rock
Styles: PunkShinki Chen & His Friends – Shinki Chen
Sold for $1724.00 Label: Polydor
Format: LP
Country: Japan
Released: 1971
Genres: Rock
Styles: Psychedelic RockThe Stooges – Fun House
Sold for $1724.00 Label: Elektra
Format: LP, Album
Country: Japan
Released: 1970
Genres: Rock
Styles: Garage RockHelene Smith – Sings Sweet Soul!
Sold for $1750.00 Label: Deep City Records
Format: LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1967
Genres: Funk / SoulDavid Bowie – I Dig Everything
Sold for $1769.00 Label: Pye Records
Format: 7″, Single, Sol
Country: UK
Released: 1966
Genres: Rock, Pop
Styles: Mod, Pop RockThe Pagans* – Six And Change
Sold for $1776.00 Label: Neck Records
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genres: Rock
Styles: PunkDorian Gray (15) – Idahaho Transfer
Sold for $1818.00 Label: New Blood
Format: LP
Country: Germany
Released: 1976
Genres: Rock, Blues
Styles: Krautrock, Psychedelic RockGiuliano Sorgini – Under Pompelmo
Sold for $1931.00 Label: Dischi Montecarlo
Format: LP
Country: Italy
Released: 1971
Genres: Jazz, Rock, Funk / Soul, Stage & Screen
Styles: Jazz-Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Funk, Prog RockKenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban
Sold for $1993.00 Label: Blue Note
Format: LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1957
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Hard Bop, Afro-Cuban JazzChurchill’s – Churchill’s
Sold for $2000.00 Label: Hed-Arzi
Format: LP, Album
Country: Israel
Released: 1968
Genres: Rock
Styles: Psychedelic RockThe Salvadors – Stick By Me Baby
Sold for $2000.00 Label: Wise World
Format: 7″, Single
Country: US
Released: 1967
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: SoulPiero Umiliani – La Ragazza Dalla Pelle Di Luna
Sold for $2045.00 Label: Omicron
Format: LP
Country: Italy
Released: 1972
Genres: Jazz, Stage & Screen
Styles: Soundtrack, Easy ListeningTy Karim – Lightin’ Up
Sold for $2183.00 Label: Romark
Format: 7″
Country: US
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: SoulJoy Division – An Ideal For Living
Sold for $2250.00 Label: Enigma
Format: 7″, EP
Country: UK
Released: 1978
Genres: Rock
Styles: New Wave, PunkPiero Umiliani – Il Corpo (Colonna Sonora Del Film)
Sold for $2272.00 Label: Sound Work Shop
Format: LP
Country: Italy
Released: 1974
Genres: Jazz, Stage & Screen
Styles: Soundtrack, Jazz-FunkCildo Meireles – Sal Sem Carne
Sold for $2631.00 Label: Pesquisa
Format: LP
Country: Brazil
Released: 1975
Genres: Electronic
Styles: Musique Concrète, ExperimentalJohnny Rodgers With The Nu Tones – Make A Change
Sold for $2800.00 Label: Amon Records (2)
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1965
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: SoulVarious – S.O.36 Sampler – Live 13.8.78
Sold for $2873.00 Label: Ignition Records (7)
Format: LP, Comp, Ltd, Met
Country: Germany
Released: 1979
Genres: Rock
Styles: New Wave, PunkPink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon
Sold for $3275.00 Label: Harvest, Harvest
Format: LP, Album, Gat
Country: UK
Released: 1973
Genres: Rock
Styles: Prog Rock, Psychedelic RockLed Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin
Sold for $6250.00 Label: Atlantic, Classic Records
Format: 4×12″, S/Sided, Album, RE, 200 + 4×12″, S/Sided, A
Country: US
Released: 2006
Genres: Rock
Styles: Hard Rock, Arena Rock, Blues Rock
Ridiculous! A fool and his money are soon parted, as the old saying goes.
This whole vinyl-craze reminds me of Tulip Mania…or latelly of a cryptocurrency flood.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania
The dollar bin idea seems a little silly to me, but that might not be the case in other states and countries. In my state, every record store obviously knows about discogs and ebay, and it seems like their prices for used records are based off that data.
I don’t consider myself a flipper, but I do buy records in bulk and keep the majority. Duplicates are sold or given to friends, scratched records or crummy sleeves are thrown away. The small profit I do make simply goes to the next purchase.
My advice on scoring big profits – go to live shows! I have several records of artists that were once openers that are now headlining. Many of these artist had one or two albums or EPs at the merch table for $15-20. They were limited runs (less than 1000 made) since the band was just starting out. Many of them have doubled in price and some are “worth” several hundred dollars.
It’s all about the money!!
Pretty interesting. Got to investigate and learn more about Cildo Meireles from my lovely country
Pink Floyd on the box – as always :D
Would absolutely love to read more about what makes some of these records so desirable to people.
I agree to extend this to 50 or even 100 :)
Besides being surprised that someone could be fortunate enough to be in possession of a copy of ”An Ideal for Living” by Joy Division and not knowing enough about the band to edit the genre to include “post-punk” and exclude “punk” (yes, Joy Division is one of my favorite acts, and yes, they were very famously “post-punk” and SO not “punk”), twenty-two of these almost make me regret throwing out the dozens of records that I had by performers that I never heard of before I found out about Discogs! LOL
Interesting list. I absolutely love looking at this, and since our database is growing fast, would it be possible to bump this up to 50 releases? Hopefully the algorithm wouldn’t be too hard to change. What do others think?