This summer was quite a summer. Even before it got started, something huge happened back in June when a Canadian copy of Prince’s ‘Black Album’ became the most expensive item ever sold in the Discogs Marketplace. If you thought that was a crazy price tag, prepare yourself for what might happen soon.
August 2018 also saw a non-Dark Side… Pink Floyd album sell for $13,953. Which is bananas, to say the least. With these precedents set, you might think nothing too exciting went down in September 2018. And you are kind of right — but it’s still incredibly satisfying to explore our chart and discover rather obscure artists rubbing shoulders with well-known classics.
What I normally do when I first check this chart is scroll down to see what the number one is, and this chart rarely disappoints. This month, it’s crowned by cult prog-rock band Room, whose only album has gone for $3,636! While there isn’t much information available about the band, I could find a bio in Prog Archives:
“Formed by friends in 1968, Room was a very good quintet from Blandford Forum, Dorset that made one album for Decca after winning second prize at a Melody Maker talent contest in ’69. The unit included guitarist Steve Edge and featured the unique voice of Jane Kevern, Roy Putt’s bass, Bob Jenkin’s percussion and the lead guitar of Chris Williams. The five achieved a large, booming sound by merging heavy psychedelic rock, progressive jazz and full orchestration.’Pre-Flight‘ was released in 1970 sporting an antique triplane on the cover and though mostly ignored, proved to be a more than worthy contribution to the growing progressive art scene”.
The rest of our chart is a well-balanced mix of popular artists (is there any Top 30 without Nirvana on it?) and more mysterious acts. Check the whole list below:
Cressida (3) – Asylum
Sold for $1052.00 Label: Vertigo
Format: LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1971
Genres: Rock
Styles: Prog RockAunt Mary (2) – Janus
Sold for $1068.00 Label: Vertigo
Format: LP, Album
Country: Norway
Released: 1973
Genres: Rock
Styles: Prog RockStevens & Foster – What Would I Have (If I Didn’t Have You)
Sold for $1089.00 Label: Jerri Records
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: SoulThe Velvet Underground And Nico (3) – All Tomorrow’s Parties
Sold for $1100.00 Label: Verve Records
Format: 7″, Single, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1966
Genres: Rock
Styles: Garage Rock, Art Rock, Psychedelic RockBold (2) – Speak Out
Sold for $1100.00 Label: Revelation Records (8)
Format: LP, Album, RP, TP
Country: US
Released: 2001
Genres: Rock
Styles: Hardcore, PunkOtis Lee – Hard Row To Hoe / They Say I’m A Fool
Sold for $1111.00 Label: Quaint Record Co.
Format: 7″, Single
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: SoulThe Who – See Me, Feel Me
Sold for $1125.00 Label: Polydor
Format: 7″, Single
Country: Turkey
Released: 1970
Genres: Rock
Styles: Classic RockBobb Trimble – Harvest Of Dreams
Sold for $1149.00 Label: Boysongs Unlimited
Format: LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genres: Rock
Styles: Folk Rock, Lo-Fi, Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock, ExperimentalGeneral Lee – Pleasure / We Did It Baby
Sold for $1200.00 Label: Lost Weekend
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: Soul, DiscoNirvana – Bleach
Sold for $1250.00 Label: Sub Pop
Format: LP, Album, Ltd, Whi
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genres: Rock
Styles: GrungeEric Dolphy – In Europe
Sold for $1264.00 Label: Debut Records (3)
Format: LP, Album
Country: Denmark
Released: 1962
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Post BopBruce Springsteen – Badlands
Sold for $1264.00 Label: CBS
Format: 7″
Country: Europe
Released: 1978
Genres: Rock
Styles: Classic RockType O Negative – None More Negative
Sold for $1300.00 Label: Roadrunner Records
Format: 2xLP, Album, Gre + 2xLP, Album, Gre + 2xLP, Album,
Country: US
Released: 2011
Genres: Rock
Styles: Doom Metal, Goth Rock, Hardcore, Heavy Metal, ThrashDuke Browner – Crying Over You
Sold for $1315.00 Label: Impact Records (11)
Format: 7″, Single
Country: US
Released: 1966
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: SoulP.I.G.Z. – Bloody Belgium
Sold for $1363.00 Label: JW’s Records
Format: 12″, Pin
Country: Belgium
Released: 1978
Genres: Rock
Styles: PunkQueen – Hot Space
Sold for $1500.00 Label: EMI
Format: LP, Album, Gra
Country: Colombia
Released: 1982
Genres: Electronic, Rock
Styles: Pop Rock, Synth-popErnest Ansermet – The Royal Ballet Gala Performances
Sold for $1500.00 Label: RCA Victor Red Seal
Format: 2xLP
Country: US
Genres: ClassicalMouse (14) – Lady Killer
Sold for $1517.00 Label: Sovereign (2), EMI
Format: LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1973
Genres: Rock
Styles: Prog RockThe Pagans* – Six And Change
Sold for $1550.00 Label: Neck Records
Format: 7″
Country: US
Released: 1977
Genres: Rock
Styles: PunkMisfits – Legacy Of Brutality
Sold for $1578.00 Label: Plan 9
Format: LP, Album, RP, Whi
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genres: Rock
Styles: PunkNo For An Answer – You Laugh E.P.
Sold for $1600.00 Label: Revelation Records (8)
Format: 7″, EP, TP
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genres: Rock
Styles: HardcoreEddie Cochran – Don’t Ever Let Me Go
Sold for $1724.00 Label: Liberty
Format: 7″, EP
Country: Italy
Released: 1962
Genres: Rock, Pop
Styles: Vocal, Rock & RollGrateful Dead* – 30 Trips Around The Sun
Sold for $1724.00 Label: Rhino Records (2)
Format: 80xCD + 7″ + Box, Ltd
Country: US
Released: 2015
Genres: Rock
Styles: Psychedelic RockGloria Barnes – Uptown
Sold for $1744.00 Label: Maple Records
Format: LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genres: Funk / Soul
Styles: Soul, Funk, Rhythm & BluesVindication (2) – Vindication
Sold for $1800.00 Label: Custom Fidelity
Format: LP
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genres: Rock
Styles: Prog RockChris McGregor & The Castle Lager Big Band – Jazz / The African Sound
Sold for $1860.00 Label: New Sound (4), Gallotone
Format: LP, Album
Country: South Africa
Released: 1963
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Cape JazzChristian Schwindt Quintet – For Friends And Relatives
Sold for $2095.00 Label: RCA Victor
Format: LP, Album
Country: Finland
Released: 1966
Genres: Jazz
Styles: Hard Bop, Contemporary Jazz, ModalThe Braen’s Machine – Underground
Sold for $2413.00 Label: Liuto Records
Format: LP
Country: Italy
Released: 1971
Genres: Rock, Stage & Screen
Styles: Psychedelic RockNirvana – Love Buzz b/w Big Cheese
Sold for $3300.00 Label: Sub Pop
Format: 7″, Single, Ltd, Num
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genres: Rock
Styles: GrungeRoom (5) – Pre-Flight
Sold for $3636.00 Label: Deram
Format: LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1970
Genres: Rock
Styles: Blues Rock, Prog Rock
Sold in September 2018 for 3,178.18€ and not on the list: https://www.discogs.com/sell/history/5845141
Surely, a record is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it?
You have to be kidding me with that room album , I have 3 copies of that 2 of them still sealed , hardly a rarity, why did it sell for so much?
This list is always a good read but also a bit empty as it lacks any points of reference to elevate it from freestanding trivia to something meaningful or of value. For example, if each had a last sold for or a flag indicating that a sale represents the highest amount ever paid for a release, that would make this interesting.
my provocate question below is for “redseapedestrian” ;-)
what kind of rubbish are you listening to?
a quick and simple answer to all those who remark ” who pays for these….rubbish, etc”: Hey, it may very well be ‘rubbish’ to you but you still do not have the right to criticize other people’s personal tastes in music. Anyway, what is your problem as to who buys these records?
Knauso : Admire that principle , re. Punk record , even if we’ve nothing else in common. ( Listen to some funny Bernard Miles recordings as the perennial country bumpkin , available on here , and try to forget all about it ).
who pays for all this commercial rubbish?
Buying a punk/hardcore record for $1600 is everything punk should be against.
why is my sold Led Zeppelin for 1450 € not in the list?
4479521-1788 Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin Fee $135.66.
Puttmargaret, please read that sentence again.
Bass player in ROOM is called. ROY PUTT NOT PUTT’S
Who paid $3636.00 for that Room album, hardly worth it, another prog disc that used to crop up in the junk bins around town.
My Uncle, Grelun Landon put Elvis & his manager, Parker together with RCA records when Grelun eas VP of Hill & Range Music Corporation. All of what Grelun did is avaliable on the Internet.
Great to see Bobb Trimble in there – what an album!