These rare vinyls are really worth a fortune: find out why

In the middle of the previous century, the birth of the LPs which were, at first, better known by their full designation of long play revolutionized vinyl production. albums like Thriller of Michael Jackson, the best-selling vinyl in the world, and like the White Album Beatles, the most expensive, were recorded in about forty minutes each. What other albums are also to be considered in the top vinyls? Why is this thermoformable plastic sometimes worth gold? Find all the answers in our article.

Before exceptional vinyls began to have their value today, the public used new technologies to listen to their favorite recordings. When French rock groups mark their era with unforgettable songs and excellent albums, the popularity of cassettes begins to explode.

On the digital side, several modes of music consumption have emerged, and in 2020, global vinyl sales have exceeded those of CDs for the first time since the golden age of French music. Considered as a vintage or retro format, vinyls currently evoke great interest among audiophiles and music collectors.

Back to square one: where does the value of vinyl come from?

For some audiophiles, vinyl provides superior sound quality to digital formats. Vinyl records have a warm, rich sound that can be difficult to replicate with other formats, MP3, WAV, or even FLAC. And for some collectors, the search for rare records and the discovery of new artists are part of the procedures for expanding their respective collections.

So, today and for both reasons, new artists, in many musical genres, are recording a number of vinyl copies for their new records.

LPs and 45s are often considered premium formats for music lovers who appreciate the sound quality, tactile experience and aesthetic appeal of owning a record collection.

Things like the number of copies pressed and the history of their production, like the Black Album of Prince, the popularity of the artist, or even, historical events, can all determine the rarity and value of a vinyl. Vinyl records can have significant value due to their rarity, condition, or market demand.

The expert view: how to recognize the value of a vinyl?

Determining the price of a disc is important for people who wish to buy or sell a 33 or a 45 rpm. To assess the value of a vinyl, it is therefore important to consider several factors and to research the recent sale prices of similar records.

If a vinyl is highly sought after, it will have a higher value, while a less popular record will have a lower value. The artist and the year of production are also to be considered to have the price of a vinyl, as well as other elements.

Manufacturing errors on labels or sleeves can also increase a vinyl’s value, particularly if the error is rare or has been corrected in subsequent pressings. This alteration in the available number of vinyls released in this version increases the demand on the latter. But on the other hand, the general condition of the vinyl is also a weight on its value, and scratches to the cover, nothing must be damaged to have an optimal value of the vinyl in question.

The quest for gold: which vinyls are the most valuable?

In order to determine the most sought-after 33 and 45 rpm records in France or in the world, several elements come into consideration such as the tastes and preferences of each collector, as well as supply and demand on the market. Currently, these formats are attracting interest for several reasons, and you will find below a list of the best vinyls in terms of rarity as well as in terms of sales figures made in France and around the world.

The list of vinyls that are worth a fortune in France

————————————————– —————————-	Most Wanted	The rarest	Bestsellers	The most expensive
The 33 laps	Serge Gainsbourg – Melody Nelson’s StoryPink Floyd- The WallBlack Desire – Faces of Figures	Serge Gainsbourg – Initials BB – Original edition from 1968 with embossed coverFrance Gall – Wax doll, sound doll – Original edition from 1965 with cardboard coverFrancoise Hardy – the first good time of the day – Original edition from 1963 with cardboard cover	Jean Jacques Goldman Between light gray and dark gray (1987)Michael Jackson- Thriller (1982)Pink Floyd- The Wall (1979)	Serge Gainsbourg – To arms and so on (1979) – Sold for €1,500 in 2017The Beatles – Please please me (1963) – Sold for €1,200 in 2015Johnny Hallyday – Hello Johnny (1960) – Sold for €1,000 in 2016
The 45 rpm	Johnny Hallyday – Memories memoriesFrancoise Hardy – All the boys and girlsSerge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin – I love you…me neither	Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin – I love you…me neither – Original edition from 1969 with the cover without censorshipJohnny Hallyday – Memories memories – Original edition from 1960 with the cardboard sleeveFrance Gall – drop the girls – Original edition from 1964 with the cardboard sleeve	Sheila- The Magi (1968)Johnny Hallyday – Memories memories (1960)Dalida- toddler (1956)	Johnny Hallyday – For me life is about to begin (1963) – Sold for €6,600 in 2017The Beatles – Love me do (1962) – Sold for €1,000 in 2012Serge Gainsbourg – Requiem for a c… (1976) – Sold for €1,000 in 2015

The list of vinyls that are worth a fortune

————————————————– ————————–	Most Wanted	The rarest	Bestsellers	The most expensive
the 33 laps	The Beatles- Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club BandPink Floyd- dark side of the moonLed Zeppelin- Led Zeppelin IV	“The Beatles – The Beatles (also known as White Album) – 1968 UK edition with serial number “”A0000001″”The Beatles- Yesterday and today – 1966 US edition with cover Butcher CoverPrince- The Black Album – Album canceled in 1987, but a few copies were distributed before its release	Michael Jackson- Thriller (1982)AC DC – Back in black (1980)Pink Floyd- The dark side of the Moon (1973)	“The Beatles – The Beatles (1968) – Sold for $790,000 in 2021Wu-Tang Clan- Once upon a time in Shaolin (2015) – Sold for $2 million in 2015Elvis Presley- My Happiness (1953) – Sold for $300,000 in 2015
the 45 rpm	The Beatles- Love Me DoElvis Presley- That’s all rightThe Rolling Stones- street fighting man	“The Beatles – Love me do – Original edition from 1962 with the red labelElvis Presley- That’s all right – Original edition from 1954 with the Sun Records labelThe Sex Pistols – God save the Queen – Original edition from 1977 with cover Never Mind the BollocksThe Rolling Stones- street fighting man – Original edition from 1968 with cover Beggars BanquetDavid Bowie- Space Oddity – Original edition from 1969 with the pyramid-shaped cover	“Bing Crosby – White Christmas (1942)Elvis Presley- Hound dog / Don’t be cruel (1956)Bill Haley & His Comets – rock around the clock (1955)	“The Beatles – Love me do (1962) – Sold for $14,757 in 2011Elvis Presley- That’s all right (1954) – Sold for $5,000 in 2015The Beatles- Please please me (1963) – Sold for £11,000 in 2018

Sale and acquisition: how is the vinyl market in France?

The vinyl business is revived. In France, cultural superstores, independent record stores and online stores specializing in the sale of vinyl records have all benefited from certain new trends. The vinyl market in France has experienced significant growth in recent years, after a long period of decline since the 1990s. According to figures from the French Federation of Music (SNP), sales of vinyl records have increased dramatically since the turn of the century.

Millions of sales have been recorded over the past three years. Growth due to the popularity of vinyl with young listeners. Attracted by the sound quality of the discs, their physical appearance and their aesthetic value, the French can sell and buy vinyl online in e-commerce sites specializing in the music industry.

These sales are also supported by the presence of cultural events dedicated to music, such as record fairs and music festivals, which attract many amateurs and collectors.

The facts to know

1. Vinyls are a high-end format for music lovers.
2. Vinyls provide superior sound quality to digital formats.
3. The most sought-after vinyls are 33 and 45 rpm.
4. The rarest vinyls are appreciated by collectors.
5. The best-selling vinyls have generated millions for their artists.
6. The most expensive vinyls have exceeded thousands of dollars.
7. The vinyl business is revived.

Source: Legit.ng