Led Zeppelin – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)
This eponymous debut featured some original material and covers of blues songs. At the time of its release, it was met with mixed reviews but was still a commercial success. Today this record could sell for more than $1,000.
Led Zeppelin
Miles Davis – ‘Kind Of Blue (1959)
Miles Davis was one of the most celebrated trumpet players of all time and has revolutionized jazz music. Some Kind Of Blue is by far his most valuable record. If in good condition, it could fetch up to $1,000.
Miles Davis
The Who – ‘The Who Sell Out’ (1967)
This was the third album released by The Who and it was pressed half in stereo and half in mono. It also included a butterfly poster. You could sell the vinyl together with the poster on eBay for $1,100.
The Who
Nirvana – ‘Bleach’ (1989)
The radio stations may play more songs from the album Nevermind but the Bleach album is worth far more. The original pressing of Bleach sold for a staggering $2,500. There were only 1,000 copies made of this kind.
Nirvana
XTC – ‘Science Fiction’ (1977)
This record kick-started their career with singles like “Science Fiction” and “She’s So Square.” It’s been said that they only made 50 copies of this, so if you’re fortunate enough to have one, you could get $2,000 for it.
XTC
David Bowie – ‘The Prettiest Star’ (1973)
This extremely rare version features the iconic rock and roll artist on the sleeve. David Bowie allegedly sang this song to Angela Barnett over the phone while proposing to her. It’s been estimated that this record could go for $2,000.
David Bowie
ABBA – ‘Hovas Vittne’ (1981)
This promotional copy is incredibly elusive as only 200 copies were printed and they were only distributed to people who worked at the record company at the time. If your copy is in good condition you could fetch $3,000 for it.
ABBA 1Abba
The Quarrymen – ‘That’ll be The Day’ (1981)
The Beatles were called The Quarrymen before hitting it big in the music scene. This single was reprinted by Paul McCartney and only 50 copies were printed for his family and friends. One of these copies is worth around $3,500 today.
The Quarrymen
Cherry Five – ‘Cherry Five’ (1975)
This band made soundtracks for classic horror movies such as ‘Dawn of the Dead’ and ‘Suspiria’. They changed their name to Goblin after releasing this single. Their first original pressing is extremely rare and could be worth around $3,500.
Cherry Five
David Bowie – ‘Diamond Dogs’ (1974)
RCA Records were not happy with the image of the bottom half of a dog on the back cover. However, some employees sneaked a few originals before the image was airbrushed out. It’s now a rare version that could get you $3,550.
David Bowie – ‘Diamond Dogs’
The Beatles – ‘Abbey Road’ (1969)
‘Abbey Road’ has been known to be one of the greatest rock records ever. If your copy has the yellow and black Parlophone Records LabelI then it’s real dealt and you could sell it for a whopping $4,000.
The Beatles ‘Abbey Road’
Elvis Presley – ‘That’s All Right’ (1954)
Elvis recorded this song during a break from recording another song. Producer Sam Phillips heard it and loved it. They then recorded ‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ on side B and the album was born. Now you could get $4,000 for it.
Elvis Presley ‘That’s All Right’
The Thirteenth Floor – ‘Reverberation’ (Doubt)’ (1966)
The right buyer will pay around $4,000 for this early recording. It features ‘Reverberation (Doubt),’ ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me,’ Fire Engine,’ and Tried to Hide.’ Despite their growing popularity, the band only recorded four full-length studio albums throughout their career.
The Thirteenth Floor ‘Reverberation’
The Beatles – ‘Please Please Me’ (1963)
They recorded seven of the 11 songs on this album in one day. There are mono versions and stereo versions of this album but the stereo version is rarer and hence more valuable. That version goes for a staggering $4,200.
The Beatles ‘Please Please Me’
Depeche Mode – ‘Music For The Masses’ (1987)
This album is valuable because of the cover. Only a few with the original design of a white speaker with soundwaves on an orange background were printed. In 2011 a copy was sold for $4,600, so today it’d be worth much more.
Depeche Mode ‘Music For The Masses’
Misfits – ‘Legacy Of Brutality’ (1985)
Only 16 copies of the second pressing were made of this compilation. The vinyl itself was pink which makes it incredibly rare and valuable. This copy, if it was kept in mint condition, could fetch you as much as $5,000.
Misfits ‘Legacy Of Brutality’
Elvis Presley – ‘Speedway’ (1968)
Elvis was nearing the end of his acting career when he made Speedway. The movie wasn’t very popular but the soundtrack has since become very valuable. Only 300 were printed so if you have one, you could sell it for $5,000.
Elvis Presley ‘Speedway’
Brute Force – ‘King Of Fuh’ (1969)
This record had an obscenity in the lyrics so EMI wanted nothing to do with it. The Beatles’ label then decided to release it. It was officially released 50 years later in 2010. You’ll get around $5,000 for the original run.
Brute Force ‘King Of Fuh’
Elton John – ‘I’ve Been Loving You’ (1968)
This was Elton John’s debut record. This copy, which includes songs like ‘Angel Free’ and ‘Thank You For All Your Love’ was only released in Portugal and is super rare. If you have a copy you can get $5,000 for it.
Elton John ‘I’ve Been Loving You’
Bruce Springsteen – ‘Spirit In The Night’ (1973)
It’s extremely difficult to find the original press of Springsteen’s first single on Columbia Records. You can get a promotional copy for a few hundred but an original vinyl of the commercial release can go for around $5,000.
Bruce Springsteen ‘Spirit In The Night’
Century Symphony Orchestra – ‘Waltzes by Johann Strauss, Jr.’ (1956)
This album is famous more for its cover than for the music, as the cover was drawn by Andy Warhol. There are only seven copies of this album. One is at the Andy Warhol Museum and another sold for $5,500.
Century Symphony Orchestra ‘Waltzes By Johann Strauss, Jr.’
Max Steiner – ‘The Caine Mutiny’ (1954)
This record contains the soundtrack to the movie and the courtroom scene dialogue. The novel’s writer, Herman Wouk, objected to its release. But a few employees got their hands on some copies and one was sold for $6,700 in 2007.
Max Steiner ‘The Caine Mutiny’
Sex Pistols – ‘God Save The Queen’ (1977)
Even though 25,000 copies were pressed, only around 10 were salvaged. The band would allegedly curse the executives and threatened them constantly, so the label dropped them and ordered all copies to be destroyed. Now a copy is worth $8,600.
Sex Pistols ‘God Save The Queen’
U2 – ‘Pride (In The Name Of Love)’ (1984)
There are only 50 copies of the Australian edition that was pressed on translucent vinyl. Only a handful have surfaced to date. This is still one of the greatest songs in history and if you have one it’ll sell for $9,000.
U2 ‘Pride (In The Name Of Love)’
Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) – ‘ Xanadu’ (1980)
The movie may have not been popular, but the record featuring the theme song is still sought-after. Olivia apparently hated how she looked on the cover so she stopped the pressing. Only about 25 records survived and they’re now worth $9,100.
Olivia Newton John And Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)
Hank Mobley – ‘Blue Note’ (1957)
Around 1000 copies were printed of this record but because Blue Note ran out of labels during printing some copies are worth more than others. The copies with the standard address sold for $11,162, while the other copies are worth even more.
Hank Mobley ‘Blue Note’
Robert Johnson – ‘Me And The Devil Blues’ (1938)
This 78 RPM vinyl features ‘Me and the Devil Blues’ is on side A and ‘Little Queen of Spades’ is on side B. If you have an original in mint condition then you could get up to $12,000 for your copy.
Robert Johnson ‘Me And The Devil Blues’
The White Stripes – ‘Lafayette’ (1998)
Only 15 copies were pressed of this album. Each cover was hand-painted by the founder of Italy records, Dave Buick. These copies were made for a record release in 1998. Back then the record cost $6, now it’s worth $12,700.
The White Stripes ‘Lafayette’
Stonewall – ‘Stonewall’ (1976)
You may not have heard of this hard rock band because they were never signed. However, the mob created a record label and pressed the records as a tax scam without informing the band. Those few LPs are now worth $14,000.
Stonewall ‘Stonewall’
Röyksopp – ‘Melody’ (2001)
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic duo who became popular in the Us with the song ‘Remind Me’. Only 100 special-edition copies were made with the front jacket stenciled on the cover. Those rare copies are listed on Discogs for $14,204.
Röyksopp ‘Melody’
The Beatles – ‘Yesterday and Today’ (1966)
The label hated the original cover with The Beatles wearing a butcher’s apron holding headless dolls and with raw meat on their laps. So they bought back all copies, well, almost all. If you kept yours it’s now worth $15,300.
The Beatles ‘Yesterday And Today’
The Rolling Stones – ‘Street Fighting Man’ (1968)
The original cover was of some policemen standing around a protestor on the ground. But the label pulled it because just before the album was released there was a riot in 1968. Somehow, 18 records survived and one was auctioned off for $17,000.
The Rolling Stones ‘Street Fighting Man’
The Five Sharps – ‘Stormy Weather’ (1952)
The album wasn’t popular when it was released, so much so that the band had to buy their own copies. Ironically, today that record is worth $20,000. You could have a small fortune stacked away in a box in your attic.
The Five Sharps ‘Stormy Weather’
The Velvet Underground – ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’ (1967)
The first pressings in mono go for $2,799 on Discogs. However, there are two unique pressings that feature early versions of their songs. One copy belongs to their drummer Moe Tucker. The other copy was sold on eBay for $25,200.
The Velvet Underground ‘The Velvet Underground And Nico’
Frank Wilson – ‘Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’ (1965)
After recording this song and ‘Sweeter As The Days Go By,’ Frank agreed to work behind the scenes rather than sing. Berry Gordy then had all the pressings destroyed. Two copies survived and one was sold in 2009 for $34,000.
Frank Wilson ‘Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’
Bob Dylan – ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’ (1963)
There was a mistake at the pressing plant and the wrong songs were pressed into the album. There aren’t many of these, so if your copy’s serial number ends in -1A, then that record is worth over $35,000.
Bob Dylan ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’
Tommy Johnson – ‘Alcohol And Jake Blues’ (1930)
There are only two copies of this record in the world. Someone purchased a copy at an estate sale not knowing its exact value. When he put it on auction on eBay, a betting frenzy resulted in him getting $37,100 for it.
Tommy Johnson ‘Alcohol And Jake Blues’
Prince – ‘The Black Album’ (1986)
Soon after the album was released in 1987, Prince demanded to halt the release and recalled all copies because he believed that the record was “evil.” Promotional copies had already been distributed, and one of these was sold for $42,300.
Prince ‘The Black Album’
Aphex Twin aka Caustic Window – ‘Caustic Window’ (1994)
Richard D. James aka Aphex Twin is a techno/drum and bass producer. He recorded this album and stopped pressing after only five copies were made. One of these copies got out and was bought by Markus Persson for $46,300.
Aphex Twin Aka Caustic Window ‘Caustic Window’
The Beatles – ‘The Beatles’ (aka “The White Album”) (1968)
This is the first pressing of “the fab four’s” popular ninth album. It’s marked with serial number A0000001 and it went to Ringo Starr. It was kept safe in a bank vault for years but has since been auctioned for charity at $790,000.
The Beatles ‘The Beatles’ (aka “The White Album”)
Elvis Presley – ‘My Happiness’ (1953)
Elvis had gifted this record to his friend Ed Leek. He had cherished the vinyl and kept it for over 60 years. After Ed passed away in 2015, his daughter sold it to Jack White for a whopping $300,000.
Elvis Presley ‘My Happiness’
Long Cleve Reed And Little Harvey Hull – ‘Original Stack O’ Lee Blues’ (1927)
This album is considered to be the world’s most valuable blues vinyl as it is the only known copy of Reed’s version of ‘Stack O’ Lee.’ Someone offered the owner of this record $70,000 for it but he turned it down.
Long Cleve Reed And Little Harvey Hull ‘Original Stack O’ Lee Blues’
Bruce Springsteen – ‘Last American Hero From Asbury Park N.J.’ (1978)
This record was an Lp sampler which was exclusive to Japan. It features a compilation of ten of his songs to promote the ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ album. Only 100 copies were released and it’s now worth $2,400 each.
Bruce Springsteen ‘Last American Hero From Asbury Park N.J.’
David Bowie and Dana Gillespie – ‘ Browpromo’ (1971)
This record was only meant for music execs so the cover was plain white with a blank sleeve. To verify that a copy is indeed the original, look out for the serial number ‘BOWPROMO 1A-1/1B-1’. These go for about $5,500.
David Bowie And Dana Gillespie ‘ Browpromo’
The Beatles – ‘’Til There Was You’ (1963)
This was described as the record that launched the Fab Fours career because it was the demo that they recorded and sent to EMI. The vinyl even has Brian Epstein’s handwriting on it. This 10-inch record is worth $77,500.
The Beatles ‘’Til There Was You’
John Lennon and Yoko Ono – ‘Double Fantasy’ (1980)
The reason this copy is so valuable is that it was signed by John Lennon hours before his passing on December 8th, 1980. This means it’s the last record that he would ever sign. That’s why today it is worth $150,000.
John Lennon And Yoko Ono ‘Double Fantasy’
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1966)
Any original copy of the 1967 pressing of this record will fetch a lot of money at an auction. But one particular copy is almost priceless because it was signed by all four Beatles. The signed copy was sold for $290,000.
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Wu-Tang Clan – ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin’ (2008)
This record was by far the most expensive one ever sold. This is the only copy ever pressed, it even comes with a contract which states that the buyer may not sell it for 100 years. However, it was bought by Martin Shkreli for $2 million.
Wu Tang Clan ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin’
The Hornets – ‘Lonesome Baby’ (1953)
This 78 RPM record features ‘Lonesome Baby’ and ‘I Can’t Believe’. It became the only record the original group ever produced. It’s one of the most sought after R&B records of all time and is now valued at $15,000.
The Hornets ‘Lonesome Baby’ (1953)
Jean Michel Jarre – ‘Musique Pour Supermarché’ (1983)
Released in 1983, this French vinyl was the only copy ever pressed. It was played on French radio but then the master tapes were destroyed. This album could fetch anything between $5,000 and $20,000 at an auction today.
Jean Michel Jarre ‘Musique Pour Supermarché’
The Beatles – ‘Hear The Beatles Tell All’ (1966)
This record is a promotional copy of an interview that The Beatles did. It has a white label and blue print. It’s extremely rare as only 10 copies were made and maybe even less exist today so a copy is worth $15,000.
The Beatles ‘Hear The Beatles Tell All’
Junior McCants – ‘Try Me For Your New Love’ (1967)
This Northern soul album was withdrawn soon after its release because the singer had passed away shortly after the recording session. However, some promotional copies had already been distributed to radio stations and those are now worth $15,000.
Junior McCants ‘Try Me For Your New Love’
Charlie Patton – ‘Revenue Man Blues’ (1935)
Charlie was an American Delta blues singer and was considered to be the most important blues musician in the 20th century. This record is highly sought after for that reason and it can fetch up to $15,000.
Charlie Patton ‘Revenue Man Blues’
Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers – ‘My Bonnie’ (1962)
This record includes the single The Saints as well on side B. The particular copy which includes Decca US 31382 with the black label and the rainbow bars, is extremely rare. A copy of this album is worth $15,000.
Tony Sheridan And The Beat Brothers ‘My Bonnie’
Billy Nicholls – ‘Would You Believe’ (1968)
Billy Nicholls is a psych-rock artist. Only 100 copies were made of the original pressing. This album features John Paul Jones and Small faces. If you have one packed away, sell it and you could get between $5,000 and $13,000.
Billy Nicholls ‘Would You Believe
The Beatles – ‘Introducing… The Beatles’ (1964)
This album is sought after because it has stereophonic versions of some songs before they became a big sensation. The different copies vary in price according to what features they have on the actual cover but they range between $1,500 and $12,500.
The Beatles ‘Introducing… The Beatles’
Camille – ‘Camille’ (1986)
This is an unreleased album was intended to be released under the pseudonym, Camille, which was Prince’s female alter ego. The project was canceled weeks before its official release but some copies made it out. Now they’re worth $10,000.
Camille ‘Camille’
Various Artists – ‘Our First Tour’ (1968)
This compilation was released by Apple Records as a promotional press kit in the U.K. It was intended to promote the songs so they could be available commercially. It contains The Beatles’ first four singles. It’s super rare and is valued at $10,000.
Various Artists ‘Our First Tour’
U2 – ‘All I Want Is You’ (1989)
It is estimated that there are only three to five copies of this record in existence. It is an Australian misprint that was done on green vinyl. These rare copies are worth up to $10,000 depending on the condition it’s in.
U2 ‘All I Want Is You’
The Counts – ‘Peaches Baby’ (1967)
This record could possibly be Shine Records’ rarest release. It features ‘ Peaches Baby’ on side A and ‘My Only Love’ on side B. It’s believed that there are only a few copies in the world. This record is worth $9,000.
The Counts ‘Peaches Baby’
