Post by Pipperoo on Oct 14, 2014 12:37:00 GMT 1
According to this list, these are the 50 most collectible records. What is your list!!!
50 BURIAL/FOUR TET/THOM YORKE Ego/Mirror 12" 2011 Text 10 £7.99
When it comes to modern collectables, sometimes you have to be quick or you're dead. On 15 March, Rough Trade shops tweeted that this collaboration between one of the great artists of the last 10 years - Keiren Hebden - Thom Yorke and Burial would go on pre-sale in 20 minutes' time. It sold out within 15 minutes and even though Rough Trade threw another 50 into the ring the following day, the limited nature of this 12" made it instantly collectable even before Rough Trade started to ship or sell them. Copies have already been sold on eBay for £35+.
49 DEAD KENNEDYS Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death (inc free flexi 7") 1987 Alternative Tentacles VIRUS 57 £15
The Dead Kennedys' Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables (1981) remains the best-selling LP - and probably CD - Cherry Red have ever released, and original pressings remain collectable, but as with Hüsker Dü, UK pressings of their extensive back catalogue remain in demand among punk and hardcore collectors worldwide. Many singles, EPs and album covers in the 80s were illustrated by montage artist Winston Smith, whose work is now very collectable in its own right, making albums like Give Me Convenience. and other UK pressings a very live investment proposition. It also goes without saying that the music is highly recommended.
48 SUBWAY SECT Nobody's Scared/Don't Split It 1978 Braik BRS 01 £15
Vic Godard's Subway Sect were one of the punk/new wave bands with a reputation that always outstripped their sales and they were also the victims of a lack of decent label support - or even the opportunity to issue a debut LP for years. This 7" 45 on the Braik label, their debut release, is a gem, with the title track boasting a guitar figure that owed a hell of a lot to Love's 7 And 7 Is, while the B-side is also magnetically good. The 7" might only be worth £15 but it is one that we feel will steeply appreciate in value in the coming years. Both of the stellar Rough Trade singles by the group should also be acquired.
47 U2 Boy 1980 Island ILPS 9646 £15
Hardened collectors already pay a lot of care and attention to the matrix numbers of 60s and 70s albums to establish first pressings and this forensic attention to detail is going to carry over into classic 80s bands. Thus a wise investment would be a Mint copy of this debut U2 album and October (1981), War (1983), and The Joshua Tree (1987) should also be investigated. Although these albums sold by the million and crop up all the time in shops, fairs and online, get a first pressing with A1 matrixes with the sleeve, inner and vinyl in perfect condition.
46 WOODEN SHJIPS What It Is/Buddy 2010 Sick Thirst ST 008 £15
When it comes to Record Store Day, the secret is to pick up the vinyl people are not looking to make an instant eBay profit on. This 7" was sold at gigs in Australia and New Zealand, but a small number of the 730 copies were allocated to Record Store Day 2010. With Wooden Shjips winning critical acclaim they are becoming collectable, and this, along with their green vinyl Christmas single Silver Bells/Winter, will grow in value. There was also a 2009 UK Record Day mixtape CD given away with copies of second album Dos.
45 HÜSKER DÜ Everything Falls Apart 1982 Bespoke BES 03 LP £20
This American hardcore punk band formed in 1979 and released a clutch of albums and singles that never quite achieved mainstream success but were influential and resonate today for both an older and younger generation. According to one dealer, UK pressings were of better sonic quality than their original US counterparts and so make a canny investment on both sides of the Atlantic. Recommendations range from their first UK single Eight Miles High/Masochism World (SST 025, 1984 £12) to Zen Arcade (SST 027, 1984, £20), major-label debut Candy Apple Grey (Warners WX 40, 1986, £15) and this first UK LP Everything Falls Apart.
44 CHARLIE MINGUS & JAZZ GROUP Oh Yeah 1962 London HA K 8007 £20
Jazz attracts everyone from audiophile collectors to teenagers wanting to listen to Miles Davis through the medium of a dropped needle on an original copy of In A Silent Way. Although American first edition albums fetch higher prices, some UK pressings were of better quality and iconic LPs by the likes of Davis, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman and others on labels like Stateside, Fontana, Riverside, Esquire, London and even Transatlantic seem very cheap at the moment and some have different artwork to US counterparts. From free jazz via hard bop to cool jazz, all tastes are catered for. For such a classic album on a collectable label, Oh Yeah appears undervalued in the market.
43 VARIOUS ARTISTS No No No No No Not My Girl 1987 KENT 069 £25
There is a healthy trade in rare UK-pressed Northern soul singles, with collectors happy to pay three-figure sums for rare demos and stock copies of singles from PP Arnold to Timi Yuro. While these are a good investment, one recommended area of growth is releases on the Kent label in the 80s. As well as a number of collectable singles, there are a plenty of Northern soul compilations like No No No No No Not My Girl (Kent 069, 1987)and Tears In My Eyes (Kent 045, 1985) that sell around the £20-25 mark and will probably rise further.
42 RADIOHEAD The King Of Limbs 2011 XL TICK001LP £30
If you pre-ordered your deluxe copy of the latest Radiohead album, The King Of Limbs, one way to ensure an increase in value would have been to not open the package when it was delivered. You should sit on it for a few years (not literally) then consider selling it. That way you'll not only be offering a Mint LP for sale but also the pleasure of opening the package to the collector who buys it. Unless they decide not to open it as well. This strategy could apply to other albums with the potential to be regarded as future classics Make sure you have a Radiohead newspaper to sell with it as well. Mint vinyl double-LP copies of OK Computer (1997, £35) will also accumulate.
41 NIC JONES Penguin Eggs 1980 Topic 12TS 411 £30
With the huge interest and prices for acid folk LPs the more traditional folk albums issued in England in the 70s and 80s get badly overlooked. But this is an area that could be quietly invested in. An artist like Nic Jones is a case in point: his first three albums on Trailer issued between 1970 and 1971 have not been reissued for years and Penguin Eggs is a neglected classic. Another to squire into your master bedroom is Bright Pheobeus by Lal and Mike Waterson on Trailer, from 1973, which is unreasonably cheap at £35.
40 DAVID BOWIE The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars 1972 RCA SF 8287 £40
There is something of an investment market in Mint-condition copies of iconic albums. This ranges from The Stooges' Raw Power (1973, £20) to this, one of Bowie's greatest LPs. The vital factor is to buy a Mint copy that contains the original "Gem" production credit and not the "Mainman" credit on later issues. We value this LP at £40 in the Rare Record Price Guide but dealers have advised that £60-80 is a better price. Although his rare early LPs remain obvious investments, Mint copies of Low, Heroes and Extracts From Outside have strong potential.
39 LAURA MARLING London Town EP 2007 Way Out West WOW 003 £40
Modern folk singer and songwriter Laura Marling made her debut in 2007 on this 7" EP limited to 500 copies, which included the tracks London Town, She's Changed, Failure and Top Of My Window. The momentum of critical success in the wake of her debut LP Alas I Cannot Swim (2008) being nominated for a Mercury Music Prize has served to make this EP collectable. Although cheap, her 7" on Jack White's Third Man label, Blues Run The Game/The Needle And The Damage Done, where she covers Jackson C Frank's and Neil Young's songs, looks a solid investment.
38 LOU REED Transformer 1972 RCA SF 8281 £40
Some readers will be amazed to see this album by the former Velvet Underground front man in this list, as they probably see it all the time at record fairs. Again, this is an iconic album, and the important thing to look out for is the first pressing, which had a fully laminated sleeve and different label credits and was originally pressed in a very small run before the Wild Side chart motherlode of 1973. Find one of these in Mint condition, stick it on eBay and the bidding will be "vicious". Otherwise keep it under lock and key.
37 STUD LEATHER Cut Loose/Slick Go Getter 1973 Dart ART 2024 £40
This 45 is here as a prime example of the amazing underbelly of music that was released beneath the radar in the early 70s. The A-side is a mixture of garage/glam/proto punk and is compulsive whilst the B-side is slick airy pop that grabs you. That one of the protagonists went on to make a packet in porn seems apt. As for investments, there are a number of unheralded glam stompers and pop gems that singular collectors like Robin Willis dig up that are appreciating in value and can all be read about on his wonderful Purepop1uk website.
36 WIRE Pink Flag 1977 Harvest SHSP 4076 £40
Although there are a number of hideously rare and obscure punk and DIY 7" singles and EPs that fetch money, one growing area of investment is punk LPs that were issued in 1977 and 1978. Bear in mind that this was initially a singles-led phenomenon, so early albums did not always sell heavily and are creeping up in value. There is a wide selection of suspects to pogo into, including The Ramones, The Damned, The Adverts, Television, 999, Generation X, The Clash, X-Ray Spex, Vibrators, Eater, Alternative TV, Richard Hell & The Voidoids and Wire's debut of course, which crammed 21 tracks on to two sides.
35 THE CLASH The Clash 1977 CBS 82000 £50+
When the first Clash album was issued back in 1977, the first 10,000 copies came with a sticker on the inner sleeve that could be sent into the NME to receive the Capital Radio EP featuring Mick Jones and Joe Strummer being interviewed by Tony Parsons on an underground train. It appears that 10,000 people did just that: although The Clash is a top punk collectable, not one of these LPs has turned up with the sticker intact. Find one - no matter what the condition of the sleeve and LP - and that detective work will pay a handsome dividend.
34 PJ HARVEY Is This Desire? 1998 Island ILPS 8076 £50
Harvey launched her career back in 1990 with a rare three-track private pressing 7" (worth £70 if you can find one) and since then has built an international career uncoiling music that has moved from alternative rock to lush spectrums but always shot through with a haunting ambiguity. Even as the CD toppled vinyl, Island continued to emboss Harvey onto plastic, making albums like Is This Desire? and Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea (2000, £20+) sound investments. Her new album, The Last Living Rose, confirms her status as a serious artist whose longevity and investment potential is secure.
33 JOY DIVISION Unknown Pleasures 1979 Factory FACT 10 £50
There are a lot of post-punk singles, EPs, 12" and LPs worth buying with a view to future appreciation, and a first pressing of this debut LP by Joy Division should also be sought out for the perfect combination of brilliant music and fine-art Saville packaging. Copies in VG and Excellent turn over briskly in record shops and at fairs, so hunting down a Mint original copy of this, as well as their second LP, Closer, is advised. The hessian-sleeved retrospective, Still (£70), is also going up, as are even the standard non-hessian versions.
32 SIGUR RÓS Ágaetis Byrjun 2000 Fat Cat FATLP 11 £50
Although Mumford & Sons are collectable at present, we do not know how they'll be regarded in five years' time. But Sigur Rós, like The Libertines, have acquired collectable status and still look a sound investment. That their LPs have been reissued does not dent the collectability of their first seminal work, Ágaetis Byrjun, which was initially pressed in just a small run on vinyl. The same applies to their first EP issued in the UK, which was limited to 2,000 copies. Their debut LP, Von, was only issued in Iceland in 1997 in a limited CD run of 3,000 copies and - in the age of CDs being worth less and less - it is valued at £40.
31 ORANGE JUICE Falling And Laughing/Moscow Olympics/Moscow 1980 Postcard 80-1 £70
From Planet to Postcard, there are some labels that are highly collectable, and if you marry that to a collectable artist then you are swinging your pick into the proverbial gold mine. This was the first Postcard single and came in a foldover sleeve in a poly bag along with a free flexi-disc that contains the live track Felicity. It is imperative to get everything in top order but this will keep growing in value as Orange Juice have remained constantly in demand. Our RRPG online value has recently been upgraded from £70 to £150 and many consider that conservative.
30 METALLICA Creeping Death/Am I Evil?/Blitzkreig 12" 1983 Music For Nations GV 12 KUT 112 mispressing £70
When it comes to metal you should investigate the output of the Rise Above label as well as exploring collectable bands like Iron Maiden, Slayer, Black Sabbath and Motörhead. Metallica's longevity has thrown up many collectables to add some sparkle to a lot of run-of-the-mill values. One that will hold its value is this scarce mispressing of Creeping Death, which has one side with black vinyl and the other side with gold vinyl. Standard pressings are worth £15 but this one will appreciate. The first pressing of Kill 'Em All (1983, with beige labels) looks good value at £35.
29 THE UPSETTERS Clint Eastwood 1969 Pama Special PSP 1014 £75
This scarce Lee Perry LP is one that hardly ever turns up in decent nick, as this compilation of mostly Spaghetti Western-inspired tracks was probably played to death at Jamaican house parties well into the 70s. It was released in the UK after tracks like Return Of Django (not on this album) began to reach white audiences. So if you find one with a sleeve and vinyl in Excellent or better condition it would be worth buying and salting away because, to paraphrase a Sergio Leone film title, collectors will soon be willing to pay A Few Pounds More...
28 FAUST Faust (clear vinyl, clear sleeve) 1971 Polydor 2310 142 £80
Although the majority of what is termed Krautrock was issued in Germany, a fair number of fine examples came out in the UK which, although already collectable, are gaining increased value traction. Faust, Neu!, Can and both branches of Amon Düül are four to look out for, and even Recommended Records' Faust reissues are collectable. On a similar journey through the cosmos but with a British twist, Hawkwind will also increase in value. The Velvet Underground inspired a lot of krautrock and Mint original copies of their work should also be hunted down, as they never going to go down in price.
27 CHUCK TURNER/FUNNY WONDER Youthman Struggling/Jollification 12" 1987 Stereo One ST 003 £100
Although ska, reggae and dub records from the 60s and 70s are well-known to collectors, with many fetching fantastic prices on eBay if rare and anywhere near Mint, one area that is shooting up in price is digi-dub reggae 12" singles from the 80s and 90s. Many of the artists are recognised only by specialist buyers, but those looking to speculate should look out for artists like Sharon Little (the "Don't Mash Up Creation" singer, not the blonde singer-songwriter), Roger Robin, Iration Steppas, Danny Red, Ackee, Horace Martin, Little Kirk and anything Jah Shaka was involved in.
26 VERNON ELLIOT The Clangers 2001 Trunk SOUP 001 LP £100
Trunk Records is the ultimate boutique label that strokes everything from soundtracks to British jazz, and the attention to detail, from packaging to the music, ensures that every limited-edition 7" or vinyl LP sells out. This rare Clangers LP in a knitted sleeve taps into the childhood of 40-year-old men, as do the soundtracks to cult TV programmes like UFO and The Tomorrow People. Michael Garrick's Moonscape, on the other hand, had been unheard for years and the Trunk reissue from 2007 is now worth £30. Original copies of Tubby Hayes' Voodoo Session 7" - limited to 666 copies! - are still in demand despite a repress.
25 LOVE Forever Changes 1967 Elektra EKL 4013 £130
Like Wire's, Love's first three albums were a perfect trio and, after that, everything was a musical coda that - some may argue - never quite recaptured the genie. Forever Changes was a masterpiece of songs and arrangements which sold poorly on release, hence Mint copies of both the US and UK original will always hold their value or increase. Our advice is to plump for the rarer mono version at £130 which still leaves a little room for appreciation. The stereo version is worth £100, and so completists might pick up the pair of early label UK Elektras.
24 PORCUPINE TREE Spiral Circus 1997 Chromatic CHR 002 £130
There is currently a huge demand for albums issued in the 90s due to the limited number pressed. You could build an entire portfolio here from blue-chip stock like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Tom Waits, Blur and David Bowie, and mix it into more exotic waters like Mazzy Star, Primal Scream, Spiritualized, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Prodigy, Stereolab, Suede, Boo Radleys, Cocteau Twins, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, as well as the red-hot collectables of Porcupine Tree. This album was limited to 500 copies and is already worth £130. This stuff is only going one way in price - up.
23 VAN MORRISON Astral Weeks 1969 Warner Brothers WS 1768 £150
Setting aside the fact that this is one of Morrison's finest LPs, along with Moondance (1970, £90 with orange label), this is a pretty solid investment vehicle. The key to appreciation is securing a Mint copy of the small first pressing that has a laminated sleeve and orange label. The green label is a second pressing. We already value the orange label at £150 but, as this is an iconic LP, this will increase in value over time. As for the green label, although we place a guide price of £25 on it, Mint copies have attracted double that figure.
22 LEE PERRY/BOB MARLEY & WONG CHU: Disco Devil/Keep On Moving 1977 Upsetter Jamaica (no cat no, two slightly different sleeves) £200
Sometimes record collecting is like going into a dark cinema and you need an usher to show you to your seat. It was Mike Mastrangelo at Secret Records who shone his torch upon this sonic beauty. This Jamaican 12" boasts an infectious refrain of, "If you are a disco devil, I am a disco rebel" on the A-side, which has made it an in-demand track to be played out, sampled and collected. Despite having a UK reissue on Trojan, original copies still command a high price and, with an extended Bob Marley remix/dub on the B-side, this release has quality sonic crackle on both sides. There is also a Dutch pressing from the early 80s on Black Art that omits the Marley side and adds Max Romeo and two Jah Lloyd tracks, rated at £65+ if Mint.
21 JULIAN JAY SAVARIN Waiters Of The Dance (with insert) 1973 Birth RAB 2 £250
There is all manner of progressive or blues records from the period 1968-73 (and beyond) that are good investments even if Mint first pressings are attracting heavyweight bidding wars on eBay. One cheaper option is this album, which was, in effect, the second Julian's Treatment LP. Savarin was also a science fiction writer and this album boiled down into music his first book of the Lemmus Trilogy that was published in the UK a year before this album was released. So a combination of a Mint LP and a pristine three-book set could be a winning combination.
20 BLACK SABBATH Master Of Reality 1971 Vertigo 6360 050 £300+
The key thing here is to acquire a Mint copy complete with poster and box and make sure that the matrix numbers scream out first pressing. This guarantees an increase in price over time. This applies across the board to all 60s and 70s heavyweight collectable albums from Van Der Graaf Generator to original Harvest LPs (without the boxed EMI logo) and accounts for the fevered bidding at times on Mint records with - for example - A1/B1 matrixes. It is vital that you know what to look for on the run-out groove, and sleeves, inserts, posters, vinyl and labels must be in immaculate condition for Bob, or indeed Geezer, to be your uncle.
19 JOHN AND ALICE COLTRANE Cosmic Music 1966 Coltrane US AU-4950 £300+
John Coltrane will never go out of fashion and the questing saxophonist's original albums issued in America remain sought-after by collectors all over the world. One dealer boiled everything down to a three-card trick for investment purposes, recommending Coltrane on Impulse (1966, A-21 (mono), AS-21 (stereo, £100/£150), Blue Trane on Blue Note (1957, BLP 1577, "deep groove" pressing with "W. 63rd St. NYC" address on label) £400+, and Cosmic Music, released by his wife shortly after his death on her Coltrane Records (1966 AU-4950) £300+. The ABC Impulse reissue of Cosmic Music (1969) is cheaper.
18 OASIS LP Box Set 2009 Big Brother RKIDBOX 58 £300
Even though they have split up and Liam is giving us all the Beady Eye, Oasis remain a good medium-term investment. Putting aside all of the brotherly bother, the first two albums rock like hell and continue to sell, although The Masterplan (1998) and Stop The Clocks (2006) are worth more and their run of 12" promotional singles were limited and will hold their value. This recent box set, which collected all of their albums was limited to 1,500 copies and looks set to appreciate. As do early Creation singles before Oasis signed to the label.
17 GLORIA SCOTT (A Case of) Too Much Lovemaking/What Am I Gonna Do? Casablanca 1974 AUS NB 001 £300
While there is money to be made from the right Northern Soul records, it is a market where values can fall sharply as well as increase in leaps and bounds. One to look out for if you ever visit Australia or Japan is this hideously rare Australian-only issue of the Barry White-produced track taken from the 1974 album, What Am I Gonna Do. Copies have sold for £300-400. In the same ball park, Paul Sindab's French EP, Since I Met You, Columbia ESRF 1799, £200-£300, is the only thing that was issued near our shores by this hot Northern Soul singer and interest is rising in it.
16 VARIOUS Sons Of Nubia EP 1990 White Son 1 EP £300
Recommend by Dudley Jaynes, our hip-hop expert, this is an example of a UK rap record released as a small-run white label that has become particularly sought after in recent years. That interest was boosted when it was included on Aroe's Crown Jewels mix CD. It featured Johnny MC and Huggy G Jam, who had debuted with the single Uno Get Rough in 1989 on the London-based Reality Records. There are only 20 copies: the record never made it beyond the test pressing stage and it is obviously difficult to acquire and hard to spot when going through white labels, but this is a record that is heavily tipped to appreciate.
15 GIOCONDA DE VITO Bach Violin Concerto In E Major/Mozart Violin Concerto No 3 In G 1950s HMV ASD 429 £400+
One area of collecting that has been under Record Collector's radar for far too long are rare classical LPs. Gilbert and Sullivan aside, like jazz it is a timeless commodity that attracts audiophiles and serious international collectors. There are soloists whose interpretations of the classical repertoire are sought after and the female violinist Gioconda De Vito is one of them. This LP is a mega-classical rarity, all-but-impossible to find, and even the 1990 repress goes for £40-50. Look out also for fellow violin players like Ginette Neveu and Johanna Martzy, although this is just the tip of a very large iceberg.
14 BARBARA McNAIR You're Gonna Love My Baby/The Touch Of Time 1966 Tamla Motown TMG 544 £400
Tamla Motown singles, EPs and LPs released in the UK remain in demand among soul collectors. There has been more focus on demos in recent years with rarer red and white labels being particularly sought after. Barbara McNair's You're Gonna Love My Baby and Kim Weston's Helpless/A Love Like Yours (1966, Tamla Motown TMG 554 £400) are particularly good examples. Although Tamla Motown is a known market, speculators might consider demos of Marvin Gaye's iconic What's Going On?, Save The Children, Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues 45s, from 1971 and 1972.
13 GROUT Do It Yourself EP 1978 Urinating Vicar £400
When it comes to investing in punk, there is a multitude of routes to take. Main protagonists like the Sex Pistols and The Ramones can be targeted, or you can delve into all manner of one-off KBD (killed by death) releases that are hard to find, ranging from cheap singles by The Bears to this hideously rare Grout EP, which was limited to 100 copies and lurking on many Wants lists. There is also the American market to consider, which extends from 1977 to the vital 80s punk scene that not only spawned Green Day, but bands like Operation Ivy and Screeching Weasel.
12 PINK FLOYD A Saucerful Of Secrets 1967 Columbia SX 6157 £400
The key to this being a secure investment is a Mint mono copy. Although this album is already valued at £400 in the Rare Record Price Guide, Pink Floyd are a blue chip investment and Pink Floyd with Syd at the helm are a blue chip investment with bells on. Other Floyd assets to secure are Mint copies of The Division Bell from 1994, which was pressed in small quantities, blue triangle first pressings of Dark Side Of The Moon (1973, £500), The First XI (1979, £200), the '97 Vinyl Collection box (1997, £80), and the More (1969, £50) soundtrack, which is cheap with growth potential.
11 LEONID KOGAN Beethoven Violin Concert 1945 Columbia SAX 2386 £500+
In recent years there have been some astronomical prices paid for early stereo pressings of classical records and the market has been confined to those in the know. There is a worldwide demand for early stereo UK pressings due to the tremendous audiophile quality that was obtained during the 50s and early 60s. Look out for the following catalogue number prefixes: Decca (SXL), Columbia (SAX), HMV/EMI (ASD), Philips (SABL/SAL) and RCA ("living stereo"). Collectors follow conductors, soloists (like Leonid Kogan), and orchestras, as well as certain definitive performances of acknowledged masterpieces by heavyweight composers.
10 MR MAGIC Kazoo's/Dance To The Drummer's Beat 1982 Tri State US KF 3107 12" £500
According to our hip hop expert Dudley Jaynes, "to be a sound investment, records need to possess a number of qualities at the same time. Records that are genuinely scarce and contain good music or hold some significance to the artform perform best in terms of investment potential." This applies to all collectable music! This hip-hop 12" is old school and hails from Connecticut, and despite its excellence was largely ignored outside its immediate area upon release and so the vast majority were disposed of before modern collectors took an interest. Once unearthed and compiled, everyone wanted one.
9 AGINCOURT Fly Away 1970 Merlin HF 3 £700
There were a number of albums pressed up in very small quantities in the 60s and 70s that by their very scarcity are collectable, and which will always hold their value. Some, it must be said, contain music that is poor - Ptolomy Psycon springs to mind - but Peter Howell and John Ferdinando released four albums under four different names and the wonderful arrangements and championship nature of the songs on Fly Away and other LPs like Ithaca's A Game For All Who Know means that they remain holy grails for collectors. There is also Howell's Dr Who connection (he updated the theme tune) to ice the cake.
8 THE OPEN MIND The Open Mind 1969 Philips SBL 7893 £750
This record is already valued at £750 in our Rare Record Price Guide and so is a well-known psychedelic gem. However, like albums by Vashti Bunyan and Elias Hulk that are in a similar price bracket, or Leafhound's Growers Of Mushroom in a higher bracket, a stone Mint copy will hold its value and appreciate due to the demand amongst collectors for the record and the fraction of copies that are in a genuine near-Mint condition. Despite a reissue, demand for this LP is not going to peter out for at least a decade - if ever.
7 DR Z Three Parts To My Soul 1971 Vertigo 6360 048 £1,000
There remains huge interest in the Vertigo label and the famed swirl has been responsible for energetic bidding on eBay for the last few years, with Mint copies of albums from Gravy Train's Ballad Of A Peaceful Man to Rod Stewart's An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down fetching prices well over that suggested in the Guide. Dr Z's Three Parts To My Soul is one of the rarest and thus a good investment - if you can find a Mint copy with both sleeve and vinyl in tip-top shape at a reasonable price. The same applies to Linda Hoyle's scarce Pieces Of Me, from 1971.
6 LED ZEPPELIN Led Zeppelin 1969 Atlantic 588 171 £1,000
This first pressing with the rare turquoise sleeve, "superhype" publishing credit and unscratched-out matrix number has a guide price of £1,000 in our Rare Record Price Guide. When I was at Spitalfields fair recently, a dealer had four on his stall with no takers - none Mint, mind. Then again, a couple of months ago a Mint copy sold for a whopping £2,000. The limited number of pristine copies out there means they are going to hold their value, as most turn up in VG to Excellent condition. Pristine "orange" sleeves are also ones to go for.
5 THE ROLLING STONES The Rolling Stones 1964 Decca LK 4605 £1,000
Like The Beatles, everyone knows what the Stones' rarities are, but demand for Mint copies keeps pushing up prices. Even investment bankers and rich businessmen have heard of the band(!) which makes Mint copies of their UK albums and singles a good investment. A Mint copy of this debut - with the 2.52 version of Tell Me - is a sound deal as long as it's a first Mint pressing. Although more canny investors should plump for Stones LPs from the 90s, like Voodoo Lounge (1994) or Stripped (1995), which were pressed in very small numbers.
4 WIL MALONE Wil Malone 1970 Fontana STL 5541 £1,500
You could probably double your money even if you found a Mint copy for £1,500, as this LP hardly ever shows up. This scarcity, allied to beautifully arranged and sung pastoral rock by Malone - just listen to Catherine Wheel - that was hardly distributed and totally neglected upon release back in 1970, makes this album one that will continue to appreciate in value. "I think only me and my girlfriend bought copies," Malone told me when RC recently reissued this album on vinyl in a limited edition of 750 copies - and some of these have recently changed hands for £25.
3 HANK MOBLEY Hank Mobley 1957 USA Blue Note BLP 1568 £2,000+
A wonderfully soulful tenor player whose original Blue Note albums are sought around the world. As one dealer told me, jazz does not go out of fashion, and, despite exhaustive international reissue programmes, collectors still hunger for classic albums on labels like Blue Note, Riverside, Prestige, Impulse - and let's not get started on Ra and spiritual jazz. You must know your pressings when it comes to this album - there were many - and collectors take great interest in the labels of this beast, seeking those with un-matching Blue Note address labels (47 West 63rd NYC/47 West 63rd New York 23).
2 THE BEATLES Please Please Me 1963 Parlophone PCS 3042 £3,500
The Beatles are the blue chip of record collecting and we could feature a number their LPs and singles here that will rise in price. It goes without saying that a Mint stereo copy of their debut LP with the rare Black and Gold label (whatever the publishing credits) has steadily appreciated in value over the years. Our RRPG price is £3,500 and Mint copies have sold for two or three times that on eBay. This is the sort of album that investment bankers would blow their bonuses on, as it appreciates much more than current interest rates would provide.
1 SEX PISTOLS God Save The Queen 1977 A&M AMS 7284 £8,000
The value of this holy grail punk collectable continues to grow, as a Mint copy remains the crown jewel of any punk collection. Despite having a guide price of £8,000, this is a sound investment. The Sex Pistols have connected with and attract every new generation that has sprung up since 1977 and the reunion tours - and those Rotten butter adverts - have kept them in the public eye. Standard Mint stock copies of UK pressings of their lone LP, Never Mind The b*ll*cks. Here's The Sex Pistols, are also ones to squirrel away, as most were played to death upon release.
50 BURIAL/FOUR TET/THOM YORKE Ego/Mirror 12" 2011 Text 10 £7.99
When it comes to modern collectables, sometimes you have to be quick or you're dead. On 15 March, Rough Trade shops tweeted that this collaboration between one of the great artists of the last 10 years - Keiren Hebden - Thom Yorke and Burial would go on pre-sale in 20 minutes' time. It sold out within 15 minutes and even though Rough Trade threw another 50 into the ring the following day, the limited nature of this 12" made it instantly collectable even before Rough Trade started to ship or sell them. Copies have already been sold on eBay for £35+.
49 DEAD KENNEDYS Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death (inc free flexi 7") 1987 Alternative Tentacles VIRUS 57 £15
The Dead Kennedys' Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables (1981) remains the best-selling LP - and probably CD - Cherry Red have ever released, and original pressings remain collectable, but as with Hüsker Dü, UK pressings of their extensive back catalogue remain in demand among punk and hardcore collectors worldwide. Many singles, EPs and album covers in the 80s were illustrated by montage artist Winston Smith, whose work is now very collectable in its own right, making albums like Give Me Convenience. and other UK pressings a very live investment proposition. It also goes without saying that the music is highly recommended.
48 SUBWAY SECT Nobody's Scared/Don't Split It 1978 Braik BRS 01 £15
Vic Godard's Subway Sect were one of the punk/new wave bands with a reputation that always outstripped their sales and they were also the victims of a lack of decent label support - or even the opportunity to issue a debut LP for years. This 7" 45 on the Braik label, their debut release, is a gem, with the title track boasting a guitar figure that owed a hell of a lot to Love's 7 And 7 Is, while the B-side is also magnetically good. The 7" might only be worth £15 but it is one that we feel will steeply appreciate in value in the coming years. Both of the stellar Rough Trade singles by the group should also be acquired.
47 U2 Boy 1980 Island ILPS 9646 £15
Hardened collectors already pay a lot of care and attention to the matrix numbers of 60s and 70s albums to establish first pressings and this forensic attention to detail is going to carry over into classic 80s bands. Thus a wise investment would be a Mint copy of this debut U2 album and October (1981), War (1983), and The Joshua Tree (1987) should also be investigated. Although these albums sold by the million and crop up all the time in shops, fairs and online, get a first pressing with A1 matrixes with the sleeve, inner and vinyl in perfect condition.
46 WOODEN SHJIPS What It Is/Buddy 2010 Sick Thirst ST 008 £15
When it comes to Record Store Day, the secret is to pick up the vinyl people are not looking to make an instant eBay profit on. This 7" was sold at gigs in Australia and New Zealand, but a small number of the 730 copies were allocated to Record Store Day 2010. With Wooden Shjips winning critical acclaim they are becoming collectable, and this, along with their green vinyl Christmas single Silver Bells/Winter, will grow in value. There was also a 2009 UK Record Day mixtape CD given away with copies of second album Dos.
45 HÜSKER DÜ Everything Falls Apart 1982 Bespoke BES 03 LP £20
This American hardcore punk band formed in 1979 and released a clutch of albums and singles that never quite achieved mainstream success but were influential and resonate today for both an older and younger generation. According to one dealer, UK pressings were of better sonic quality than their original US counterparts and so make a canny investment on both sides of the Atlantic. Recommendations range from their first UK single Eight Miles High/Masochism World (SST 025, 1984 £12) to Zen Arcade (SST 027, 1984, £20), major-label debut Candy Apple Grey (Warners WX 40, 1986, £15) and this first UK LP Everything Falls Apart.
44 CHARLIE MINGUS & JAZZ GROUP Oh Yeah 1962 London HA K 8007 £20
Jazz attracts everyone from audiophile collectors to teenagers wanting to listen to Miles Davis through the medium of a dropped needle on an original copy of In A Silent Way. Although American first edition albums fetch higher prices, some UK pressings were of better quality and iconic LPs by the likes of Davis, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman and others on labels like Stateside, Fontana, Riverside, Esquire, London and even Transatlantic seem very cheap at the moment and some have different artwork to US counterparts. From free jazz via hard bop to cool jazz, all tastes are catered for. For such a classic album on a collectable label, Oh Yeah appears undervalued in the market.
43 VARIOUS ARTISTS No No No No No Not My Girl 1987 KENT 069 £25
There is a healthy trade in rare UK-pressed Northern soul singles, with collectors happy to pay three-figure sums for rare demos and stock copies of singles from PP Arnold to Timi Yuro. While these are a good investment, one recommended area of growth is releases on the Kent label in the 80s. As well as a number of collectable singles, there are a plenty of Northern soul compilations like No No No No No Not My Girl (Kent 069, 1987)and Tears In My Eyes (Kent 045, 1985) that sell around the £20-25 mark and will probably rise further.
42 RADIOHEAD The King Of Limbs 2011 XL TICK001LP £30
If you pre-ordered your deluxe copy of the latest Radiohead album, The King Of Limbs, one way to ensure an increase in value would have been to not open the package when it was delivered. You should sit on it for a few years (not literally) then consider selling it. That way you'll not only be offering a Mint LP for sale but also the pleasure of opening the package to the collector who buys it. Unless they decide not to open it as well. This strategy could apply to other albums with the potential to be regarded as future classics Make sure you have a Radiohead newspaper to sell with it as well. Mint vinyl double-LP copies of OK Computer (1997, £35) will also accumulate.
41 NIC JONES Penguin Eggs 1980 Topic 12TS 411 £30
With the huge interest and prices for acid folk LPs the more traditional folk albums issued in England in the 70s and 80s get badly overlooked. But this is an area that could be quietly invested in. An artist like Nic Jones is a case in point: his first three albums on Trailer issued between 1970 and 1971 have not been reissued for years and Penguin Eggs is a neglected classic. Another to squire into your master bedroom is Bright Pheobeus by Lal and Mike Waterson on Trailer, from 1973, which is unreasonably cheap at £35.
40 DAVID BOWIE The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars 1972 RCA SF 8287 £40
There is something of an investment market in Mint-condition copies of iconic albums. This ranges from The Stooges' Raw Power (1973, £20) to this, one of Bowie's greatest LPs. The vital factor is to buy a Mint copy that contains the original "Gem" production credit and not the "Mainman" credit on later issues. We value this LP at £40 in the Rare Record Price Guide but dealers have advised that £60-80 is a better price. Although his rare early LPs remain obvious investments, Mint copies of Low, Heroes and Extracts From Outside have strong potential.
39 LAURA MARLING London Town EP 2007 Way Out West WOW 003 £40
Modern folk singer and songwriter Laura Marling made her debut in 2007 on this 7" EP limited to 500 copies, which included the tracks London Town, She's Changed, Failure and Top Of My Window. The momentum of critical success in the wake of her debut LP Alas I Cannot Swim (2008) being nominated for a Mercury Music Prize has served to make this EP collectable. Although cheap, her 7" on Jack White's Third Man label, Blues Run The Game/The Needle And The Damage Done, where she covers Jackson C Frank's and Neil Young's songs, looks a solid investment.
38 LOU REED Transformer 1972 RCA SF 8281 £40
Some readers will be amazed to see this album by the former Velvet Underground front man in this list, as they probably see it all the time at record fairs. Again, this is an iconic album, and the important thing to look out for is the first pressing, which had a fully laminated sleeve and different label credits and was originally pressed in a very small run before the Wild Side chart motherlode of 1973. Find one of these in Mint condition, stick it on eBay and the bidding will be "vicious". Otherwise keep it under lock and key.
37 STUD LEATHER Cut Loose/Slick Go Getter 1973 Dart ART 2024 £40
This 45 is here as a prime example of the amazing underbelly of music that was released beneath the radar in the early 70s. The A-side is a mixture of garage/glam/proto punk and is compulsive whilst the B-side is slick airy pop that grabs you. That one of the protagonists went on to make a packet in porn seems apt. As for investments, there are a number of unheralded glam stompers and pop gems that singular collectors like Robin Willis dig up that are appreciating in value and can all be read about on his wonderful Purepop1uk website.
36 WIRE Pink Flag 1977 Harvest SHSP 4076 £40
Although there are a number of hideously rare and obscure punk and DIY 7" singles and EPs that fetch money, one growing area of investment is punk LPs that were issued in 1977 and 1978. Bear in mind that this was initially a singles-led phenomenon, so early albums did not always sell heavily and are creeping up in value. There is a wide selection of suspects to pogo into, including The Ramones, The Damned, The Adverts, Television, 999, Generation X, The Clash, X-Ray Spex, Vibrators, Eater, Alternative TV, Richard Hell & The Voidoids and Wire's debut of course, which crammed 21 tracks on to two sides.
35 THE CLASH The Clash 1977 CBS 82000 £50+
When the first Clash album was issued back in 1977, the first 10,000 copies came with a sticker on the inner sleeve that could be sent into the NME to receive the Capital Radio EP featuring Mick Jones and Joe Strummer being interviewed by Tony Parsons on an underground train. It appears that 10,000 people did just that: although The Clash is a top punk collectable, not one of these LPs has turned up with the sticker intact. Find one - no matter what the condition of the sleeve and LP - and that detective work will pay a handsome dividend.
34 PJ HARVEY Is This Desire? 1998 Island ILPS 8076 £50
Harvey launched her career back in 1990 with a rare three-track private pressing 7" (worth £70 if you can find one) and since then has built an international career uncoiling music that has moved from alternative rock to lush spectrums but always shot through with a haunting ambiguity. Even as the CD toppled vinyl, Island continued to emboss Harvey onto plastic, making albums like Is This Desire? and Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea (2000, £20+) sound investments. Her new album, The Last Living Rose, confirms her status as a serious artist whose longevity and investment potential is secure.
33 JOY DIVISION Unknown Pleasures 1979 Factory FACT 10 £50
There are a lot of post-punk singles, EPs, 12" and LPs worth buying with a view to future appreciation, and a first pressing of this debut LP by Joy Division should also be sought out for the perfect combination of brilliant music and fine-art Saville packaging. Copies in VG and Excellent turn over briskly in record shops and at fairs, so hunting down a Mint original copy of this, as well as their second LP, Closer, is advised. The hessian-sleeved retrospective, Still (£70), is also going up, as are even the standard non-hessian versions.
32 SIGUR RÓS Ágaetis Byrjun 2000 Fat Cat FATLP 11 £50
Although Mumford & Sons are collectable at present, we do not know how they'll be regarded in five years' time. But Sigur Rós, like The Libertines, have acquired collectable status and still look a sound investment. That their LPs have been reissued does not dent the collectability of their first seminal work, Ágaetis Byrjun, which was initially pressed in just a small run on vinyl. The same applies to their first EP issued in the UK, which was limited to 2,000 copies. Their debut LP, Von, was only issued in Iceland in 1997 in a limited CD run of 3,000 copies and - in the age of CDs being worth less and less - it is valued at £40.
31 ORANGE JUICE Falling And Laughing/Moscow Olympics/Moscow 1980 Postcard 80-1 £70
From Planet to Postcard, there are some labels that are highly collectable, and if you marry that to a collectable artist then you are swinging your pick into the proverbial gold mine. This was the first Postcard single and came in a foldover sleeve in a poly bag along with a free flexi-disc that contains the live track Felicity. It is imperative to get everything in top order but this will keep growing in value as Orange Juice have remained constantly in demand. Our RRPG online value has recently been upgraded from £70 to £150 and many consider that conservative.
30 METALLICA Creeping Death/Am I Evil?/Blitzkreig 12" 1983 Music For Nations GV 12 KUT 112 mispressing £70
When it comes to metal you should investigate the output of the Rise Above label as well as exploring collectable bands like Iron Maiden, Slayer, Black Sabbath and Motörhead. Metallica's longevity has thrown up many collectables to add some sparkle to a lot of run-of-the-mill values. One that will hold its value is this scarce mispressing of Creeping Death, which has one side with black vinyl and the other side with gold vinyl. Standard pressings are worth £15 but this one will appreciate. The first pressing of Kill 'Em All (1983, with beige labels) looks good value at £35.
29 THE UPSETTERS Clint Eastwood 1969 Pama Special PSP 1014 £75
This scarce Lee Perry LP is one that hardly ever turns up in decent nick, as this compilation of mostly Spaghetti Western-inspired tracks was probably played to death at Jamaican house parties well into the 70s. It was released in the UK after tracks like Return Of Django (not on this album) began to reach white audiences. So if you find one with a sleeve and vinyl in Excellent or better condition it would be worth buying and salting away because, to paraphrase a Sergio Leone film title, collectors will soon be willing to pay A Few Pounds More...
28 FAUST Faust (clear vinyl, clear sleeve) 1971 Polydor 2310 142 £80
Although the majority of what is termed Krautrock was issued in Germany, a fair number of fine examples came out in the UK which, although already collectable, are gaining increased value traction. Faust, Neu!, Can and both branches of Amon Düül are four to look out for, and even Recommended Records' Faust reissues are collectable. On a similar journey through the cosmos but with a British twist, Hawkwind will also increase in value. The Velvet Underground inspired a lot of krautrock and Mint original copies of their work should also be hunted down, as they never going to go down in price.
27 CHUCK TURNER/FUNNY WONDER Youthman Struggling/Jollification 12" 1987 Stereo One ST 003 £100
Although ska, reggae and dub records from the 60s and 70s are well-known to collectors, with many fetching fantastic prices on eBay if rare and anywhere near Mint, one area that is shooting up in price is digi-dub reggae 12" singles from the 80s and 90s. Many of the artists are recognised only by specialist buyers, but those looking to speculate should look out for artists like Sharon Little (the "Don't Mash Up Creation" singer, not the blonde singer-songwriter), Roger Robin, Iration Steppas, Danny Red, Ackee, Horace Martin, Little Kirk and anything Jah Shaka was involved in.
26 VERNON ELLIOT The Clangers 2001 Trunk SOUP 001 LP £100
Trunk Records is the ultimate boutique label that strokes everything from soundtracks to British jazz, and the attention to detail, from packaging to the music, ensures that every limited-edition 7" or vinyl LP sells out. This rare Clangers LP in a knitted sleeve taps into the childhood of 40-year-old men, as do the soundtracks to cult TV programmes like UFO and The Tomorrow People. Michael Garrick's Moonscape, on the other hand, had been unheard for years and the Trunk reissue from 2007 is now worth £30. Original copies of Tubby Hayes' Voodoo Session 7" - limited to 666 copies! - are still in demand despite a repress.
25 LOVE Forever Changes 1967 Elektra EKL 4013 £130
Like Wire's, Love's first three albums were a perfect trio and, after that, everything was a musical coda that - some may argue - never quite recaptured the genie. Forever Changes was a masterpiece of songs and arrangements which sold poorly on release, hence Mint copies of both the US and UK original will always hold their value or increase. Our advice is to plump for the rarer mono version at £130 which still leaves a little room for appreciation. The stereo version is worth £100, and so completists might pick up the pair of early label UK Elektras.
24 PORCUPINE TREE Spiral Circus 1997 Chromatic CHR 002 £130
There is currently a huge demand for albums issued in the 90s due to the limited number pressed. You could build an entire portfolio here from blue-chip stock like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Tom Waits, Blur and David Bowie, and mix it into more exotic waters like Mazzy Star, Primal Scream, Spiritualized, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day, Prodigy, Stereolab, Suede, Boo Radleys, Cocteau Twins, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins, as well as the red-hot collectables of Porcupine Tree. This album was limited to 500 copies and is already worth £130. This stuff is only going one way in price - up.
23 VAN MORRISON Astral Weeks 1969 Warner Brothers WS 1768 £150
Setting aside the fact that this is one of Morrison's finest LPs, along with Moondance (1970, £90 with orange label), this is a pretty solid investment vehicle. The key to appreciation is securing a Mint copy of the small first pressing that has a laminated sleeve and orange label. The green label is a second pressing. We already value the orange label at £150 but, as this is an iconic LP, this will increase in value over time. As for the green label, although we place a guide price of £25 on it, Mint copies have attracted double that figure.
22 LEE PERRY/BOB MARLEY & WONG CHU: Disco Devil/Keep On Moving 1977 Upsetter Jamaica (no cat no, two slightly different sleeves) £200
Sometimes record collecting is like going into a dark cinema and you need an usher to show you to your seat. It was Mike Mastrangelo at Secret Records who shone his torch upon this sonic beauty. This Jamaican 12" boasts an infectious refrain of, "If you are a disco devil, I am a disco rebel" on the A-side, which has made it an in-demand track to be played out, sampled and collected. Despite having a UK reissue on Trojan, original copies still command a high price and, with an extended Bob Marley remix/dub on the B-side, this release has quality sonic crackle on both sides. There is also a Dutch pressing from the early 80s on Black Art that omits the Marley side and adds Max Romeo and two Jah Lloyd tracks, rated at £65+ if Mint.
21 JULIAN JAY SAVARIN Waiters Of The Dance (with insert) 1973 Birth RAB 2 £250
There is all manner of progressive or blues records from the period 1968-73 (and beyond) that are good investments even if Mint first pressings are attracting heavyweight bidding wars on eBay. One cheaper option is this album, which was, in effect, the second Julian's Treatment LP. Savarin was also a science fiction writer and this album boiled down into music his first book of the Lemmus Trilogy that was published in the UK a year before this album was released. So a combination of a Mint LP and a pristine three-book set could be a winning combination.
20 BLACK SABBATH Master Of Reality 1971 Vertigo 6360 050 £300+
The key thing here is to acquire a Mint copy complete with poster and box and make sure that the matrix numbers scream out first pressing. This guarantees an increase in price over time. This applies across the board to all 60s and 70s heavyweight collectable albums from Van Der Graaf Generator to original Harvest LPs (without the boxed EMI logo) and accounts for the fevered bidding at times on Mint records with - for example - A1/B1 matrixes. It is vital that you know what to look for on the run-out groove, and sleeves, inserts, posters, vinyl and labels must be in immaculate condition for Bob, or indeed Geezer, to be your uncle.
19 JOHN AND ALICE COLTRANE Cosmic Music 1966 Coltrane US AU-4950 £300+
John Coltrane will never go out of fashion and the questing saxophonist's original albums issued in America remain sought-after by collectors all over the world. One dealer boiled everything down to a three-card trick for investment purposes, recommending Coltrane on Impulse (1966, A-21 (mono), AS-21 (stereo, £100/£150), Blue Trane on Blue Note (1957, BLP 1577, "deep groove" pressing with "W. 63rd St. NYC" address on label) £400+, and Cosmic Music, released by his wife shortly after his death on her Coltrane Records (1966 AU-4950) £300+. The ABC Impulse reissue of Cosmic Music (1969) is cheaper.
18 OASIS LP Box Set 2009 Big Brother RKIDBOX 58 £300
Even though they have split up and Liam is giving us all the Beady Eye, Oasis remain a good medium-term investment. Putting aside all of the brotherly bother, the first two albums rock like hell and continue to sell, although The Masterplan (1998) and Stop The Clocks (2006) are worth more and their run of 12" promotional singles were limited and will hold their value. This recent box set, which collected all of their albums was limited to 1,500 copies and looks set to appreciate. As do early Creation singles before Oasis signed to the label.
17 GLORIA SCOTT (A Case of) Too Much Lovemaking/What Am I Gonna Do? Casablanca 1974 AUS NB 001 £300
While there is money to be made from the right Northern Soul records, it is a market where values can fall sharply as well as increase in leaps and bounds. One to look out for if you ever visit Australia or Japan is this hideously rare Australian-only issue of the Barry White-produced track taken from the 1974 album, What Am I Gonna Do. Copies have sold for £300-400. In the same ball park, Paul Sindab's French EP, Since I Met You, Columbia ESRF 1799, £200-£300, is the only thing that was issued near our shores by this hot Northern Soul singer and interest is rising in it.
16 VARIOUS Sons Of Nubia EP 1990 White Son 1 EP £300
Recommend by Dudley Jaynes, our hip-hop expert, this is an example of a UK rap record released as a small-run white label that has become particularly sought after in recent years. That interest was boosted when it was included on Aroe's Crown Jewels mix CD. It featured Johnny MC and Huggy G Jam, who had debuted with the single Uno Get Rough in 1989 on the London-based Reality Records. There are only 20 copies: the record never made it beyond the test pressing stage and it is obviously difficult to acquire and hard to spot when going through white labels, but this is a record that is heavily tipped to appreciate.
15 GIOCONDA DE VITO Bach Violin Concerto In E Major/Mozart Violin Concerto No 3 In G 1950s HMV ASD 429 £400+
One area of collecting that has been under Record Collector's radar for far too long are rare classical LPs. Gilbert and Sullivan aside, like jazz it is a timeless commodity that attracts audiophiles and serious international collectors. There are soloists whose interpretations of the classical repertoire are sought after and the female violinist Gioconda De Vito is one of them. This LP is a mega-classical rarity, all-but-impossible to find, and even the 1990 repress goes for £40-50. Look out also for fellow violin players like Ginette Neveu and Johanna Martzy, although this is just the tip of a very large iceberg.
14 BARBARA McNAIR You're Gonna Love My Baby/The Touch Of Time 1966 Tamla Motown TMG 544 £400
Tamla Motown singles, EPs and LPs released in the UK remain in demand among soul collectors. There has been more focus on demos in recent years with rarer red and white labels being particularly sought after. Barbara McNair's You're Gonna Love My Baby and Kim Weston's Helpless/A Love Like Yours (1966, Tamla Motown TMG 554 £400) are particularly good examples. Although Tamla Motown is a known market, speculators might consider demos of Marvin Gaye's iconic What's Going On?, Save The Children, Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues 45s, from 1971 and 1972.
13 GROUT Do It Yourself EP 1978 Urinating Vicar £400
When it comes to investing in punk, there is a multitude of routes to take. Main protagonists like the Sex Pistols and The Ramones can be targeted, or you can delve into all manner of one-off KBD (killed by death) releases that are hard to find, ranging from cheap singles by The Bears to this hideously rare Grout EP, which was limited to 100 copies and lurking on many Wants lists. There is also the American market to consider, which extends from 1977 to the vital 80s punk scene that not only spawned Green Day, but bands like Operation Ivy and Screeching Weasel.
12 PINK FLOYD A Saucerful Of Secrets 1967 Columbia SX 6157 £400
The key to this being a secure investment is a Mint mono copy. Although this album is already valued at £400 in the Rare Record Price Guide, Pink Floyd are a blue chip investment and Pink Floyd with Syd at the helm are a blue chip investment with bells on. Other Floyd assets to secure are Mint copies of The Division Bell from 1994, which was pressed in small quantities, blue triangle first pressings of Dark Side Of The Moon (1973, £500), The First XI (1979, £200), the '97 Vinyl Collection box (1997, £80), and the More (1969, £50) soundtrack, which is cheap with growth potential.
11 LEONID KOGAN Beethoven Violin Concert 1945 Columbia SAX 2386 £500+
In recent years there have been some astronomical prices paid for early stereo pressings of classical records and the market has been confined to those in the know. There is a worldwide demand for early stereo UK pressings due to the tremendous audiophile quality that was obtained during the 50s and early 60s. Look out for the following catalogue number prefixes: Decca (SXL), Columbia (SAX), HMV/EMI (ASD), Philips (SABL/SAL) and RCA ("living stereo"). Collectors follow conductors, soloists (like Leonid Kogan), and orchestras, as well as certain definitive performances of acknowledged masterpieces by heavyweight composers.
10 MR MAGIC Kazoo's/Dance To The Drummer's Beat 1982 Tri State US KF 3107 12" £500
According to our hip hop expert Dudley Jaynes, "to be a sound investment, records need to possess a number of qualities at the same time. Records that are genuinely scarce and contain good music or hold some significance to the artform perform best in terms of investment potential." This applies to all collectable music! This hip-hop 12" is old school and hails from Connecticut, and despite its excellence was largely ignored outside its immediate area upon release and so the vast majority were disposed of before modern collectors took an interest. Once unearthed and compiled, everyone wanted one.
9 AGINCOURT Fly Away 1970 Merlin HF 3 £700
There were a number of albums pressed up in very small quantities in the 60s and 70s that by their very scarcity are collectable, and which will always hold their value. Some, it must be said, contain music that is poor - Ptolomy Psycon springs to mind - but Peter Howell and John Ferdinando released four albums under four different names and the wonderful arrangements and championship nature of the songs on Fly Away and other LPs like Ithaca's A Game For All Who Know means that they remain holy grails for collectors. There is also Howell's Dr Who connection (he updated the theme tune) to ice the cake.
8 THE OPEN MIND The Open Mind 1969 Philips SBL 7893 £750
This record is already valued at £750 in our Rare Record Price Guide and so is a well-known psychedelic gem. However, like albums by Vashti Bunyan and Elias Hulk that are in a similar price bracket, or Leafhound's Growers Of Mushroom in a higher bracket, a stone Mint copy will hold its value and appreciate due to the demand amongst collectors for the record and the fraction of copies that are in a genuine near-Mint condition. Despite a reissue, demand for this LP is not going to peter out for at least a decade - if ever.
7 DR Z Three Parts To My Soul 1971 Vertigo 6360 048 £1,000
There remains huge interest in the Vertigo label and the famed swirl has been responsible for energetic bidding on eBay for the last few years, with Mint copies of albums from Gravy Train's Ballad Of A Peaceful Man to Rod Stewart's An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down fetching prices well over that suggested in the Guide. Dr Z's Three Parts To My Soul is one of the rarest and thus a good investment - if you can find a Mint copy with both sleeve and vinyl in tip-top shape at a reasonable price. The same applies to Linda Hoyle's scarce Pieces Of Me, from 1971.
6 LED ZEPPELIN Led Zeppelin 1969 Atlantic 588 171 £1,000
This first pressing with the rare turquoise sleeve, "superhype" publishing credit and unscratched-out matrix number has a guide price of £1,000 in our Rare Record Price Guide. When I was at Spitalfields fair recently, a dealer had four on his stall with no takers - none Mint, mind. Then again, a couple of months ago a Mint copy sold for a whopping £2,000. The limited number of pristine copies out there means they are going to hold their value, as most turn up in VG to Excellent condition. Pristine "orange" sleeves are also ones to go for.
5 THE ROLLING STONES The Rolling Stones 1964 Decca LK 4605 £1,000
Like The Beatles, everyone knows what the Stones' rarities are, but demand for Mint copies keeps pushing up prices. Even investment bankers and rich businessmen have heard of the band(!) which makes Mint copies of their UK albums and singles a good investment. A Mint copy of this debut - with the 2.52 version of Tell Me - is a sound deal as long as it's a first Mint pressing. Although more canny investors should plump for Stones LPs from the 90s, like Voodoo Lounge (1994) or Stripped (1995), which were pressed in very small numbers.
4 WIL MALONE Wil Malone 1970 Fontana STL 5541 £1,500
You could probably double your money even if you found a Mint copy for £1,500, as this LP hardly ever shows up. This scarcity, allied to beautifully arranged and sung pastoral rock by Malone - just listen to Catherine Wheel - that was hardly distributed and totally neglected upon release back in 1970, makes this album one that will continue to appreciate in value. "I think only me and my girlfriend bought copies," Malone told me when RC recently reissued this album on vinyl in a limited edition of 750 copies - and some of these have recently changed hands for £25.
3 HANK MOBLEY Hank Mobley 1957 USA Blue Note BLP 1568 £2,000+
A wonderfully soulful tenor player whose original Blue Note albums are sought around the world. As one dealer told me, jazz does not go out of fashion, and, despite exhaustive international reissue programmes, collectors still hunger for classic albums on labels like Blue Note, Riverside, Prestige, Impulse - and let's not get started on Ra and spiritual jazz. You must know your pressings when it comes to this album - there were many - and collectors take great interest in the labels of this beast, seeking those with un-matching Blue Note address labels (47 West 63rd NYC/47 West 63rd New York 23).
2 THE BEATLES Please Please Me 1963 Parlophone PCS 3042 £3,500
The Beatles are the blue chip of record collecting and we could feature a number their LPs and singles here that will rise in price. It goes without saying that a Mint stereo copy of their debut LP with the rare Black and Gold label (whatever the publishing credits) has steadily appreciated in value over the years. Our RRPG price is £3,500 and Mint copies have sold for two or three times that on eBay. This is the sort of album that investment bankers would blow their bonuses on, as it appreciates much more than current interest rates would provide.
1 SEX PISTOLS God Save The Queen 1977 A&M AMS 7284 £8,000
The value of this holy grail punk collectable continues to grow, as a Mint copy remains the crown jewel of any punk collection. Despite having a guide price of £8,000, this is a sound investment. The Sex Pistols have connected with and attract every new generation that has sprung up since 1977 and the reunion tours - and those Rotten butter adverts - have kept them in the public eye. Standard Mint stock copies of UK pressings of their lone LP, Never Mind The b*ll*cks. Here's The Sex Pistols, are also ones to squirrel away, as most were played to death upon release.
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