10 most valuable vinyl records of all time

[Smokey]

This is from UK web site WHAT HI*FI. Prices quoted are either reported sales, or values estimated by sources such as the redoubtable Record Collector.

Not in any particular order:

1. The Beatles: Love Me Do (Demo) – $17,000: The question was when, not if, The Beatles appeared in this list and they start things off with this demo copy of Love Me Do from 1962. A mere 250 were pressed; just as well if you notice how Paul McCartney's name has been spelt...


2. Frank Wilson: Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – $40,742: Before moving into songwriting/producing some of Motown's biggest hits, Frank Wilson put his voice to this unreleased number from 1965. Only two or three copies survived, with one selling for more than £25,000 at auction in 2009.


3. Five Sharps: Stormy Weather – $25,000: The Five Sharps might have been a short-lived group, but the story behind the original 78rpm pressing has gone in to folklore. It's a record that allegedly attracted a bid of $25,000 – but owners David Hall and Gordon Wrubel declined to sell.


4. . The Beatles: Yesterday and Today – $38,400: For the release of this US LP, the Fab Four decided to be edgy with their cover art. And so the "Butcher Cover" was born... before being quickly banned by Capitol Records. The 'First State' versions are most sought after.


5. Queen: Bohemian Rhapsody – $8,000: Record Collector's list of most valuable vinyl is normally dominated by The Beatles and the Sex Pistols, but a rare edition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody broke into the top 10 in 2012 (EMI 2375) and has been valued at £5000.


6. Elvis Presley: Good Luck Charm – $24,000: According to the Presleyana V buying guide from Jerry Osborne (2002), this compact 33rpm recording of Good Luck Charm was among the most valuable Elvis pressings – a monaural recording worth a reported $24,000.


7. Sex Pistols: God Save The Queen – $18,629: For a long time, this was perhaps the most controversial record ever released in the UK and rarities are almost expected. In 2012, what is said to be one of only two 7in promo pressings was sold on ebay for £12,629.


8. Velvet Underground & Nico: Acetate LP – $25,200: Unearthed in a New York flea market in 2002 for 75c, this acetate recording of early songs and mixes eventually became the band's eponymous debut LP. In 2006, it sold for $25,200 – but only after a $155k bid was discredited.


9. The Quarrymen: That'll Be The Day (Acetate) – $300,000: Who are The Quarrymen? And why is this acetate top of Record Collector's list of most valuable UK vinyl? Well, the group of course included Messrs Lennon, McCartney and Harrison and only one copy – in the hands of McCartney – is thought to exist.


10. John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy – $525,000: In 2012, a copy of this LP went up for sale with a reserve thought to be $525,000 based on a previous sale. And there's a good reason for the price – Mark Chapman owned it and had Lennon sign it for him, just hours before he shot the former Beatle.


10 of the most valuable vinyl records of all time | whathifi.com

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Maybe your title should read "10 of the most expensive(rather than valuable) records of all time".

I saw a 1920 circa can of Coke that was priced at $10,000 dollars. While the price was expensive, the value of what was in the can was zero....it was undrinkable.

[Smokey]

Maybe your title should read "10 of the most expensive(rather than valuable) records of all time".

There seems to be gray area as only few copies of some of records are available. But on some like your Coke example, the content is questionable

[Mr Peabody]

I have a copy of Yesterday & Today, but unfortunately it's not the one I wish it was Interesting list though.