Vinyl records and albums are more popular than ever. For the first time in 30 years, the sales of vinyl records topped those of compact discs (CDs) as the beloved music format skyrocketed in popularity. Physical music formats accounted for over $1.5 billion in sales in 2022 with vinyl records comprising more than three-quarters of those sales. With the popularity of vinyl exploding in recent years, many people are wondering what the most valuable vinyl records are and where they can find them.
So, which vinyl records are considered the most valuable collector’s items? StudyFinds did some digging, consulting nine music, pop culture, and vinyl collector’s sites to bring you a consensus list of the most valuable vinyl records in history. Our list comprises the seven most frequently listed vinyl record albums from across these sites. Do you have a valuable vinyl record or a collection you want to tell everyone about? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below!
The List: Most Valuable Vinyl Records, According to Experts
1. “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” by Wu-Tang Clan
The top spot on the list of the most valuable vinyl records surprisingly belongs to the Wu-Tang Clan’s “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin.” The story surrounding this single vinyl record is incredibly interesting and only boosts this album’s value. Wu-Tang recorded “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” and only printed one vinyl record, explains Love to Know. The group only produced one pressing with the stipulation that the owner of the record would not release the recording to the public until the year 2103.
The U.S. government has released never before seen images of the unreleased Wu-Tang Clan album “Once Upon A Time In Shaolin”.
It features a cedar presentation box with a nickel-silver box containing a jewel case that holds the 2 discs!
Legendary! pic.twitter.com/8DgNVz88ke
— OnThinIce (@OnThinlce) January 6, 2022
The story gets even more interesting from there. Not only is Wu-Tang’s album by far the most expensive vinyl album ever sold but it turns out that the buyer was Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli. Shkreli supposedly bought the record for around $2 million before he was convicted of securities fraud, explains HMV. The feds seized the album and supposedly still have the record in their possession. It gets better. Wu-Tang included the following clause in the album’s contract:
“The buying party also agrees that at any time during the stipulated 88-year period, the seller may legally plan and attempt to execute one (1) heist or caper to steal back ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin,’ which, if successful, would return all ownership rights to the seller. Said heist or caper can only be undertaken by currently active members of the Wu-Tang Clan and/or actor Bill Murray, with no legal repercussion.”
Shkreli was convicted of fraud and is currently serving 20 years in prison for his offenses, notes Big Fudge Vinyl. Still, Shkreli isn’t legally allowed to release the album for profit for nearly 100 years. However, there is a stipulation in the buyer’s contract which says Shkreli can release the album to the public free of charge. Either way, music fans won’t be enjoying this album anytime soon, unless, of course, a member of Wu-Tang or actor Bill Murray can successfully perpetrate a heist to steal the album back from the owner or the owner decides to release the album free of charge, both of which would essentially mean forfeiting $2 million.
2. “White Album” by The Beatles (Early Numbered Editions)
Harmonizing into the second spot on the list of the most valuable vinyl records is The Beatles’ “White Album.” This album was released in 1968 and features 30 tracks and a plain white cover, explains Print Your Vinyl. The “White Album” was available in two versions – one with a serial number embossed on the cover and the other with the album’s title in script font.
The most valuable version of the record was in Ringo Starr’s collection for over 50 years, notes Martha Stewart. The first pressing of this coveted album was numbered No.0000001 and Starr sold it to a collector for a whopping $790,000 in 2015. Each copy of the album was numbered sequentially, so the original pressing, which again belonged to Ringo for half a century, was a highly sought-after collector’s item.
As Record Head explains, all early versions of the “White Album” are valuable collector’s items with the very first being the most valuable. The Beatles are perhaps the most iconic group of all time and music collectors have been salivating over their collector’s items for decades now. The album features hits such as “Eight Days a Week” and “A Hard Day’s Night.” If you have an early version of this album sitting in your collection, then you might want to have it appraised – it’s worth a lot of money.
3. “My Happiness” by Elvis Presley
Hound dogging into the third spot on the list of the most valuable vinyl records is none other than Elvis Presley’s “My Happiness.” As Print Your Vinyl notes, this was Presley’s first recording, and only 500 of these records were pressed and released. While Elvis is one of the most collected artists, the rarity of this album makes it extraordinarily valuable to collectors.
Each copy of this album is worth a ton of money on the collectibles market. However, it was Jack White of the band White Stripes who purchased the original test pressing, explains HMV. White purchased the original test pressing of Presley’s first record at auction in December of 2015. White paid $300,000 for the original record with the intention to reproduce it.
White’s purchase of the original test pressing of Presley’s “My Happiness” is the third largest vinyl record sale in history, adds Big Fudge Vinyl. The sale of the record is just behind the aforementioned $2 million sale of “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” and $790,000 sale of the Beatles’ “White Album.”
4. “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” by Bob Dylan (Withdrawn Version)
Strumming into the fourth spot on the list of the most valuable vinyl records is Bob Dylan’s “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.” This was Bob Dylan’s second album and was released in 1963, but like many other valuable vinyl records, this album has a few special qualities that make it a collector’s item, explains Love to Know. There are some copies of this album that have four unreleased songs that was withdrawn before being rereleased.
As Print Your Vinyl notes, this album features “Blowin’ in the Wind,” which is one of Dylan’s most recognizable tracks. An early demo copy of this album includes the four unreleased songs and sold at auction in 2012 for a staggering $35,000. From the harmonica to the guitar, Dylan displays his musical talents and flexes his acumen on this album.
“The Freehweelin’ Bob Dylan” was released in May of 1963 before being quickly withdrawn from record stores for unknown reasons, adds Record Head. The album was then rereleased with four new tracks to replace the original four. The reasons behind this withdrawal are still a mystery, adding to the collectability of the original album pressings.
5. “Black Album” by Prince
Raining into the fifth spot on the list of most valuable records is Prince’s “Black Album.” As Idolator explains, 500,000 copies of this album were originally released in 1987 before Prince demanded they be recalled. The reason for Prince demanding the album be recalled is relatively unknown, but the artist originally claimed that the album was too “dark” for his audience and it was cursed, so he made the recall demands. Of course, several copies of the album had already been put into circulation before Prince initiated the abrupt recall.
Prince’s “Black Album” was eventually released on CD in 1994, notes Love to Know, when vinyl records were starting to be phased out in music stores in favor of the new medium. Prince not only wanted these albums recalled but he also demanded they be destroyed. Most copies of the “Black Album” were destroyed but a few survived the demolition. Those copies of the album that survived, or were already in circulation, are now worth a lot of money, to say the least. Even vinyl reproductions of this classic album are expensive.
As Print Your Vinyl notes, several copies of Prince’s “Black Album” were signed and sent to radio stations around the country. One copy of the album emerged and sold for $15,000 in the late ‘80s with another selling for $27,500 in 2018. Either way, if you have one of the signed copies of this album, you stand to potentially make a small fortune.
6. “Led Zeppelin” by Led Zeppelin (Original Blue Lettering)
Jamming into the sixth spot on the list of the most valuable records is Led Zeppelin’s original pressings of the self-titled album “Led Zeppelin.” This is one of the most important rock albums in history and most rock fans have this vinyl record in their collection. Released in 1969, the self-titled rock album features hits such as “Good Times Bad Times” and “Dazed and Confused,” explains Print Your Vinyl.
However, the original pressings of Zeppelin’s debut album can fetch big money at auction and on the collectible market, writes Louder Sound. How can you tell the original pressings of “Led Zeppelin” apart from later versions? The original UK pressings of the album feature turquoise lettering on the front album cover and the label on the record itself credits Superhype Music/Jewel Music as publishers. The later editions of “Led Zeppelin” feature orange lettering and were produced by Warner Bros.
However, as Country Living notes, the turquoise lettering variant of this album is worth anywhere between $3,000 and $5,000 at least, and perhaps even more if you find the right collector. One copy of the original album pressing with the turquoise letters and Superhype/Jewel publishing credits sold for $3,500 in 2018. If you own a copy of this album, run over to your vinyl stand and check the cover. If you see blue, you’re sure to see green.
7. “God Save the Queen” by Sex Pistols (Originals)
Rounding out the list of the most valuable vinyl records is the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen.” The punk band Sex Pistols is one of the most accomplished and biggest names in their genre, yet here’s another fascinating story from the music industry that caused the value of a vinyl pressing to skyrocket, explains Louder Sound. After being signed to A&M Records in 1977, Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten caused the label to drop the group. Within 10 days of signing a contract, Vicious and Rotten’s behavior caused the group to lose their contract with A&M allegedly destroying every copy of the group’s first vinyl single.
Clearly, the relationship between the Sex Pistols and A&M Records didn’t work out as the two sides intended and the record label supposedly destroyed over 25,000 copies of the album. As Record Head notes, only nine copies of this legendary vinyl single remain and are valued at around $20,000, each.
The Sex Pistols’ behavior and music were controversial, especially in 1977, and “God Save the Queen” was a controversial song, released around the time of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. In fact, many record stores around the UK refused to stock the album given the single’s theme and cover artwork which featured a portrait of the Queen with her eyes crossed out, explains Print Your Vinyl. After A&M Records closed up for good in 1999, several copies of the album were found in the company’s vault. Some were distributed to various employees who had no idea the album would be worth so much one day. Either way, if you have one of these precious singles in your vinyl collection, you probably have a huge payday coming.
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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.
The vinyls pictured in this article are not collector’s items. Many of the originals are hard to find and not currently on the market for sale.
