Recent reports have highlighted the resurgence of vinyl interest in recent years, with 2024 seeing the highest vinyl sales in three decades. Last year, 6.7 million vinyls were sold, a 9.1% rise compared to 2023.
Despite the increased interest, music experts from A2D2, a company that connects analogue music devices to smart speaker sound systems devices, believe ‘pure’ vinyl collectors are damaging the industry, and prioritising greed over the love of music, as searches for ‘vinyl collecting’ have increased by 221% in the last year.
Music expert and A2D2 founder, Pete Fealey, shared: “The pure vinyl collectors, I view them the same as I do ticket touts. They are grouped with the people who aren’t interested in the music, but buy all the tickets to profit from them.
“Real music lovers miss out in favour of greed. You do get some music lovers who also collect vinyls, but some need to remember that it’s about the music being played and enjoyed as intended.”
YouGov data reveals only one in five Brits (20%) currently listen to music on a record player, with two in five (40%) of Brits under 30 having never listened to music on a vinyl record player.
Despite the 9.1% sales increase, searches for record players and turntables are also on the decline, with a 24% decline for “record players” and a 9% decline for “turntables” since the start of the year.
Pete continued: “It is sad for the music lovers who are missing out on hearing their favourite artists, and for the artists who have poured their heart and souls into music that will never be heard.
“Recently, I attended the Victoria Record Fair and was next door to a vendor who was selling Japan-only editions of 80s pop records. He sold out, and not for pocket change either. He was selling them for thousands.
“I had a conversation with him and asked him what it is about that genre that his customers love. He responded that they don’t listen to it, it goes in a cupboard until it is valuable enough to sell. And in that moment I felt deflated. I knew about collectors, but I always assumed as a music lover myself, that they’d listen to them whilst they accumulated value.”
For Brits interested in knowing whether they have any hidden gems mixed within their current vinyls, A2D2 has discovered the most valuable records, in rarity and value, that true music lovers deserve to listen to.
The Beatles – The White Album
The zenith of vinyls, the so-called White Album by The Beatles, holds a special place. Original copies, especially those with low serial numbers and the original Apple logo, can be worth a fortune, potentially fetching up to £10,000.
Complex – Complex
The epitome of rarity, Complex's self-titled psychedelic progressive rock album was limited to just 99 pressings. A copy was picked up for a mere £1 and later sold for a whopping £10,000, showcasing the unpredictability and excitement of vinyl.
Dark – Round the Edges
Dark's 'Round the Edges' is one of those mythical albums that is mentioned in hushed tones among vinyl lovers. With only 40 copies ever pressed, owning a gatefold copy of this album could reach up to £8,350.
Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin
The very first pressing of Led Zeppelin's eponymous debut album, with its turquoise typography and a unique 'Superhype' credit, is a music lover’s dream. In 2013, one such pressing went for £7,100, symbolising the band's timeless appeal and enduring love for physical records.
A Fleeting Glance – A Fleeting Glance
This psychedelic progressive rock album from A Fleeting Glance is shrouded in rarity, with less than five copies known to exist. The last sale almost hit £6,400, reflecting the album's near-mythical status.
The Beatles – Please Please Me
Another gem from The Beatles, the early UK Parlophone pressings of 'Please Please Me' with the black and gold label are highly sought after. If you're lucky enough to own one, you might be able to sell it to a fellow music lover for around £6,000.
Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen
The Sex Pistols' 'God Save The Queen' is infamous not just for its music but for its political controversy. A first pressing on the A&M label, which was quickly withdrawn, can command a price of up to £6,000.
Joy Division – An Ideal For Living
With only 1,000 copies pressed, Joy Division's first EP 'An Ideal For Living', which features a controversial cover, is a punk enthusiast's dream, selling for as much as £4,700.
Johann Strauss II – Waltzes by Johann Strauss Jr.
Featuring Andy Warhol cover art, this rare 1956 recording of waltzes performed by the Century Symphony Orchestra is a classical music lover’s dream, valued at up to £4,400.
Leaf Hound – Growers of Mushroom
Leaf Hound's 'Growers of Mushroom' is a psychedelic progressive rock album that's as rare as they come, with copies known to sell for up to £4,100.