That Escalated Quickly (aka Common Records Turned Rare)

[Viking Dan]

Vinyl has very much moved into the collectibles market similar to baseball cards and other things of that nature. Limited variants, buyers clubs...all those things are popping up now. And with hip hop in particular, you have labels and artists following the Supreme kind of model a lot of times. Really limited merch for really high prices--look at Alchemist. You have these planned drops and every time they sell out within minutes if not less time. Daupe is another example--they sell out extremely fast and you see people buying titles all the time even if they don't like the record in hopes they can trade it or sell it for another Daupe title they really want. Labels are becoming brands and hypebeasts and people are buying more for investment than actually wanting the music sometimes.

I'm trying to take advantage of that.

For example: I have a nice pressing of J. Mascis' Several Shades of Why. But I missed out on the Loser Edition (Purple Pressing). When I come across one at the store or while crate digging, I'll swap what I have for the Loser Edition.

At times, my budget rolls its eyes at individual purchases, but I tell myself I'm saving myself money in the long run b/c of how carefully I'm trying to curate everything.

 

[Andy]

I was thinking the same thing then I saw a retailer (The Sound of Vinyl) has a pre-order for it posted at $58 and $13 shipping. It's quite possible the new prices are going to be close to those re-seller prices. Like Pako said, it sat super cheap for a while and even as it grew scarce I saw it at some places in the 30-40 range.

Vinyl, but especially hip-hop vinyl, is getting crazy. I agree.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: 180gm Triple Vinyl Edition

Kanye - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

thesoundofvinyl.com

As for the colored vinyl, my approach is similar to MikeH. With that said, I'm guilty of paying a little bit more for a colored variant at retail if it's attached to a print run, fits thematically with the album, comes with something additional, or if it's something likely to appreciate (or to be honest if it just looks really cool). With that said, I'm kinda fascinated that people will drop that kind of multiplier for a different color just because it's a different color.

Edit: I guess if you consider it from a superfan perspective as opposed to a person who collects records largely to listen to them, it can make more sense. Like...if I were just a HUGE fan of Khruangbin and my budget isn't "records" but "Khruangbin merch", suddenly that LE Pressing from VMP could make a really sweet get even at high price. Collector wise, this isn't dramatically different than other collectables that have variants. Like, not sure if anyone collects sports cards today, but variants are massive in that sphere. The same basic card (same photo, same series) with different finishes can vary dramatically in price. Just as an example. Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Rookie Card from Topps Chrome, using Gem Mint Graded sold prices

Basic: (Ungraded) $108.50
Basic (PSA 10 - Gem Mint): $338
Sepia Refractor (PSA 10): $530
Standard Refractor (PSA 10): $1000
XFractor: $1425
Purple Refractor: A Best offer under $2300 was taken

Like, it's the same picture, same condition (for the bottom 5), the main thing that's different is look and print run. Obviously, records are different because there's music involved that is the same across the board, but it's not that weird in other hobbies. Just feels weird here.

Edit2: It probably also includes the proclivity to resell. When I buy I'm not buying with intent to re-sell, if someone is thinking I'll spin it a few times with intent to sell x months later, then I get buying the edition likely to appreciate in value even at a higher cost.

Vinyl has very much moved into the collectibles market similar to baseball cards and other things of that nature. Limited variants, buyers clubs...all those things are popping up now. And with hip hop in particular, you have labels and artists following the Supreme kind of model a lot of times. Really limited merch for really high prices--look at Alchemist. You have these planned drops and every time they sell out within minutes if not less time. Daupe is another example--they sell out extremely fast and you see people buying titles all the time even if they don't like the record in hopes they can trade it or sell it for another Daupe title they really want. Labels are becoming brands and hypebeasts and people are buying more for investment than actually wanting the music sometimes.

I'm not sure if this is more of an American thing (probably not), but we don't trade baseball cards over here. I don't think I get it, I'm here for the music

 

[displayname]

I wonder if people would buy different colour variants of the same vinyl?

MikeH nailed it. For some people it's about owning every variant. For others, it's about owning the most exclusive variant. It's very much a true collectors hobby for some, and the music on the pressings can be a distant second priority to some collectors. I have actually had a couple friends build collections of 50+ records before they even own a turntable.

And it's just like cards, fashion, or a lot of other things. The logic is not in the function, it's in the obscurity. But it's good for people who want the function to investigate occasionally. A lot of function focused people can decide to turn one album into 5 new albums by off loading a colored variant for a black one.

Heck, one of my friends just got all his childhood Pokémon cards from his parents house. He decided to see if they might be worth anything before just giving them away. Turns out he got a broker involved to help value and sell off the cards... his estimated collection value... $40K-50K.
That may happen to some people that are currently collecting for fun right now.

there are definitely people out there who collect every variant for every album by a certain artist.

Vinyl has very much moved into the collectibles market similar to baseball cards and other things of that nature. Limited variants, buyers clubs...all those things are popping up now. And with hip hop in particular, you have labels and artists following the Supreme kind of model a lot of times. Really limited merch for really high prices--look at Alchemist. You have these planned drops and every time they sell out within minutes if not less time. Daupe is another example--they sell out extremely fast and you see people buying titles all the time even if they don't like the record in hopes they can trade it or sell it for another Daupe title they really want. Labels are becoming brands and hypebeasts and people are buying more for investment than actually wanting the music sometimes.

 

[MikeH]

MikeH nailed it. For some people it's about owning every variant. For others, it's about owning the most exclusive variant. It's very much a true collectors hobby for some, and the music on the pressings can be a distant second priority to some collectors. I have actually had a couple friends build collections of 50+ records before they even own a turntable.

And it's just like cards, fashion, or a lot of other things. The logic is not in the function, it's in the obscurity. But it's good for people who want the function to investigate occasionally. A lot of function focused people can decide to turn one album into 5 new albums by off loading a colored variant for a black one.

Heck, one of my friends just got all his childhood Pokémon cards from his parents house. He decided to see if they might be worth anything before just giving them away. Turns out he got a broker involved to help value and sell off the cards... his estimated collection value... $40K-50K.
That may happen to some people that are currently collecting for fun right now.

I REALLY need to see if I still have my Pokemon cards somewhere...

 

[Andy]

MikeH nailed it. For some people it's about owning every variant. For others, it's about owning the most exclusive variant. It's very much a true collectors hobby for some, and the music on the pressings can be a distant second priority to some collectors. I have actually had a couple friends build collections of 50+ records before they even own a turntable.

And it's just like cards, fashion, or a lot of other things. The logic is not in the function, it's in the obscurity. But it's good for people who want the function to investigate occasionally. A lot of function focused people can decide to turn one album into 5 new albums by off loading a colored variant for a black one.

Heck, one of my friends just got all his childhood Pokémon cards from his parents house. He decided to see if they might be worth anything before just giving them away. Turns out he got a broker involved to help value and sell off the cards... his estimated collection value... $40K-50K.
That may happen to some people that are currently collecting for fun right now.

It's good to know, but to collect vinyl without listening to it just seems a bit weird & to pay $40k for Pokeman card sounds insane

 

[MikeH]

It's good to know, but to collect vinyl without listening to it just seems a bit weird & to pay $40k for Pokeman card sounds insane

Agreed on both counts. My old roommate a few years ago didn't own a TT. He bought a bunch of MF Doom albums and some other rap albums and framed them. My buddy bought some Mondo records a few years back because he really liked the artwork. Some of the albums he got are now listed for $250+ on discogs. He paid $25. Not a terrible return on investment.

There will be some albums here and there I'll buy as an "investment", or occasionally I'll buy 2 copies of an album that I think will be worth a lot later and then trade it to someone for something else I want. It is pretty insane to see how much the vinyl industry has changed in even the past 5-10 years.

 

[Andy]

Agreed on both counts. My old roommate a few years ago didn't own a TT. He bought a bunch of MF Doom albums and some other rap albums and framed them. My buddy bought some Mondo records a few years back because he really liked the artwork. Some of the albums he got are now listed for $250+ on discogs. He paid $25. Not a terrible return on investment.

There will be some albums here and there I'll buy as an "investment", or occasionally I'll buy 2 copies of an album that I think will be worth a lot later and then trade it to someone for something else I want. It is pretty insane to see how much the vinyl industry has changed in even the past 5-10 years.

I can see the art work angle tbh. I've never been good at investing with vinyl, I was always wanting more music. But if I eventually sort through my collection I might get better at.

Quite interesting on the artwork front is one of my most valuable records the cover was done by Banksy. I didn't know at the time. I also had very little money at the time, I wanted to but all 4 in the series but just ended up getting one.

Peanut Butter Wolf - Badmeaningood Vol. 3

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2003 Vinyl release of "Badmeaningood Vol. 3" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

edit- I'll also maybe go for the colour variant more often in the future

 

[TheThinWhiteDuke]

Just catching up, but why would anyone pay that much for a TTL coloured vinyl copy pressed at GZ, when you can get a black vinyl copy for less than a 1/5th of the price? (This world makes no sense )

Khruangbin - Con Todo El Mundo

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2018 Vinyl release of "Con Todo El Mundo" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

Yeah I sold mine for $100 a while back and I had people getting mad that they didn't get to buy it. 600 is a low number.

Also ...and this will bring me h8...but I don't think this band is going to have the staying power for it to hold that value. It's a great record and they do this thing well, but it's almost impossible to expand and we've already seen the hype fade on their follow up. In 10 years idk if anyone is going to be buying Khurangbin variants

 

[Andy]

Yeah I sold mine for $100 a while back and I had people getting mad that they didn't get to buy it. 600 is a low number.

Also ...and this will bring me h8...but I don't think this band is going to have the staying power for it to hold that value. It's a great record and they do this thing well, but it's almost impossible to expand and we've already seen the hype fade on their follow up. In 10 years idk if anyone is going to be buying Khurangbin variants

You're probably right.

 

[Mather]

Yeah I sold mine for $100 a while back and I had people getting mad that they didn't get to buy it. 600 is a low number.

Also ...and this will bring me h8...but I don't think this band is going to have the staying power for it to hold that value. It's a great record and they do this thing well, but it's almost impossible to expand and we've already seen the hype fade on their follow up. In 10 years idk if anyone is going to be buying Khurangbin variants

Agreed, and not to mention the fact that the only album of theirs that actually has a decent pressing and mastering is the Live at Lincoln Hall... All the rest sound like they're being played through a mattress full of rice crispies...

 

[waruv]

Bought this is the record shop new for list price around a year ago. Median on Discogs is ~$80 now

Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2008 Vinyl release of "Sleep Through The Static" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

The median on Discogs hasnt changed but the eBay sales have been insane on these recently. I stumbled on a 15 dollar copy today and looked out of curiosity. Last three sales were over 200.

 

[Crabbers]

The median on Discogs hasnt changed but the eBay sales have been insane on these recently. I stumbled on a 15 dollar copy today and looked out of curiosity. Last three sales were over 200.

Where’d you find a copy at?

 

[waruv]

Where’d you find a copy at?

Indie store in Lowell, Massachusetts (Vinyl Destination). Super diverse selection of goodies but that was the standout for sure.

 

[bdm105]

I REALLY need to see if I still have my Pokemon cards somewhere...

Yes you do

 

[Melt Face Molly Drop]

I REALLY need to see if I still have my Pokemon cards somewhere...

I pulled mine recently. Probably going to send them to get graded at PSA, because I have one that could go for a couple thousand. And they were never game played because I never bothered to learn how to play.

 

[MikeH]

I pulled mine recently. Probably going to send them to get graded at PSA, because I have one that could go for a couple thousand. And they were never game played because I never bothered to learn how to play.

I never played either. I also have a feeling that I threw them out not that long ago. I took them from my parents house when they were cleaning it out and just have NO clue where they ended up.

 

[Selaws]

I REALLY need to see if I still have my Pokemon cards somewhere...

I had a load of Pokemon cards as a kid, they are in a folder at my parent's place. A few years ago I came across a load at a carboot sale for a couple of quid so I bought them for the nostalgia aspect. Just before COVID we went for a meal at my mate's house and I took some of them with me to give to his kid. My mate now finds it hilarious to make out like I gave away a few grand in cards to a kid that likely pinned them to his corkboard

 

[waruv]

I had a ton of Pokemon cards too. Most of my valuable ones were stolen about 20 years ago and I quit the hobby. Most of the remainder I donated to an afterschool program (a ton of older commons mostly) and I don't regret that, they had way more fun with them than I ever would. I still have a binder of nearly/fully complete sets from the first 3-4 series and a couple graded cards, so a few thousand bucks at this point. I really should sell those, even raw.

 

[Selaws]

I had a ton of Pokemon cards too. Most of my valuable ones were stolen about 20 years ago and I quit the hobby. Most of the remainder I donated to an afterschool program (a ton of older commons mostly) and I don't regret that, they had way more fun with them than I ever would. I still have a binder of nearly/fully complete sets from the first 3-4 series and a couple graded cards, so a few thousand bucks at this point. I really should sell those, even raw.

It has to be a bubble right? I cant see any reason why its jumped into being so popular all of a sudden

 

[Skacel]

Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2018 Vinyl release of "The Midnight Organ Fight" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

The reissue of Frightened Rabbit's The Midnight Organ Fight from 2018 is trading pretty high just now.