JOv2
Well-Known Member
Again with E-Bay and Discogs…
Having been at this internet purchasing game for about 20 years or so, I recently assembled the following high-level pricing guide based on observations culled during that time.
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The Laws of Supply and Demand in the World of Vintage "pop" LPs
Having been at this internet purchasing game for about 20 years or so, I recently assembled the following high-level pricing guide based on observations culled during that time.
_____
The Laws of Supply and Demand in the World of Vintage "pop" LPs
- The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash
- 1960s: Artists were popular and/or LP sales met expectations
- 2020s: Artists remain largely familiar
- Higher supply, higher demand = fluctuating prices
- I’ve seen NM vintage Capitol Sinatra LPs selling for anywhere from $5 to > $100.
- Harpers Bizarre, Al Hirt, Nancy Wilson
- 1960s: Artists were popular and/or LP sales met expectations
- 2020s: Artists are no longer familiar or have slipped into obscurity; LPs are not considered collectable
- Higher supply, lower demand = lower prices
- Last summer I bought two O.C. Smith SS LPs for $2.99 each (which equates to about 42 cents in 1969 money) — the shipping was more than the LPs!
- The Mothers Of Invention, Autosalvage, Flying Burrito Bros.
- 1960s: Artists were not popular and/or LP sales were below expectations
- 2020s: Artists are familiar today or have achieved cult status; LPs are considered collectable
- Lower supply, higher demand = higher prices
- This is also the category where unique releases, desirable/original pressings, or anomalies tend to fall. For instance, the 6-eye version of Dylan’s debute LP, or The Beatles’ "White Album" with the individualized serial numbers. Desirable 1967-68 monaural issues tend to fall here — given the smaller tally of pressings issued.
- Additionally, this is the category where you’ll always find someone who will pay more for a recoding than someone else: I once watched two collectors bid a Cat Steven’s MFSL Gold CD release into the stratosphere during the last 45 seconds of an auction.
- Cat, Sky, Joanna Gaunt, Richard Barbary…and probably about 2,000 other one-shot rock / pop LPs issued, 1965-70
- 1960s: Artists were not popular and/or LPs sales were below expectations
- 2020s: Artists remain obscure, unknown, or are forgotten
- Lower supply; lower demand = fluctuating prices
- These are the white elephants of the record world. While there may actually be 3 or 4 people on earth who would shell out $30 for a SS Billy Vaughn LP — a seller may have to wait 20 years or more for such a sale.