5 Rarest Vinyl Albums in the World: Looking at Records Fans Could Actually Buy

All lists of valuable records will be subjective. Some people will take a look at specific records that sold for a great deal of money at auction. For instance, a 1980 release of Double Fantasy by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that was autographed by Lennon shortly before he was assassinated is valued at over $500,000. The tragic history of this exact album has made its stock rise, so to speak. However, it’s probably more logical to have a look at records that consistently sell for a great deal of money when they find copies of them.

1 Yesterday and Today by The Beatles

While this album is relatively common, the 1966 version featuring the Fab Four dressed as butchers with bits of meat and pieces of dolls strewn all over them was pulled from shelves. The story is often recounted as one of the stranger chapters in Beatles history. Some early cover proofs show the word “Yesterday” set apart in quotation marks. Damaged copies can sell around $150, but at least one has sold for over $38,000.

2 The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan’s music is often rather political, but this piece of vinyl was cut when he was living with Suze Rotolo. She had familial ties to the American Communist Party, and the lyrics on this one took a very strong political slant. Copies of the original album with four additional tracks that were later removed can fetch prices up to $35,000.

3 Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) by Frank Wilson

It’s probably rather strange for a 45 single to make it onto this list, but most of the demos of this release were destroyed. Somewhere around 250 were made in 1965, but it’s believed that only five are still left in the world. It’s assumed that Berry Gordy actually has one in his possession. It can fetch around $30,000 at auction.

4 Stay Away, Joe by Elvis Presley

The King’s records are usually rather common, but the 1967 one-sided promotional release of Stay Away, Joe can fetch up to $25,000. One-sided records are relatively rare in their own right, so the fact that it’s tied to the career of one of the most famous recording artists in history has driven prices up.

5 Horror Business by The Misfits

There are several different releases of this record, which were essentially made by an independent record label owned by the band. The rarest of the seven-inch vinyl versions have fetched around $14,000 at auction. The first pressing consisted of only 25 copies on black vinyl. An additional 2,000 were pressed on yellow vinyl.

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About the author: Eric Blair writes about 60′s rock and vintage albums on vinyl that are available at this website for savvy collectors who understand the real value of vinyl.