12 Unique and Rare Vinyl Records with High Value

Every budding and experienced record collector has that one record that they dream about finding in a bargain bin somewhere. Whereas it’s easy enough to find one of the millions of copies of Born in the USA that were printed in the ‘80s, “white whale” records are uncommon—if not nearly impossible—finds. 

But if you dig deep enough, you might find a record that is truly one of a kind. These records include misprints, out-of-print variants, signed records, and LPs that barely exist. Hunting for rare vinyl records is a lifelong journey—but finding one is the ultimate reward.

While rare doesn't always mean valuable, unique records by legendary artists can fetch a small fortune on Discogs or even at auction. The next time you hit up a garage sale with dusty stacks of vinyl, flip through them and see if you can find any of these treasured records.

The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan — Bob Dylan

In 1963, Bob Dylan released his sophomore album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. You can add this album to your collection for a reasonable price—there are copies available online for under $10—but an original mispress is worth thousands. 

The original pressing of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan features four rare, unreleased tracks. Prior to the album’s release, Columbia Records replaced the tracks with new ones. Some say that songs like Talkin’ John Birch Blues were removed because company owner CBS had a history of censoring Dylan on The Ed Sullivan Show. 

Whatever the reason, the album was pressed and distributed with replacement songs—but someone at the pressing plant made a mistake. Somehow, a batch of records was pressed with the old stampers that contained the withdrawn songs.

When these rare copies pop up, they draw a lot of attention and money. In 2022, a stereo copy of the album sold for $150,000, exceeding its pre-auction estimate of $60,000.

The Black Album — Prince

Prince was known for being one of the most successful and prolific artists of his era. He was so prolific that George Michael (with whom Prince shared publicist Michael Pagnotta) once privately noted to Pagnotta that the artist didn’t “edit” himself enough, releasing too much music too quickly. 

That’s what made it all the more surprising when Prince attempted to reclaim and destroy all 500,000 copies of The Black Album back in 1987, just days before its scheduled release. Today, original copies of The Black Album are the rarest vinyl records you can find. It’s not even known how many copies are still out there, though almost all that have been sold were promo copies that had already been sent to journalists and radio stations. In fact, only one non-promo copy has ever been sold. It was saved by a rogue employee at the Canadian pressing plant, making it the only non-promo and Canadian copy known to exist.

The Black Album was eventually re-released on vinyl (Prince himself released it on CD and cassette in 1994), but that hasn’t made original pressings any less valuable. 

If you manage to find one of the original copies, hold onto it tight (and maybe insure it). In 2018, the lone known Canadian pressing of this album sold for $27,500, making it the most expensive item ever sold on Discogs.

God Save the Queen — The Sex Pistols

Before signing a contract with Virgin, The Sex Pistols released God Save the Queen under A&M Records in 1977. The rare A&M pressings—not the countless fakes—have record collectors on the hunt. But dodging all the bootlegs to find an original pressing is harder than you think. 

Radio stations and retailers outlawed God Save the King for its controversial lyrics, but that didn’t stop it from climbing the UK pop charts and selling 5,712 units. 

Ultimately, the rest of the 25,000 copies were destroyed after A&M cut the band, but a handful of the sold records survived. Be prepared to pay upwards of $15,000 for the real deal. 

Yesterday and Today (Butcher Cover) — The Beatles

The “butcher cover” of the Beatles’ Yesterday and Today is one of the most collectible records in history. Finding one of these rare variants is like winning the lottery…twice, both in terms of “this never happens” and the financial benefit. 

This version of their 1966 LP depicts the Fab Four in butcher aprons, raw meat…and dismembered baby dolls. Following complaints, Capitol Records recalled the album and pasted new artwork over the original. These became known as “second state covers” in the vinyl community.

“First state covers” with the original artwork are the crown jewel—and nearly impossible to find. But if you do manage to discover a copy in a dusty attic or estate sale, you could be in for a major payday. A sealed stereo copy can sell for over $100,000, easy. 

My Happiness (Test Pressing) — Elvis Presley 

Before he was crowned the king of rock n’ roll, Elvis Presley recorded music at Sun Records in Memphis, TN. The test pressing of his first single, My Happiness is one of the rarest records in the world. 

In case you’re not familiar with how vinyl records are made, the test pressing is approved before a full vinyl run. Usually, only 3-10 test pressings are made for any release, sometimes fewer. 

Elvis recorded My Happiness in 1953 at the age of 18. His family didn’t own a record player, so he listened to the test pressing at his friend Ed Leek’s house. The record sat in Leek’s personal safe for 62 years, until it went to auction in 2015. That’s when Jack White bought the only known copy for $300,000.

Jack White digitized the record at the Country Music Hall of Fame to release a limited-edition reissue. According to Third Man Records, “The audio [is] as clean as modern technology can make it without losing the feeling and soul that makes [the recording] both haunting and breath-taking.”

Double Fantasy (Signed) — John Lennon & Yoko Ono

While there are dozens of Double Fantasy pressings out there, the copy that John Lennon signed before his untimely passing is one-of-a-kind. In fact, he signed it for the man who took his life. 

Mark David Chapman asked Lennon to sign the record just a few hours before fatally shooting him. Investigators found the record in a planter outside Lennon’s apartment at the famed Dakota in New York City. It still bears a “WJT-2” marking from when it was taken into police custody.

In 2020, the album went up for auction with an estimated price of $1.5 million. Today, collectors and enthusiasts consider this particular record to be an important but tragic relic in music history. 

Once Upon a Time in Shaolin — Wu-Tang Clan

Released … sort of … in 2015, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is the seventh studio album by hip-hop legends Wu-Tang Clan. You won’t find this album at your local record store or online—there’s only one copy on Earth. Per the contract with Wu-Tang Clan, the album can’t be shared with the public until 2103. 

Once Upon a Time in Shaolin takes album packaging to another level. The record is housed in a custom nickel-silver box, accompanied by a 174-page volume that contains lyrics, production notes, and credits for all 31 songs. To deliver true Wu-Tang sound, the record comes with a pair of PMC MB2-XBD speakers, worth $55,000 alone.

The ownership history of this record is a long, complicated story. After repossessing the album from the original buyer, The U.S. Department of Justice sold it to a cryptocurrency group for $4 million. Once Upon a Time in Shaolin is the most expensive vinyl record (and NFT) ever sold. 

The Beatles (The White Album) — The Beatles

The Beatles' self-titled album, commonly known as The White Album, is a treasure trove for collectors. Released in 1968, its plain white sleeve was a stark contrast to the colorful psychedelia of the era. But it's not just the music that makes this album a collector's dream. The first UK pressing of The White Album included individual serial numbers stamped on the cover. These early numbered copies are highly sought after, with lower numbers (like those owned by the Beatles themselves) fetching astronomical prices. Imagine the thrill of discovering one of these in a forgotten corner of a record shop!

In 2015, a rare first pressing of The Beatles' White Album, numbered No.0000001, was sold for a world record $790,000 at an auction. This was Ringo Starr's personal copy of the album, and its high value was due to its unique number and pristine condition.

Led Zeppelin — Led Zeppelin

The debut album of Led Zeppelin, released in 1969, not only marked the beginning of a new era in rock music but also became a coveted item for vinyl enthusiasts. Early UK pressings with the turquoise lettering on the cover are particularly rare. These were quickly replaced with orange lettering, making the turquoise versions a collector's holy grail. The raw energy of tracks like "Dazed and Confused" and "Good Times Bad Times" is best experienced on these original pressings, where the analog warmth truly brings the band's groundbreaking sound to life.

A fully signed copy was sold for $32,156 at an auction in 2019. This album is a true piece of rock history, signed by all four original band members, and is considered a sensational display piece ready for framing.

Diamond Dogs — David Bowie

David Bowie's 1974 album "Diamond Dogs" is a post-apocalyptic glam rock masterpiece with a twist for collectors. The original album cover artwork featured a half-dog, half-Bowie creature, complete with a rather controversial detail. This was quickly edited out, making the few original covers with the unaltered artwork highly prized. Bowie's chameleon-like ability to reinvent himself is well captured in this album, making it a must-have for fans and collectors alike who want a piece of rock history.

A copy of the withdrawn version of the original RCA Diamond Dogs album by David Bowie was sold for $3,550 on eBay in 2003.

Caustic Window — Richard D. James

Richard D. James, better known as Aphex Twin, is a legend in the electronic music world, and his "Caustic Window" album is a testament to his genius. Originally slated for release in 1994, it was shelved and only a few test pressings were made.

The Caustic Window album was eventually sold on eBay for $46,300. The album's release was canceled in the 1990s, and at least five copies were pressed in 1994. One of the copies surfaced on Discogs in 2014, with a price of $13,500. To make the music available, a Kickstarter campaign was started, and the test pressing was eventually sold on eBay for $46,300. Owning a physical copy of this album is like holding a fragment of the mysterious and enigmatic world of Aphex Twin.

Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) — Frank Wilson

Frank Wilson's "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" is a gem in the world of Northern Soul. Released in 1965, only a handful of copies are known to exist, as the majority were destroyed. This rarity makes it one of the most sought-after records for soul enthusiasts. The story goes that Wilson, who later became a successful producer for Motown, decided to focus on production, leading to the destruction of the records. Finding this record is akin to discovering a rare diamond – a true testament to the enduring allure of vinyl collecting.

In 2020, multi-millionaire Lee Jeffries shelled out over £100,000 for the Motown record.

Great Sound Shouldn’t Be Rare

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Sources:

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2. Artdaily. 2019. “Led Zeppelin Fully Signed Self-Titled Debut Album Sold for USD $32,156 at Auction.” Artdaily.cc. April 12, 2019. https://artdaily.cc/news/112720/Led-Zeppelin-fully-signed-self-titled-debut-album-sold-for-USD--32-156-at-auction.
3. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben. 2018. “Copy of Prince’s the Black Album Sells for Record-Breaking $27,500.” The Guardian, August 6, 2018, sec. Music. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/06/copy-of-prince-the-black-album-sells-for-record-breaking-27500.
4. Martoccio, Angie. 2022. “Masters of (Bidding) War: Rare Copy of ‘the Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’ Sells for $150,000.” Rolling Stone. July 11, 2022. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-dylan-freewheelin-rare-auction-1374937/.
5. Pagnotta, Michael. 2017. “Prince’s Former Publicist: ‘Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned from Prince.’” Yahoo News. April 20, 2017. https://www.yahoo.com/news/princes-ex-publicist-everything-needed-know-music-business-maybe-even-life-learned-prince-180218086.html.
6. Potter, Jordan. 2023. “Rare Pressing of the Beatles’ ‘White Album’ given to Charity.” Faroutmagazine.co.uk. May 18, 2023. https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/first-pressing-the-beatles-white-album-charity-auction/.
7. Third Man Records. 2015a. “Jack White Buys First Elvis Recording.” Sun Records. March 9, 2015. https://sunrecords.com/jack-white-buys-first-elvis-recording/.
8. ———. 2015b. “Elvis’ 1st Recording Digitally Transferred at the Country Music Hall of Fame.” YouTube. April 9, 2015. https://youtu.be/wvtSMMaYUug.
9. Whatley, Jack. 2021. “Why Bob Dylan Refused to Perform on the Ed Sullivan Show.” Faroutmagazine.co.uk. April 18, 2021. https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/bob-dylan-walked-out-ed-sullivan-show-censor/.
10. Wikipedia Editors. 2023. “Caustic Window (Album).” Wikipedia. January 17, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caustic_Window_(album).
11. Williams, Red. 2020. “‘It’s like Finding the Holy Grail’ - Harborough Multi-Millionaire Spends £100,000 on the World’s Most Valuable Motown Record.” Harborough Mail. August 5, 2020. https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/people/its-like-finding-the-holy-grail-harborough-multi-millionaire-spends-ps100000-on-the-worlds-most-valuable-motown-record-2934113.
12. Wong, Joon Ian. 2021. “Crypto Enthusiasts Spent $4 Million on a Wu-Tang Clan Album — Here’s What They Might Actually Do with It.” Www.businessofbusiness.com. October 29, 2021. https://www.businessofbusiness.com/articles/crypto-dao-spent-4-million-on-martin-shkreli-wu-tang-clan-album-heres-what-they-might-be-planning-to-do/#:~:text=55%20PM%20Crypto-.