Check your vinyl and you could find a small fortune

The emerging cult for collecting vinyl records was first explored in this column in 2006. Seven years later, this niche market is a phenomenon around the world.

In December 2010, Britain's Record Collector magazine published a list of the 200 rarest records "Of All Time" with market values. They concentrated on British releases but the recording at No. 1 probably applies globally.

In 1958, an unknown band called the Quarry Men recorded a demo single on a 78rpm acetate disc at a home studio in Liverpool. Two songs were cut, a cover of Buddy Holly's That'll be the Day and an original composition, In Spite of All the Danger. It was the first recording by the combination of John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison.

The acetate was kept by the band's pianist, John Duff Lowe, who sold it to McCartney in 1981 for an undisclosed sum.

It is now regarded as the most valuable record in the world, with a starting price of £150,000 (about $A260,000), according to the magazine. That's a conservative estimate, the Record Collector editors add.

Second in the magazine's list are the 50 to 75 private recordings of this acetate commissioned by McCartney in 1981 to give to friends for Christmas.

These are worth £10,000 each.

Others in the top 10 include copies of the Sex Pistols' God Save the Queen single released in 1977 on Herb Alpert's A&M label, before the record company changed its mind and terminated the band's contract. Surviving copies sell for £8000, if not more.

According to Glenn Terry from Vicious Sloth Collectables shop in High Street, Malvern, something similar is happening here, although you can delete a zero or two from those British values.

Rare vinyl is now a big business and Terry says some Australian records are becoming what he calls speculative investments.

"Some people are buying them in the assumption that they will increase in value," he says, "and at this point in time this seems to be a reasonable expectation."

Prices are increasing for records with the trifecta of collectability: condition, rarity and desirability. Condition in this case means mint or close to it. Even the smallest surface wear reduces value considerably, which means the chances of finding treasure in a junk shop are practically zero.

Another factor is the changing definition of what is desirable.

In 2006, the top prices were being paid for 1960s Australian music by lesser-known bands such as the Missing Links, the Creatures, the Marksmen, the Pink Finks and the Wild Cherries. Their singles were worth up to $100, depending on condition, and among them was what was considered the ultimate prize of Australian vinyl - the rare, self-titled album by the Missing Links.

There were reports of copies selling for $2000 but Terry says this record is no longer as much in demand, because copies are more common than was previously believed. The current value is about $1000.

What has changed is a new generation of vinyl collectors who are more interested in music of the 1970s, especially in a style known as progressive, or prog rock.

A prime Australian example is the Wide Open LP by Kahvas Jute, worth about $700 in mint condition.

Others in this league are LPs by Extradition, Galadriel and Melissa, in a range of styles described as trippy rock to acid folk. These are worth up to $1000.

Australian jazz prog is also collectable, with the LP by Syrius valued at about $400.

Also in demand are the first recordings by punk bands such as Radio Birdman and the Saints; the latter available only by mail-order and worth around $650.

Another rarity is a single given away at the Crystal Ballroom in St Kilda by the Boys Next Door, later known as the Birthday Party, fronted by a young Nick Cave.

This phenomenon continues despite most of the music having been re-released on CDs. The committed collector seeks the first release in the original sleeve in the same way that philatelists want the first issue of a stamp. This is what is known as the trophy mentality. Serious collectors, and an increasing number of investors, get a kick out of having something few others have.

Vicious Sloth is at 1309 High Street, Malvern. vicioussloth.com.au.

Prices quoted are for records in excellent to near mint condition.

For a gallery of some rare Australian records, see

theage.com.au/money



KNOW YOUR PRODUCT

Some Australian treasures:

Barry Gibb & the Bee Gees, Sing and Play 14 Barry Gibb songs. Leedon Records, 1964. Mint condition $1500.

Brian de Courcy presents My Favourite Kinda People. W&G compilation LP. $135.

The Twilights, Once Upon A Twilight. Rare Pop-up Cover. $400.

Radio Birdman, Burn my Eye (EP). Recorded at Trafalgar Studios. $650.

The Saints, I'm Stranded (Mail-order single). Fatal Records. $650.

Extradition, Hush. Sweet Peach. $1000 plus.

Madden and Harris, Fool's Paradise. Jasmine Records. $1000 plus.

Lobby Loyde and the Coloured Balls, Ball Power. $200.

Syrius, self-titled. Spin Records. $400

Kahvas Jute, Wide Open. Infinity. $700