From mono pressings, different sub-genres of rock, and even two 7" singles, this month's top ten is very varied. Keen blog readers amongst you will likely notice some of the artists and records in this months list have been featured in previous rarest record blog posts.
We thought it would be interesting to revisit them, talking about them from a new angle - we hope you enjoy!
You can read our other top tens and a guide to protecting your records by exploring the rest of our blog.
Read on to discover our rarest albums this month.
10 - David Bowie - Holy Holy - Mono
It isn't often we see a 7" single make the top 10, generally because they haven't held their value as well as LPs have over the years. However, this is a very scarce release because this mono version of Holy Holy was only found on the 1971 Mercury single releases until it was made available again in a box set in 2015.
9 - Amber Run - For A Moment, I Was Lost
Amber Run's second album, pressed as a limited edition on white vinyl was available to pre-order exclusively from either the band's website or independent sellers. Each copy was signed by the band members, which has become relatively common amongst modern releases. For an album drop, an artist will generally pre-sign a limited number of records, which usually sell out as soon as they are released. Because they are limited edition, and often the most accessible way to have something signed by the artist, they can be highly sought after by fans.
8 - Gary Moore - Ballads & Blues
Predominantly released on CD, Gary Moore's Ballads & Blues album was given a very limited vinyl run, hence its rarity. Because of the rise in CDs in the early 1990s, most artists were veering away from releasing their music on vinyl, which means that vinyl pressings from that era can be in shorter supply.
7 - The Cure - Wish
This is the only UK release of The Cure's ninth album - their most commercially successful album. It is made unique by the slight differences to the label, but it is very similar to the European issue. This copy still had its original insert of The Cure's discography, which is lovely to see in a second hand record, as when records come in to us, sometimes added extras have been lost over time.
6 - Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Get Happy!
Promos from popular artists will always be a unique item for any collection. This promo for Elvis Costello and The Attractions' fourth album was an especially rare find for us. Unlike the eventual release, pressed on one record playing at 33rpm, this promo was released across two records, playing at 45rpm.
5 - David Bowie - All The Madmen - Mono - Promo
The second 7" single and the second promo to make this month's top ten! Similar to the other 7" single, this Bowie promo is a mono pressing, where later pressings would have been stereo pressings. Mono pressings are generally older pressings, limited to just one audio channel, whereas stereo pressings enhance the sound quality as they are mixed using two audio channels, built with speaker systems in mind. Generally it is argued that stereo has a better sound quality, but mono pressings are sometimes favoured by collectors as they are usually in shorter supply.
4 - Water Into Wine Band - Harvest Time
Released in 1976, Harvest Time was an independently produced album, pressed on a limited vinyl run. It was re-released on CD on the Kissing Spell label in 2002, but never re-released on vinyl, so the original pressing is highly sought after. Because of its age, and the fact it was pressed independently, rather than on an official label, it is often in poor condition, so finding one in EX/EX condition like the one here is very rare.
3 - Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
This embossed copy of Black Sabbath's Master of Reality was pressed on Vertigo Swirl labels, which are sought after by collectors due to their scarcity. The design seen on this record is the short-lived, original format that Vertigo Labels used between 1969-1973. The label is known for its use on progressive rock music, and other, non-mainstream styles.
2 - Alizée - Alizée
Alizée's compilation box set makes the number 2 spot this month. Her first album was also featured in last month's top ten. This month, we see her 6 LP, numbered box set, which came to us in mint condition. Numbered records are one of the most in demand release types, because, as the name suggests, there are only a certain number of copies available, and often more people want them than the copies that are available. Numbered releases are usually a relatively modern thing, but they can also be found on older records, for example, The Beatles' White Album was first released with embossed numbers on the sleeve, counting how many had sold.
1 - Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon - First Press
It appears that sales of first presses of The Dark Side Of The Moon are like buses. You wait for one to sell and they all sell at once! Hence, both this month, and last month, Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon has made the top spot. This copy came to us in a better condition than the copy we focused on last month, and usually, rarer records in better condition will be in higher demand, especially as this album has many quieter moments, highlighting any imperfections in the press. Here, we make sure everything we sell is kept in the condition specified by keeping them in HDPE inner sleeves which you can read more about below.
Protect your rare records:
If you own, or are looking to purchase rare records, they should be kept in the best environment to prevent them from being damaged by the elements. We recommend using HDPE inner sleeves, and polythene outer sleeves, to best protect your collection. You can add them to your next order below.
