A whole host of rock albums make up the top ten this month. From modern, to mint condition, to 1990s Britpop, and old mono pressings, this month's list is incredibly varied.
This month we see a lot of frequent visitors to the top ten, like Genesis, Pink Floyd and both Nirvanas.
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 - The Stranglers - Rattus Relived
Sealed records are a rarity in dealing with second hand records, so when we come across them, we often find that they are a very attractive product. This orange edition of The Stranglers' Rattus Relived would have come to us in a collection where the collector kept their records sealed. We also sometimes see records which are collected as duplicates, so one is kept sealed for collectability, and the other is played.
9 - Fairport Convention - Fairport Convention
An early mono pressing of Fairport Convention's self-titled album makes the ninth spot on the top ten this month. As mono existed before stereo, and are therefore often the oldest pressings of an album, they are generally sought after by people wanting the earliest pressing of an album. Mono pressings stopped becoming mainstream between 1968-1970 so any albums pressed before that time are likely to be found in a mono press.
8 - Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La
Pressed on 180g vinyl, this record was released in 2004, and was Mark Knopfler's fourth studio album. It was a highly anticipated album, after Knopfler sustained an injury in a motorbike accident and had to cancel his planned tour to ensure his recovery. He took this album on tour the year following its release, where is performed well in the charts, and was a hit amongst fans.
7 - The Verve - A Northern Soul - Limited Edition
This limited edition release of The Verve's second studio album was released in a silver specular sleeve, giving it a mirror effect, compared to other versions of this album. As a part of the 1990s Britpop scene, The Verve's albums are often sought after by those who are fans of this era of music, which means that like other Britpop artists, their albums have held their value particularly well.
6 - Nirvana - Nevermind - Misprint
This misprinted album has inverted (upside-down) text & monkey image on the back side of the inner sleeve. For an album already in high demand when not misprinted, this misprinted album is a unique article which would start a talking point for any fan of the band.
5 - Coverdale Page - Coverdale Page
An album in very high demand - originally released in 1993, Coverdale Page is a collaborative album between David Coverdale and Jimmy Page. It followed the disbandment of Coverdale's band Whitesnake, and a failed reunion of Page's band Led Zeppelin, so this album is a staple for and Whitesnake or Led Zeppelin fan.
4 - Genesis From - Genesis To Revelation
Recently featured in our top ten as a mono pressing, at the number 4 spot this month we have a stereo repress of From Genesis To Revelation. 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. This enhanced audio quality means that when originally released, this album could be listened to in a way which had never been heard before.
3 - Nirvana - Local Anaesthetic
The second Nirvana album to make the list this month, but this time, it's the British psychedelic rock band! This is another album pressed on Vertigo Swirl labels, which were also featured in last month's top ten. Because this record label was only in production for a short amount of time, they are a notable collection item. The 1Y//1 2Y//1 matrix details are unique to this pressing, which is what makes it all the more rare.
2 - Pink Floyd - The Wall - A-2U B-3U A-3U B-2U Matrix
One of Pink Floyd's best-selling albums, this first pressing of The Wall takes the number 2 spot. It came with the plastic sticker which adheres to the sleeve - something we don't often see when The Wall gets to us. This is because unlike most hype stickers, this doesn't stick to the sleeve, in order to not damage the sleeve. First pressings are highly desirable because they can often have differences or nuances that were rectified in future pressings. For example, this copy of The Wall has 'Words and Music - Roger Waters. Except...' whereas re-pressings added the band member credits.
1 - U2 - Achtung Baby - Double LP Box Set
Containing 6 CDs, 4 DVDs, 2LPs and 5 7" singles, along with a book, a magazine, pin badges, stickers and sunglasses is the ultimate U2 collectors item. Released in 2011 as a limited, numbered edition, this is a highly sought after box set, containing their seventh studio album of the same name, along with B-sides and bonus tracks.
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.
