Black Gold?

Maybe Grandma doesn't want that old box of records in the closet. You look at them and think, "Hmmmm... I wonder if these are WORTH anything'? How do you find out?

Price Guides

You can purchase one of many record price guides out on the market. There are actually quite a few, but here's some we use in our store:

Goldmine's Price Guide To Collectible Record Albums-- contributing authors: Tim Neely, Neal Umphred and others. This book primarily covers older Rock & Pop 33 rpm records (Goldmine has separate guides available for 45's, Jazz & Country). These books are very descriptive, easy to read & understand.

Official Price Guide To Records by Jerry Osborne-- Covers 45's-10"-12", singles, EP's and some 78's. Good over-all guide. Print is small but hey, it covers a LOT of material. We use it frequently.

American Premium Record Guide 1900-1965 by Les Docks-- Some 45's and LOTS of 78's (lists mostly records of value, not 'commons') Nice guide. Not a lot of detailed description but WOW! LOVE those pictures of the actual labels throughout this book. He even shows a few Vogue picture discs. Big print. Easy to read and probably covers more 78's than most others.

So... What's My Record Worth?

Well, in a nutshell, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. The price guides are just that. They are GUIDES, not record collecting bibles. Where records are concerned, nothing is set in stone. A price guide may list your record as being worth $80.00... BUT, you will probably never get anywhere near that much for it. You can try listing it on Ebay, but that's no guarantee you'll get your asking price (more about Ebay later), or you can frame it, hang it on the wall and tell all of your friends you have an $80.00 record.
   At least several times a week someone will call our store saying they have some old records and "certainly they must be valuable"? Some actually are, but MOST are worth a quarter (at best). When they finally bring them in, we separate them into two piles. Keepers and Rejects. Invariably the 'keeper' pile is very small. Then they'll look at the 'reject' pile and say ,"not even for a quarter"? (Nope), "how about a dime each"? mmm... nope, sorry, we don't need any more copies of Barry Manilow's 'Paradise Cafe'.

I've Got Elvis

So... in that box of records, you find some Elvis Presley. This could be cool, or this could be disappointing.
   Elvis was popular. So popular in fact, that most of his records were pressed not just once, but MANY times.
   Would you believe that the (33LP) album 'Elvis Is Back' has at least ten variations, each ending with the numbers 2231, all on the RCA label and all pressed in the year 1960? Would you also believe that the established value ranges from $20.00 to $200.00, all depending on WHICH ISSUE YOU HAVE? Question is... how much is the one you're holding in front of you worth? This is where you'll need a price guide. The price guide will walk you through the little differences that may help to establish exactly which copy you're looking at.
   This book will also list the value of your record by 'Grading' standards. "Grading' is simply: WHAT CONDITION THIS RECORD IS IN. Confusion abounds here. When you first open your price guide, you will, without doubt, immediately look up your record. Big mistake. Don't do it (oops, too late, you're already thinkin' of what you're going to buy with all the money you're gonna' get for this round piece of manufactured sound).
"Reign in the horses, Mabel, there's a storm comin' and it ain't pretty"!

Grading

'Record People' are a strange bunch. We agree to disagree. At the beginning of each price guide, the author will explain in great detail, their own version of the 'grading system'. This works well only if you ARE a collector selling to ANOTHER collector. Even then, beauty is still in the eye of the record holder. The only thing that record folks seem to agree on are the abbreviations. They are as follows:

M (Mint)
NM (Near Mint) or M- (Mint Minus)
NANM (Not Anywhere Near Mint... just wanted to see if you're paying attention)
VG+ (Very Good Plus)
VG (Very Good)
VG- (Very Good Minus)
G (Good)
P (Poor)
SF (Shotgun Fodder... Yeah, we invented this one but hey, it's OUR site!)

We also agree that records have 'Parts'. The basic parts are:

1. 'Shrink-wrap' = The plastic seran-wrap-like covering over the 'Jacket'. Some records, especially old 78's and many later 33's & 45's were shipped without this.
   a. 'Shrink wrap Intact' = Factory Sealed
   b. 'Shrink wrap still covering jacket, but open' = Some kind soul opened this record very carefully, slitting the shrink wrap only enough to allow removal of the vinyl (with or without the inner-sleeve) thereby, protecting the jacket.
2. 'Jacket' or 'Picture Sleeve' ... The outer 'sleeve' that usually has the artwork and album information.
3. 'Inner Sleeve' = Usually a thin paper sleeve protecting the vinyl INSIDE the jacket. Not all records were shipped with an inner sleeve, but many times this sleeve would contain information or pictures unique to a particular pressing. Most were simply a plain, white paper holder. You'll need to research through a price guide to find out if an inner sleeve is important to your particular record.
4. 'Insert(s)'...not common, but sometimes a poster or other printed item was shipped with the record for promotional purposes. A good example is Cheech & Chong's album... 'Big Bambu' which was shipped with an absolutely HUGE rolling paper. (Yes, we do have them come in from time to time, and no, we've never used one of the papers).
5. 'Vinyl... The actual disc. The record. (Some discs are not really made of vinyl (78's), but let's keep this simple). The 'read' lines on vinyl are called 'grooves'. If you REALLY want to know how grooves work, well, you're already on the internet, go Google it. (and when you find out, please email us with the answer).
6. 'Label' = The paper center on the vinyl that usually contains printed information about the artist and (or) songs.

When we grade records, we consider ALL of the items above.

What The Abbreviations Really Mean

M (Mint) One of the most over-used words on Ebay when referring to older, vinyl records. Rates right up there with 'Like-New', 'Still-Sealed', 'Factory-Sealed ', 'Never-Played', and... (drum rolllllll)...

MINT CONDITION (oops, that's two words).
Oh, please... This is a RECORD. Even if it is still sealed in the original shrink wrap, what shape is the VINYL in? Sure, it's sealed, the jacket might even look new, BUT... if granny kept it in the attic for 20 years, maybe there's a HEAT WARP in the vinyl that we can't see because IT'S SEALED! If we open it, then it's NOT IN MINT CONDITION anymore, anyway, right?! Therefore, get this word out of your vocabulary when you're grading older records.

NM (NEAR MINT) or M-(Mint Minus) We guarantee it. This is the best shape you will ever find an older record in. LOOKS like new. FEELS like new. SOUNDS like new. This record will be unsealed with the shrink wrap still on the jacket (unless it was shipped 'bare'). The jacket will have no bent corners, scuffs, marks, or fading. No 'Record Ring" (a faded circle on the jacket that shows where the vinyl rests inside). If there is an inner sleeve, it will look 'fresh' (not wrinkled, written on, or torn). The vinyl will be pristine (not one scratch), and will not be warped. This record has never had a needle in it's grooves.

VG+ (Very Good Plus) Be 'very' careful with this description. This record looks ALMOST like new. Shrink wrap may be torn, but still 'there'. The jacket might have some fading or a SLIGHTLY bent corner. No 'Record Ring', but it's been handled. Inner sleeve (if there is one) shows some use. Vinyl might have a SMALL surface scratch that is inaudible on the turntable. This record has been played once or twice and handled very gently.

VG (Very Good) It plays, it doesn't skip and you used to own this record when you were in High School. The jacket is nice even with that little smudge, and when that needle drops down, you hear a familiar 'crackle' of things to come. It doesn't disappoint you.

VG- (Very Good Minus) "I bought it 'cause I really dig the album cover art... see, right there under all those crayon marks... can't you see it"?

GOOD WHY do you have to have this record? Oh yeah, RIGGHHTT... THIS was the band that played at your Mother's best friend's wedding to her third husband! Ahhh... the memories. OR... it's an ultra-rare Sun 45 of Elvis Presley's 'That's All Right'. It's gray with play (no grooves), but hey... at least you can say you OWN one!

POOR (see SF below)

SF (Shotgun Fodder) You yell, "Pull", and as your friend throws the record up in the air, you take your best shot... ummm... wait... you might want to look it up in the price guide first.

Our Last Word On The Subject

There ARE many rare records out there. Don't stop looking. Keep digging. If you list them on eBay or elsewhere, be as honest and as thorough as you can. If someone has been looking for this album for 20 years, they won't care what shape it's in as long as they can play the memories.