Vinyl records have been around for over 70 years, and in that time, many rare and collectible records have been released. Some of these records are rare because they were only pressed in small numbers, while others are rare because they were recalled or destroyed.
Here are a few of the rarest vinyl records ever released:
- The Beatles – Yesterday and Today (Butcher Cover): This 1966 album by The Beatles is one of the most famous and valuable rare vinyl records. Only a few hundred copies of the original “butcher cover” were released before it was recalled due to its controversial artwork.
- Wu-Tang Clan – Once Upon a Time in Shaolin: This 2014 album by the Wu-Tang Clan was released as a one-of-a-kind copy. The album was sold at auction for $2 million in 2015.
- The White Album (Numbered Copies): The Beatles’ 1968 album The White Album was released in numbered copies. Only 50 copies of the album were pressed with the serial number 0000001. This copy is believed to be worth over $1 million.
- Tommy Johnson – Alcohol and Jake Blues: This 1930 blues record by Tommy Johnson is one of the rarest records in the world. Only a handful of copies are known to exist, and one copy sold at auction for $37,000 in 2013.
- The Black Album (Promo Copies): Prince’s 1987 album The Black Album was only released for a brief period of time before Prince pulled it from stores. A few hundred promo copies of the album were sent to journalists and radio stations, and these copies are now highly sought-after by collectors.
These are just a few of the many rare and collectible vinyl records that are out there. If you are lucky enough to own one of these records, you are holding a piece of music history.
