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Prices of Records/Vinyl in 2025

Is it me or have prices of vinyl recently surged to an average of $35 or more ? Just a couple of months ago the average seemed to be around $30. I bought around 30 records to play on my exorbitantly expensive turntable and its multi thousand dollar cartridge, its hundred of dollars of cables, the $1000  phono preamp etc and immediately had 7k invested before buying any records. After buying 50 albums or so and finding about half to be shitty recordings I had $1500 invested in realistically 25 playable, great quality recordings. I just went back online to look for a few more and I'm certain prices have jumped from $30 average to close to $40. WTF ??? More gouging I assume. Is this industry truly sustainable when people are expected to have close to 10k invested to play some records? Insane. I protest, with my wallet. Let's see, hmmm....stream a million tracks for $20 a month with perfect sound, no cleaning, snaps, pop or crackle and hiss and- jump tracks and artists the second I don't like what I hear- or- invest $40 in a crappy recording on vinyl, suffer through it or toss it in the trash because the recording or the music suck. I could literally light two $20 bills on fire instead of bothering to gamble on ordering a record online. 

 

speedthrills
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,493 posts
 

 

@vonharaland: While in Portland, be sure to visit Crossroads Music. It is a multi-vendor record "mall" in a single large room. All used LP’s, a couple dozen individual sellers.

Portland has quite a few used LP shops, some focusing on certain genres. Tomorrow Records has a large Jazz section, and even sells used hi-fi-components (mostly 1970’s Japanese receivers and turntables). Mississippi Records focuses on World music. Music Millennium has used LP’s, but is better for new releases. I go there on every Record Store Day---they get many copies of each title. A lot of more common titles are priced at $5, even when in Mint Condition.

More rare albums are relatively reasonably priced. I just picked up James Burton’s debut solo album for $25. He played in Ricky Nelson’s band on The Ozzie & Harriet Show, then in Elvis’ band, then in Emmylou Harrises Hot Band (more recently on Elvis Costello’s King Of America album). Give a listen to his solo in Ricky’s dreamy Pop song "Young World". To die for! I had the song on a 7" 45 RPM single before The Beatles ever entered a recording studio. George Harrison’s guitar solo in "Nowhere Man" sure sounds like is was modeled on James’ solo in "Young World." Both very melodic and musical.

 

Here’s James:

 

https://youtu.be/Umz2GJR2LLc?si=Maos8KsnR_iox6GF

 

And Here’s George:

 

https://youtu.be/8scSwaKbE64?si=DWnxAytz7GssfiPy

 

 

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sokogear
1,162 posts
 

@viridian - I would be interested in what pressings you think are better than the original UHQRs of Dark Side, Crime of the Century, Finger Paintings, Sgt Pepper (especially) and I Robot. I didn't originally get Tea for the Tillerman and have heard that my AP copy of it is better than that UHQR. Maybe that is the one you are talking about. The new (relatively) AP UHQRs of Kind of Blue and Aja are also incredible. I wonder if you think there are better ones of them out there. I traded my Original Mofis of Aja and 45 of Kind of Blue on them and found the new ones noticeably better.

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sokogear
1,162 posts
 

@viridian - understood, but why keep copies that don't sound as good to you (unless you are a hoarder perhaps or a record investor holding onto the asset in hopes of appreciation and selling it a later date or leaving it to your heirs)?

Especially DSOTM UHQR which is worth big bucks. I would love to hear the two that you think sound better  - I'd get one of them and sell mine (assuming the ones you are talking about aren't exorbitantly priced). I've never heard of those labels/issuers.

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