Most Paid for Vinyl LP

I went through a period of splurging for "Better Records." In most cases, the recordings justified some premium, but I think I'm cured now. $200-$300 for a record is a fast route to the poor house. I have purchased new records for $40 that are the sonic equivalent of Better Records and they have less surface noise.

$7.99 from Tower Records on Sunset. Rinse and repeat, hundreds of times

I’m sure some are worth more than $7.99 nowadays. Many have been lost though.

I took what’s left of my collection out of long-term storage recently. To my surprise, I found a few dozen records that I have absolutely no idea where they come from. They’re definitely not mine; they’re all beat up and scratched and they have no inner or outer sleeves - the horror. Plus, I’ll admit freely that the 80s were kind of a blur and that I forgot most of it, but I can’t imagine myself ever purchasing The Carpenters or Ray Conniff LPs... and to the extent of my recollection, I never knew anyone who would either. It’s a mystery.

Having invested in an good analogue rig, I was interested in 'how good' LPs could sound.  To me, the best have a very clean, organic and relaxed sound.  Sometime the original pressings win, other times the remixed the remastered copy wins...

The best, for me... ERC from the UK.  I now have three. If memory serves, they are ~ $550 USD.  Because they are imports, the price includes ~50 USD s/h.  Today's prices are a bit higher (not including the import Tariff-Tax additional charges).

Supertrtamp Crime of the Century UHQR 20+ years ago on EBAY $83.00 or so.  One of the best things I spent my money on (besides my marriage license )

And a MFSL copy of Alan Parsons "Tales of Mystery & Imagination" for about $45.00 about the same time frame.  Serial # 0017.  That album is an absolutely amazing recording.  Merry Christmas to all, -John

@hjdca my story is identical to yours but closer to 2019.  I love this copy of Electric Lady Land.  I saw it, I walked away, I couldn’t get it out of my mind, I went back and bought it. No regrets.