Records have been around for a long time now and it’s still a big, wide world of records out there, so that is a tough question. There is no definitive, black-and-white, one-size-fits-all answer because the vinyl market is so varied and changes constantly. There are TONS of records out there that we would love to buy, but there are plenty more that we are not interested in. That's just the way it is.
First, What We DON'T Want .There are a lot of LPs and 45s out there that have no value to us, even in great condition. If our customers aren't looking for them, neither are we! Also, a record that was popular at one time may have sold millions of copies, meaning that there are still many, many on the market in all kinds of condition. Anyone who ever wanted one probably already has it, already got rid of it or has since bought it on CD or download.
Please bear in mind that the list below of genres that we're not really interested is not always 100% literal. Within almost any genre there are bound to be at least a few rarities and titles of interest to us. For instance, even though you see Soundtracks listed below as something we're not necessarily interested in, there are in fact some that we would love to buy. It's just that they are rather scarce and not found in most peoples' collections. Most folks have the real common titles we don't want. [But if you have an original copy of the Caine Mutiny soundtrack, we definitely want it!]
So, generally speaking, we are not interested in the following types of records (followed by some common examples):
- Pop Vocals (Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole)
- Easy Listening (Mantovani, Ray Conniff, Percy Faith, 101 Strings)
- Readers Digest, Time-Life or other subscription series box sets •Opera •Classical (with some exceptions)
- Broadway Cast Recordings (South Pacific, My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line)
- Soundtracks (West Side Story, Annie, Sound Of Music, Camelot)
- Big Band and Swing (Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw)
- Country from the 70s-80s (Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, Oak Ridge Boys, Statler Brothers)
- Comedy
- New Age (Yanni, Kitaro, Mannheim Steamroller aka Fresh Aire, Windham Hill label)
- "Wave" Jazz (Spyro Gyra, Michael Franks, Yellowjackets, Kenny G, David Sanborn)
- Most big name rock artists from the 70s and 80s like Journey, Bob Seger, Foreigner, etc. who sold so many records (that are also available on CD and download) that their hit albums are virtually worthless because there are still gazillions of them in circulation.
- 45s/7" Singles without picture sleeves that were huge hits (unless they’re promo copies...maybe)
- 78s (except for a select few, like pre-WWII blues or Elvis Presley on Sun Records)
OK, So What DO We Want?!? Mainly but not exclusively:
- 60s to very early 70s rock albums, especially psychedelic & progressive music…usually, the more obscure the better
- LPs that were issued during the "vinyl is dead" period of the mid-90's to the mid-00s
- Bop, bebop and post-bop jazz of the 50s/60s
- Soul jazz
- Blues
- Picture sleeve 45s/7" singles
- Audiophile pressings (Mobile Fidelity, Nautilus, etc.)
- Some vintage 50s/60s
- R&B, soul & funk
- Private and independent releases
- Obscure folk & country
- Old school rap & hip-hop
- Obscure new wave 7" & 12" singles
- Punk rock
- Blue chip standbys like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd, for example. And particularly Import pressings of most of the above.
Even if you have records of interest to us, they still usually have to be in GREAT condition, and that includes the covers/jackets/picture sleeves. Records should be free of scratches and scuffs, and the covers should not be split or excessively worn. The more valuable the record, the more likely it can still be worth something even if it is less than perfect. The more common the record, the less likely it will be worth anything if it's not near-perfect. SPECIAL NOTE: LPs in their original plastic shrinkwrap - whether still factory sealed or opened - might be worth more than usual, especially still sealed ones. Also, a common LP we would normally pass on if it's opened might be something we’d consider if still sealed.
No matter what kinds of records you have, you never know when you might have a hidden gem. Sometimes the records we buy and pay the most for are the ones you least expect!
And, yes, we really do travel worldwide for exceptional, high quality collections.
IT'S BEST TO GIVE US A CALL AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR RECORD BUYERS. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A PREPARED LIST OF YOUR RECORDS, YOU CAN EMAIL IT.
