Looking at the last year . . . (see 04/19/2008)

See blog for 04/19/2008 for graph and list:

The top record for the period of April 2007 through March 2008 (the one year period since beginning the eBay Top 5) is a copy of the Beatles White Album #0000006, selling in June 2007 for over $21k. The seller reports at the time of the auction that the record had originally been given by John Lennon to his driver.

Many of the records fetch their prices because of the stories behind them. The Misfits record from Janurary of this year had been signed by Glenn Danzig, and as only 25 copies of the record were pressed, this copy of "Horror Show" is likely a one of a kind.

While at least one Northern Soul 45 makes the top 5 almost every week, only three are represented in the monthy tally. The highest seller is a copy of the Limelights "Don't Leave Me Baby" which bid up just below $7k.

Three classical records make the list, two from Mozart, one from Bach. These are very rare European pressings from the 1950's and 1960's and cannot be found on other media.

Two more Beatles records make the list, another White Album, this one an acetate, and a Butcher cover. And two other gods share a spot each on the list, The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen each making it with very rare 45's.

This year will be interesting for collectors. For those who are technical analysts of financial graphs, a definite downtrend is apparant. On the other hand, the first Record Store Day got a lot of attention, and that can't hurt (#9 on Yahoo's top searches for April 19th). Sales of new vinyl records are increasing as sales of CD's are decreasing at a faster rate, and downloads hold steady. Though in terms of units sold, CD's and downloads dwarf vinyl records. I'm not looking for Target to start carrying vinyl, however it does look like true music lovers prefer mp3's for outdoors and vinyl records for home listening. True music lovers have never been the mainstay of the music busness, hardly more than an annoyance. Yet, vinyl records may outlive the CD, that nemesis that many remember as the harbinger of the end of true music.