How To Keep Your Precious Vinyl in Good Shape
Some people say there are five stages in the life of a music collector:
- Tape a friend’s album
- Decide you like it and buy it yourself on vinyl
- Replace your vinyl copy with a CD
- Sell the vinyl for £3 at a car-boot sale
- Buy it again on vinyl for £22
We couldn’t possibly comment upon the fiscal wisdom of vinyl fans, but we do look after a lot of their collections, here at Storage Giant. If you have a slew of boxes in the loft that are precious to you, it is important to look after them properly – they are, of course, full of great memories from your dancing days!
But they might also prove to be a good investment that you could opt to cash in one day. A copy of The Beatles White Album fetched $790,000 dollars a while ago – though, admittedly, it was Ringo’s copy, and the first pressing, but collectors live in hope of finding that Holy Grail, don’t they?
Whether you store your vinyl records securely with us, or at home, here are some tips to help you keep your vinyl records in tip-top condition:
- Always clean your discs before putting them in their sleeves to avoid scuffing and small scratches that can affect playing quality. Always use a record cleaning brush.
- If your discs are dusty – often the case with car boot purchases – use vinyl cleaning solution that you can buy online and wipe with a microfibre cloth
- Put each record away as soon as you have finished listening, so it cannot gather dust or get stepped on
- Only touch the edge of the record, so you don’t transfer dirt onto the surface
- We have all done it, but try not to drop the needle onto your favourite track time and again. This can cause damage.
- Store records upright so they cannot warp with weight or pressure. Even slanting them against each other can be risky if there is a lot of weight involved
- Store your records away from direct sunlight, radiators and other sources of strong heat or light – unless you want to end up with one of those funky fruit bowls that crafters like making from old records!
The Most Expensive Albums Ever Sold:
Frank Wilson: Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)
£25,742
Only 250 demo copies of this US soul recording were pressed and most of them were destroyed by Motown boss Berry Gordy. There are thought to be a handful of copies in circulation.
Tommy Johnson: Alcohol and Jake Blues
$37,100
Cut in 1930, the master tapes of this 78rpm blues record are long gone and this disc is a sought-after rarity.
Aphex Twin: Caustic Window (test pressing)
$46,300
The inventor of Minecraft, Markus Persson, shelled out this staggering price for a 2014 test pressing by one of his favourite artists.
The Beatles: ‘Till There Was You (10-inch acetate)
£77,500
A former keyboard player from Gerry and the Pacemakers sold this rarity in 2016. This test pressing had Brian Epstein’s handwriting on it and it was a demo recording for EMI.
The Beatles: Yesterday & Today
$125,000.
This Beatles compilation caused a stir at the time because of its infamous raw meat cover (long before Lady Gaga wore her raw meat dress). It was quickly withdrawn from circulation, making this a valuable rarity.
John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy
$150,000.
A copy of this popular disc fetched an eye-watering price, since it is thought to be the last thing John Lennon signed before he was killed.
The Beatles: Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (signed by the band)
$290,000.
This one was a mono pressing signed by all of the Fab Four.
Elvis Presley: My Happiness
$300,000
Presley’s first recording was, famously, cut in Sun Studios as a present for his mother, Gladys. Elvis was 18 years old at the time and yet to become The King. Jack White from The White Stripes sold this disc for $300,000.
The Beatles: The Beatles (White Album)
$790,000
This was Ringo’s copy and the first one ever pressed.
Wu-Tang Clan: Once Upon a Time in Shaolin
$2 Million.
Only one copy of this album was ever produced, and the disc comes with a stipulation that the buyer cannot sell it or make any money from it for 100 years.